One Day Sale: $300 Discount on 2015 15″ Retina MacBook Pro
Best Buy is offering a substantial one-day sale on Apple’s current generation 15″ Retina MacBook Pro. The $1,999 2.2GHz MacBook Pro has been discounted $300 to $1,699.
The current generation 15″ Retina MacBook Pro was released in May of 2015. It offers the following specs:
– 15.4-inch Retina Display
– 2.2GHz Quad-Core Intel® Core™ i7 processor
– 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3L onboard memory
– 256GB PCIe-based flash storage
– Intel® Iris Pro Graphics
– Force Touch trackpad
The next MacBook Pro is not expected until 2016 with the release of the Skylake processors. $1,699 represents the largest discount on the current generation 15″ MacBook Pro that we’ve seen, and expires at the end of Monday, September 21st.
Best Buy is an affiliate parter of MacRumors.
Android fans unite to take Apple down: swarm of 1-star reviews hitting the ‘Move to iOS’ app
Did you guys know Apple released its first Android app in the Google Play Store just last week? Most people were in disbelief. We never thought Apple would ever bring one of its services to Android… but then we checked what the app actually was and realized it all made sense. The application is called Move to iOS, and it essentially help users migrate all their content to Apple’s devices, including contacts, messages, photos, bookmarks, calendars and more.
Needless to say this hits a very delicate spot for Android fans across the globe. How dare they?! We suppose it’s a helpful tool for those who really do want to switch to iOS (even if you can sync many of these via Google’s services), it just seemed a bit too disrespectful to most users. Everyone was hoping for Apple to actually make some of its services available to Android. Instead we get this?! Either way, something rather comical has been going on at the Move to iOS page in the Google Play Store.
It turns out the Android community is much more united than some of us may think it is! Move to iOS managed to get almost 30,000 reviews in under a week, which is definitely an accomplishment. The bad news (at least for Apple) is that almost 25,000 of these are 1-star reviews! Now Apple’s app sits at a 1.7-star rating, which puts it pretty low in the scare of ratings from the Google Play Store.
And you guys have to read some of these reviews!
App locked my Android phone and told me I needed to buy an iPhone to unlock it. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. – Christopher Chavez
This app killed my goldfish! Everything was working great on my new iPhone 6s, but this morning I looked at my goldfish Sparky and he was dead, floating upside down in his tank! Nothing in my life has changed except for this app, so the two must be linked somehow! I want an explanation now!!! -Time Wrobel
Now let’s hear it from you. Have you left a comment and review in the Move to iOS Google Play Store page? Hit the comments and share it with us!
Samsung May Follow Apple by Launching Smartphone Leasing Program
Samsung is planning to follow in Apple’s footsteps by launching its own Galaxy smartphone leasing program in the U.S. over the coming months, according to Forbes.
The South Korean electronics giant is planning to launch a program for leasing its Galaxy phones in the U.S. market, similar to the one Apple announced just weeks ago, according to an industry executive with knowledge of Samsung’s plans. Samsung may be launching this leasing program in the next several months, although that timeline may accelerate, the executive said.
The report does not offer any other details about Samsung’s plans for the rumored smartphone leasing program, but the move would make sense as the wireless industry moves away from subsidized pricing and two-year contracts in favor of monthly installment plans and financing programs for payments.
Apple introduced the iPhone Upgrade Program alongside the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus earlier this month, enabling customers to upgrade to a new iPhone every year with AppleCare+ warranty coverage included. Eligible customers who sign up for the program will have the full cost of their new iPhone broken down into 24 equal payments of around $30 to $45 per month depending on the model, plus a premium for AppleCare+.
After the first 12 monthly payments, the customer gains the option to trade in their iPhone for a new one and enter into a new 24 month installment plan to pay it off. The final cost of an entry-level 16GB iPhone 6s with AppleCare+ purchased through the iPhone Upgrade Program is $777.84, which is ultimately the same price as purchasing a 16GB iPhone 6s ($649) and AppleCare+ ($129) outright — but with less due upfront.
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile also offer their own carrier financing plans for iPhones and Galaxy smartphones, each breaking down the full price of the device into equal monthly payments.
Apple Debuts New Ad Focused On Apple Music Playlists During Emmys
Apple debuted a brand new Apple Music ad during the Emmys tonight. The ad features actresses Taraji P. Henson and Kerry Washington hanging out and enjoying Apple Music with singer Mary J. Blige. The ad has a focus on Apple Music’s playlists.
Playlists, the new mixtapes.
Go ahead ladies!
@maryjblige @kerrywashington @TherealTaraji
http://t.co/cctGZAhwuP
https://t.co/VTnkmeEr4E
— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) September 21, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The ad, which was directed by Selma director Ava Duvernay, features Washington, Blige and Henson hanging out at a home and remembering mixtapes before Blige interrupts them to tell them about Apple Music playlists, which she compares to mixtapes. Washington goes a step further and says that Apple’s curated playlists are like having a boyfriend creating you a mixtape. The rest of the ad features the three having fun listening to the curated playlists before revealing the subscription cost of joining Apple Music.
In early August, Apple launched a worldwide advertising campaign featuring billboards and posters. Shortly after that, they debuted three artist-focused ads highlighting the Apple Music’s ability to introduce people to new artists and music. Additionally, Apple released a two-part ad featuring The Weeknd during the MTV VMAs.
Samsung Pay’s first television ad knocks Apple Pay
Three mobile payments services will be vying for your attention this fall. Google, Apple, and Samsung are all ready store your accounts and cards in phones for easy checkout while shopping just about everywhere with a compatible terminal. Samsung Pay, however, is able to tout itself as the mobile payments service that works in more stores than any other. And tonight during the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Samsung ran the very first stateside television advertisement for Samsung Pay to promote its advantage over Apple Pay.
The ad, which you can watch below, shows how easy it is to be shopping (almost) anywhere in the United States with Samsung Pay handling the checkout process. The song “My Favorite Things” plays as Samsung’s devices show Samsung Pay at work before being interrupted by Apple Pay getting rejected. Someone with a Samsung device then steps in and the music resumes.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Samsung Pay’s first television ad knocks Apple Pay
What You Need to Know About iOS Malware XcodeGhost
Palo Alto Networks has published details about new Chinese malware called XcodeGhost. MacRumors has created a FAQ so you can learn more about the malware and how to keep your iOS devices protected.
What is XcodeGhost?
XcodeGhost is a new iOS malware arising from a malicious version of Xcode, Apple’s official tool for developing iOS and OS X apps.
How is XcodeGhost distributed?
A malicious version of Xcode was uploaded to Chinese cloud file sharing service Baidu and downloaded by some iOS developers in China.
Chinese developers then unknowingly compile iOS apps using the modified Xcode IDE and distribute those infected apps through the App Store. Those apps then managed to pass through Apple’s code review process, enabling iOS users to install or update the infected apps on their devices.
Which devices are affected?
iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models running an iOS version compatible with any of the infected apps. The malware affects both stock and jailbroken devices.
Which apps are affected?
Palo Alto Networks has shared a full list of 39 infected iOS apps, including WeChat, NetEase Cloud Music, WinZip, Didi Chuxing, Railway 12306, China Unicom Mobile Office and Tonghuashun.
How many users are affected?
XcodeGhost potentially affects more than 500 million iOS users, primarily because messaging app WeChat is very popular in China and the Asia-Pacific region.
Which unofficial versions of Xcode are affected?
All unofficial versions between Xcode 6.1 and Xcode 6.4.
How does XcodeGhost put my iOS devices at risk?
iOS apps infected with XcodeGhost malware can and do collect information about devices and then encrypt and upload that data to command and control (C2) servers run by attackers through the HTTP protocol. The system and app information that can be collected includes:
Palo Alto Networks also discovered that infected iOS apps can receive commands from the attacker through the C2 server to perform the following actions:
Can XcodeGhost affect users outside of China?
Yes. Some of the iOS apps infected with XcodeGhost malware are available on the App Store in countries outside of China. CamCard, for example, is a popular business card reader and scanner app available in the United States and several other countries, while WeChat is a popular messaging app in the Asia-Pacific region.
Why would some Chinese developers download Xcode from Baidu?
Xcode is a large file that can take a long time to download from Apple’s servers in China, leading some developers to download Xcode from unofficial sources.
How are Apple and Chinese developers dealing with XcodeGhost?
Palo Alto Networks claims that it is cooperating with Apple on the issue, while multiple developers have updated their apps to remove the malware.
How do I protect myself against XcodeGhost?
iOS users should immediately uninstall any infected iOS app listed here on their devices, or update to a newer version that has removed the malware. Resetting your iCloud password, and any other passwords inputted on your iOS device, is also strongly recommended as a precautionary measure.
Developers should install official versions of Xcode 7 or Xcode 7.1 beta from Apple’s website for free and avoid downloading the software from unofficial sources.
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Orders Now Shipping Ahead of September 25
Just days after iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders began shifting to “Preparing for Shipment” status on the Apple Online Store, several customers in the United States and abroad have received notice that the smartphones are now shipping from China for estimated delivery on September 25.
iPhone 6s Plus from Apple scheduled for September 25 delivery via UPS
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders have been shipped by both Apple and carriers such as Verizon and T-Mobile. Most devices are scheduled for overnight shipping next Thursday, meaning that customers should begin receiving their new iPhones on Friday morning, the same day the smartphones launch in twelve countries.
iPhone 6s from Verizon scheduled for overnight shipping on September 24
Apple requires that couriers such as UPS and FedEx in the United States hold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus deliveries until September 25, but in years past some lucky customers have received their device slightly earlier. Meanwhile, New York City and Philadelphia residents could face delays due to Pope Francis visiting next week.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders began on September 12 at 12:01 AM Pacific in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Most iPhone 6s Plus and Rose Gold models are now estimated to ship in 3-4 weeks or later.
There still remains the option of standing in line at an Apple Store for a chance to purchase a specific iPhone model on launch day, but expect long lines at most locations. The new iPhones go on sale September 25 at 8:00 AM local time on a first come, first served basis for customers without reservations.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus Pre-Order Discussion
(Thanks, Alvin and Raquel!)
Apple Pay gets ready to launch in China
Apple is thriving in China, so you can imagine that it’s practically salivating at the thought of launching Apple Pay in the country — and it looks like that may happen relatively soon. The state-backed newspaper Wenhui News has learned that Apple quietly registered a payment business in Shanghai’s free trade zone back in June. While it wasn’t exactly clear what this would entail at the time, Wall Street Journal sources claim that the new business exists chiefly to bring Apple Pay to China. This doesn’t guarantee an imminent debut (Apple still has to line up banks and stores), but the groundwork is now in place. If all goes well, it shouldn’t be too long before tapping your iPhone will buy goods in Beijing.
Revamped Infinite Loop Apple Store in Cupertino Now Open
After being closed since June for a complete overhaul, Apple today re-opened its Infinite Loop Campus Store in Cupertino, California. The store is located on its famous campus, and it is the only Apple Store that sells Apple-branded products like t-shirts, notebooks, and coffee mugs in addition to standard Apple Store fare like MacBooks and iPhones.
Hundreds of people visited the new store today, waiting in long lines to get inside to see the new design. Apple employees were on hand to give out umbrellas to block out the sun and water to beat the 90 degree heat. Customers who waited in line received a free shirt that plays on the Apple Watch and Apple Music, reading just “ Shirt.”
Before it was redesigned, the campus store only sold items like T-shirts and coffee mugs, but after the revamp, it is a full Apple Store that lacks only a Genius Bar for device repairs. The store now sells iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches, Beats headphones, and related accessories like cases and bands, but it does not offer third-party accessories.
All available products are widely spaced out to place focus on each individual item, and as employees at the store opening pointed out, this is the first Apple Store in the U.S. to sport this particular internal design.
While Apple has cut down on the number of Apple-branded swag products that are offered at the store, the company is selling a selection of notebooks, coffee mugs, water bottles, and pens that are designed to match its MacBook lineup in shades of Silver, Space Gray, and Gold.
Apple’s Infinite Loop Store will be open to the public from Monday to Friday, and going forward, the store will also be open on Saturdays, something that’s new for this particular location.
Pope Francis Visit to NYC and Philadelphia Could Delay iPhone 6s Deliveries on Launch Day
While many customers around the world anticipate receiving their brand new iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus when the smartphones launch on September 25, pre-order deliveries in areas of New York City and Philadelphia could be delayed as Pope Francis prepares to visit both of those cities next week.
UPS, a courier service that frequently delivers Apple pre-orders, has posted a temporary service notice on its website that states no pickups and deliveries will be available in the following ZIP codes areas of NYC and Philadelphia between Thursday, September 24 and Saturday, September 26 due to security measures.
The affected areas in New York City are all in Manhattan, including parts of Chelsea, Civic Center, East Harlem, Midtown, Tribeca and the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. Pope Francis will be making appearances in those areas at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, United Nations headquarters, 9/11 Museum, Central Park, Madison Square Garden and elsewhere next Thursday and Friday.
The affected areas in Philadelphia include parts of Bella Vista, Callowhill, Center City, Devil’s Pocket, Fairmount, Grays Ferry, Logan Square, Mantua, Northern Liberties, Passyunk Square, Pennsport, Point Breeze, Poplar, Powelton Village, Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Southwark, Spring Garden, Spruce Hill, University City, Washington Square West, West Philadelphia and West Powelton.
Apple also ships iPhone pre-orders with FedEx and other couriers, while UPS typically offers the option of personal pickup at a holding facility, so there remains a possibility that some New York City and Philadelphia residents will receive their iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus deliveries on launch day. For others, however, it may mean waiting until Monday to get that shiny new iPhone.
Note: Due to the nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
AIVAnet 