2,732×2,048 ‘iPad Pro’ With Model Identifier ‘iPad6,8’ Shows Up in Analytics
Mobile analytics firm AppSee reports that an iPad with model identifier “iPad6,8” and a resolution of 2,732×2,048 pixels — likely the 12.9-inch “iPad Pro” — has appeared within its analytics logs. The firm is also seeing the “iPhone8,1” and “iPhone8,2” in its logs, as others have, which are likely the model identifiers for the so-called “iPhone 6s” and “iPhone 6s Plus.”
A few months ago, Taiwanese iOS developer Hiraku Wang shared iOS 9 beta code that suggested the 12.93-inch “iPad Pro” could have a 2,732×2,048 pixels resolution at 264 PPI based on Apple’s @2x high-resolution modifier. Research firm DisplaySearch also reported in January that Apple had a tablet display with a resolution of 2,732×2,048 pixels and 265 PPI under development.
With new devices beginning to show up in analytics, it is likely that Apple is nearing the final stages of testing new iPhone and iPad models that are expected to be announced in the near future. Apple is rumored to hold a media event on September 9 to unveil the “iPhone 6s” and “iPhone 6s Plus,” but it remains unclear if the “iPad Pro” will also be announced or held back until later in 2015 or early 2016.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a note to investors today that claims the “iPad Pro” will have a Force Touch-enabled stylus and enter mass production in September or October. Kuo expects that Force Touch will become a standard feature on all Apple products, similar to how Siri, Touch ID, Retina displays and other features were released on one device before expanding to others.
iPhone 6s Materials Analysis Confirms Stronger, Less Bendable Aluminum Alloy
Back in April, we first heard rumors about Apple planning to use 7000 Series aluminum alloys for the upcoming “iPhone 6s,” taking advantage of some of the expertise gained in using the material for the Apple Watch Sport to make for a stronger iPhone body compared to the 6000 Series aluminum used on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. That device received significant “Bendgate” attention after some early users found the device bending slightly under pressure in their pockets.
Increasingly reliable reports of 7000 Series aluminum for the iPhone 6s followed by hands-on impressions of a “stronger body” and ultimately some measurements showing thickening of the shell’s weak points have all pointed toward Apple making some changes to improve the strength and durability of the next iPhone.
MacRumors has recently received data on the elemental composition of the iPhone 6s shell, revealing that the aluminum alloy being used by Apple does indeed include roughly 5 percent zinc, which is in line with many 7000 Series alloys and not found in the iPhone 6 shell. A just-published video from Unbox Therapy is showing similar results, as well as test results showing a significantly stronger body more resistant to bending.
Sample points on milled surface of iPhone 6s rear shell
Interestingly, the data we received showed high iron levels of around 8 percent on average, although the iron composition varies significantly among test samples. Unbox Therapy, however, is not seeing particularly high levels of iron in its sample.
We’ve been told that some iron can be introduced into the shell during the milling process, which can account for some of the variability in measurements shared with MacRumors. The small quantities of iron at levels seen by Unbox Therapy can be used to enhance durability and make the material easier to work with during the casting process.
Elemental composition at each sample point
As shown in electron microscope images shared with MacRumors, the iPhone 6s shell is covered with a roughly 10-micron thick anodized aluminum oxide layer to help protect against corrosion. The anodization layer also enables Apple to introduce dyes for various color options.
Scanning electron microscope image showing 10-micron anodization with lighter aluminum color above. Chipped particle can also be seen.
Unbox Therapy also subjected the iPhone 6 and 6s shells to bending tests, finding that while the iPhone 6 shell began experiencing significant bending at roughly 30 pounds of pressure, while the the iPhone 6s shell withstood at least twice as much pressure before bending.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus at a media event on September 9. If tradition holds, the company would begin taking pre-orders a few days later and officially launch the new phone on Friday, September 18. The iPhone 6s should appear largely identical to the iPhone 6 but contain a number of hardware upgrades including Force Touch support, a new A9 chip with 2 GB of RAM, camera improvements, and more. A new rose gold or pink color option has also been rumored.
Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Released With Windows 10 and Cortana Support
Parallels today announced the release of Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac with dual support for OS X El Capitan, Windows 10 and always-on access to Microsoft’s intelligent personal assistant Cortana. Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Business Edition and Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition were also released for business customers, developers, designers and power users.
Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is virtualization software that enables users to use OS X El Capitan and Windows 10 side by side without rebooting, including full support for Windows and Mac apps. The software includes a setup assistant for switching from PC to Mac, one-click optimization settings, Linux and Google Chrome support, advanced security features and more.
The latest version of Parallels Desktop also features Quick Look for Windows documents, Travel Mode for temporarily shutting down resource-intensive services to extend battery life, location services in Windows apps and easy upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Performance improvements include up to 50% faster boot and shut down times, up to 15% longer battery life and up to 20% faster tasks.
Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is $79.99 with a free 14-day trial available, while customers with Parallels Desktop 9 or newer can upgrade for $49.99. Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Business Edition and Pro Edition both retail for $99.99 per year with faster 64GB virtual RAM / 16 vCPUs for each virtual machine and extended premium 24/7 phone and email support.
‘iPad Pro’ With Force Touch-Enabled Stylus Predicted to Enter Mass Production By October
Apple’s long-rumored 12.9-inch “iPad Pro” will enter mass production sometime in September or October, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The analyst also believes that the larger-screened iPad will come with a Force Touch-enabled stylus accessory for users to more easily navigate the increased surface area of the tablet.
The latest rumors for the iPad Pro point towards the device being an unlikely candidate for next month’s iPhone-centered media event, with a mid-to-late fall launch date somewhat lining up with Kuo’s prediction today.
Apple to Demote iPod Stock to Accessory Shelves In Retail Stores
Apple will relocate iPod stock from the sales floor and back storage area to the accessory shelves and remove the iPad-based Smart Signs that sit next to many display devices starting on Wednesday, according to a new report from 9to5Mac. The changes are an effort by Apple to simplify the shopping experience in its retail stores.
Apple is preparing to make significant changes to its stores to simplify the experience by relocating iPod stock to accessory shelves and removing iPad-based Smart Signs, according to several Apple Retail managers briefed today on the plans. Apple will begin rolling out these notable changes overnight on Tuesday to stores in the United States so that customers who begin coming in on Wednesday see the refreshed look.
Apple’s signature products, the iPad, Mac, iPhone, iPod and Apple Watch, have typically been stored in the back storage area of an Apple Store. A customer would have to talk to an Apple Store employee and tell them which model they would like to purchase and wait as their product was retrieved from the back. Apple’s non-signature products, like Apple TV and Time Capsule, are available on the accessory shelves and are easily accessible by customers without having to consult with a retail employee.
Now, customers will be able to simply walk up and pull their iPod of choice off of the store shelves. The demotion of the iPod from the main floor to the shelves is likely reflective of the iPod’s decreased sales, as the device has become an increasingly minor business for Apple. The Cupertino company has also decreased the iPod’s presence on its website, removing the iPod section from the website’s top banner.
Additionally, Apple is removing the iPad 2-based Smart Signs intended to educate customers about Apple products. Sources tell 9to5Mac that some customers would get confused using the Smart Signs, expecting them to be fully usable iPad demo units rather than simple ways to learn about a product. Instead, Apple will begin loading product information directly on the iPads, iPhones and Macs starting next week. With less clutter on the product tables, Apple plans to install more devices for customers to test on the sales floor.
The changes to the retail stores follow Apple’s move to merge its website and online store, also creating a more simplified shopping experience for customers.
Apple Watch Hacked to Display Custom Watch Faces
Apple doesn’t allow developers to create custom watch faces for the Apple Watch, preferring to maintain control over the general look of the device, but that hasn’t stopped iOS developer Hamza Sood from tinkering with the Apple Watch and getting a custom watch face uploaded onto the device.
In a tweet posted this afternoon, Sood shared a video of a custom animated watch face with multiple color options.
After some haxx… Custom watch faces on Apple Watch!
Watch face source code is on GitHub:
https://t.co/7ZvOz8nK34 pic.twitter.com/nQGJKlp6kt
— Hamza Sood (@hamzasood) August 18, 2015
The watch face source code that was used to create the custom watch face has been made available on GitHub and will require watchOS 2. Earlier this summer, Sood also joined several other developers in efforts to hack watchOS 2 to run truly native apps like Canabalt and a Flappy Bird clone.
It is not clear if Apple has plans to allow third-party developers to create watch faces for the Apple Watch in the future, but it’s possible that as watchOS and the Apple Watch mature, Apple will be less restrictive. For now, hacks like Sood’s are the only way to get custom watch faces on the device.
Apple refutes survey that says Apple Music users are jumping ship
Apple Music’s panoply of bugs, cluttered user interface and overall instability has given the service a bit of a bad reputation in its first few months, but that doesn’t appear to be driving away users. In a statement given to The Verge, Apple says that 78 percent of users who signed up for Apple Music are still using the service. This statement was meant to refute a study from research firm MusicWatch. According to the company’s survey of 5,000 US consumers, 48 percent of those that tried Apple Music had stopped using it, despite the fact that it’s free through at least September.
MusicWatch’s survey also made it seem like more users could drop off before long, as well: 61 percent of Apple Music users surveyed turned off the service’s auto-renew feature.This study comes just a few weeks after Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue said that more than 11 million customers had tried Apple Music, a number that “thrilled” the company.
Of course, as Apple itself has shown, one independent survey doesn’t tell the whole story of Apple Music’s fortunes. That’s something that MusicWatch itself is quick to admit — managing partner Russ Crupnick told Engadget that these results were best viewed as a snapshot of a rather unconventional launch. “It’s a new way to go to market in terms of the free trial,” Crupnick said. “I don’t think these results are necessarily a reflection of the quality of the service.” He also cautioned against making assumptions about those 48 percent of Apple Music users that stopped using it. “Even those who said they aren’t using [Apple Music] at the moment, that doesn’t mean they never will,” Crupnick said. “Some of those folks could come back or they may just be more casual users.”
Source:
MusicWatch (BusinessWire), The Verge
Tags: apple, applemusic, music, spotify, streaming, StreamingMusic, survey
CarPlay Praised as Wider Rollout Begins, but Lacks Smarts of Google Maps and Google Now
Despite being announced just over two years ago, CarPlay is only now becoming a built-in option in select new 2015 and 2016 vehicles by Chevrolet, Honda, Volkswagen and other car manufacturers. The in-dash system enables drivers to use Siri for hands-free access to Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts and third-party apps such as Spotify, Rdio, iHeartRadio and MLB At Bat.
CarPlay touchscreen on dashboard of 2016 Corvette Stingray (Image: WSJ)
With CarPlay starting to become a feature car buyers will be considering, Joanna Stern of The Wall Street Journal has published a timely review of CarPlay after testing the dashboard software inside a 2016 Corvette Stingray on a New York City road trip between midtown Manhattan and Rockaway Beach in Queens. Overall, she offered praise for CarPlay, but noted the service “isn’t a complete joyride” and lacks the useful functionality of some Google services.
http://video-api.wsj.com/api-video/player/iframe.html?guid=5A12160D-B750-43CE-9F2F-BA0D32F1F1FD
Stern first noted a positive experience using Siri to control Apple Music and make requests:
But DJ Siri to the rescue! All week she has accurately taken my requests, playing them via Apple Music (but not Spotify or any other third-party apps). “Siri, Play ‘Little Red Corvette.’ ” “Siri, play me Madonna’s top songs.” “Siri, who sings this song?” She does it all—though I wouldn’t object if she were a tad faster.
She also gave high marks to CarPlay’s messaging capabilities and Siri’s accuracy at transcribing words:
Text-message integration is where CarPlay feels miles ahead of any competition from car makers or even Google. […] Siri was, surprisingly, better at helping me respond than Google’s built-in voice assistant. Siri accurately transcribed my words nearly every time. (She forgivably struggled a bit when I was driving with the roof down.)
On the contrary, Stern found Apple Maps to be inferior to Google Maps at providing routing based on traffic conditions:
When I got in the car to go to my friend’s baby naming, Apple Maps routed me through midtown Manhattan, showing a blissfully traffic-ignorant blue line all the way to the destination. Google Maps, however, knew that Park Avenue was closed. It routed me to the FDR Drive, on Manhattan’s east side. Ignoring Apple, and choosing Google’s route, I got there on time.
The review concluded that Apple’s services are “stuck in the slow lane” compared to Google Maps and Google Now:
Siri also struggles when it comes to finding businesses. Sure, she can identify the closest gas stations, and she knows mega-retailers like Starbucks and Target. But when I told her to go to my favorite coffee shop in my New Jersey hometown, she found it… in Limerick, Ireland. Google knew what I was talking about right away.
Google Now might have even guessed I wanted to go there, even before I searched. Culling information from your email, calendar and Web searches, Google’s prediction-based assistant swings into action when you plug your Android phone into an Android Auto-equipped car. In addition to displaying core information like weather and reminders, it anticipates your next destination.
Nevertheless, Stern described CarPlay as the future of in-car technology and said that, if she were in the market for a car right now, she would add Apple’s in-car software to her want list. The full-length review is a worthwhile read and provides a side-by-side comparison of CarPlay’s maps, messaging, music, voice control and home screen features with Google’s rival in-dash system Android Auto.
Night Sky MiniScope Review: This iPhone Telescope is More Frustrating Than Fun
iCandi Apps makes a series of popular star gazing apps designed to let iPhone owners discover constellations, stars, planets, satellites, and more just by pointing an iPhone at the sky. For kids and people interested in learning more about the night sky, these kind of apps are invaluable, and now iCandi Apps has released a new device for home astronomers — the Night Sky MiniScope.
Night Sky MiniScope is a full portable telescope that attaches to your iPhone and pairs with the Night Sky app so you can capture photographs of stars, planets, the Moon, and more. Night Sky MiniScope is not cheap, priced at $349, but it’s undeniably unique.
I want to make it clear that this review is written from a layperson’s point of view. I have never owned a telescope, I don’t do astrophotography, and I can’t review the Night Sky MiniScope comparative to other similarly priced telescopes because I don’t have a point of reference. I’m coming to this review as someone who has an iPhone, an interest in stargazing apps, and experience with photography, so testing the MiniScope is a new experience for me.
The Hardware
iCandi Apps packages the Night Sky MiniScope beautifully. It comes in a custom-designed box that houses the telescope itself, the miniature tripod, case adapters for six different iPhone models, lens caps, and a carry case.
The Night Sky MiniScope is made from a brushed aluminum that matches the aluminum finish on the iPhone. It’s much smaller than a standard telescope and is compact enough to fit into a backpack or a large purse, so it can be taken along on a hike or a camping trip. It’s not going to fit in a pocket or anything, but it’s more portable than the average telescope.
Read more 
Apple Seeds Fifth OS X El Capitan Beta to Public Beta Testers
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of OS X El Capitan to public beta testers, two weeks after seeding the fourth beta and a month after providing the first OS X El Capitan beta to the public for testing purposes.
It is not clear what is included in the fifth public beta as Apple has not released a new seventh OS X El Capitan developer beta, breaking its pattern of seeding betas to developers ahead of public testers. Past betas have featured no outward-facing changes, so it’s likely this beta also focuses on internal performance improvements and bug fixes to get the operating system ready for its public launch.
Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program and already have the public beta installed can update through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
OS X El Capitan is expected to be released to the public in the fall after the beta testing process is complete.
AIVAnet 