Apple Seeds Fifth OS X El Capitan Beta to Developers
Apple today released the fifth beta of OS X El Capitan to developers for testing purposes, less than one week after releasing the fourth El Capitan beta and nearly two months after unveiling the operating system at its 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference.
Today’s update is available through the software update mechanism in the Mac App Store and through the Apple Developer Center.
It is not clear if this update will add any outward-facing changes to El Capitan, as the past few betas have focused on under-the-hood performance improvements and bug fixes to optimize the operating system ahead of its public release. We’ll add new features and bug fixes in beta 5 to this post should any tweaks be discovered.
As an update complementary to OS X Yosemite, OS X El Capitan builds on the myriad features introduced last year. Behind-the-scenes improvements in El Capitan make a number of apps and processes on the Mac faster, and the introduction of Metal makes system-level graphics rendering 40 percent more efficient.
El Capitan introduces a new system-wide font, a revamped Mission Control feature, a split-view feature for using two full-screen apps at once, deeper functionality for Spotlight, and improvements to Safari that include Pinned Sites and a universal mute button.
OS X 10.11 El Capitan is currently available to both registered developers and public beta testers. Apple plans to release El Capitan to the public in the fall.
Parallels 11 With Windows 10 to Allow Mac Users to Access Cortana on OS X
When Windows 10 is released to the public next week, Windows users will have desktop access to Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant designed to compete with Apple’s Siri. It appears Mac OS X users may also be able to access Cortana on OS X, using an updated version of the Parallels Windows virtualization software. For those unfamiliar with Parallels, it’s software that’s designed to let you run Windows and Windows apps on your Mac.
According to a now-deleted leaked site that details upcoming features in Parallels 11, the software is gaining a new Windows 10 feature that will let Cortana be accessed on OS X while Windows 10 is running in the background.
As explained by Neowin, who shared the leaked site over the weekend, that means Cortana can be accessed with the “Hey Cortana” command while using other applications on the Mac. It is not clear if all of Cortana’s functionality is available when run this way, but in Windows 10, Cortana has a wide range of useful features.
The virtual assistant can search the web, find installed files and apps, monitor calendar appointments, access the weather, and more. Like with Siri, Cortana can be asked fact-finding questions like “What are the latest NBA scores” or “What’s going on near me this weekend?”
Announced last year, Cortana is a digital assistant named for an AI character in the popular Halo video game series and voiced by Jen Taylor, who also did the AI voice work. Cortana, which has a distinctly female personality, is powered by the Bing search engine and differs from Siri based on the ability to ask questions about users and monitor their activity to learn more about them.
Cortana has a “notebook” that stores information on each user’s interests, favorite places, preferred music, relationships with people, appointment dates, preferred quiet hours, and more. When Cortana debuted, Microsoft described this feature as “her view of you,” designed to let Cortana perform functions a wide range of personalized functions.
While Windows 10 is set to be released next week, there is no word on when Parallels 11 with the new Cortana feature will launch. Parallels 10, the current version of Parallels, has been updated to support Windows 10.
In addition to being available on Mac OS X through Parallels 11, Cortana is also coming to the iPhone. Microsoft plans to launch a Cortana app for iOS later this year.
Apple, Google join White House pledge to fight climate change
Some of the US’ bigger tech firms have already made conspicuous efforts to embrace clean energy and otherwise tackle climate change, but they’re reinforcing that commitment today. Apple, Google and Microsoft are among the 13 corporate giants helping the White House launch the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, which encourages companies to cut pollution and use sustainable resources. The tech industry members aren’t really changing course (they’re already using or moving to 100 percent energy, for example). However, they’re definitely showing how their bread is buttered — they’re “setting an example” for others, and pushing for good results from the climate negotiations in Paris this year. Think of the pledge as both a publicity grab as well as a formal acknowledgment of ongoing work.
[Image credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite]
Filed under: Misc, Apple, Microsoft, Google
Source: White House, Google, Microsoft
Apple Music Exclusively Debuts Keith Richards ‘Trouble’ Video
Continuing on with its stream of exclusive content, Apple Music is today premiering the video for Keith Richards’ latest single, “Trouble.” The video is exclusively available through Apple Music Connect on Keith Richards’ page on the artist-focused social networking site.
Because the video is shared on Apple Music Connect, it does not require an Apple Music subscription to watch. Designed to let fans connect with artists, Apple Music Connect’s content is all available for free and will continue to be free after people’s three-month free trials expire.
Exclusive video premiere of “Trouble” from Keith Richards (@officialKeef) is now on #Connect! http://t.co/A2hdB371cU pic.twitter.com/397EIQ0n8h
— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) July 27, 2015
“Trouble” is the newest single from Rolling Stones member Keith Richards, originally released in mid-July. The single is part of his upcoming album, Crosseyed Heart, which is his first solo album in over 20 years. The full album is set to be released on September 18.
Alongside the debut of the “Trouble” music video on Apple Music Connect, Keith Richards also did an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1 radio. It will replay tonight at 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Apple uses exclusive content and interviews as a way to lure customers and distinguish itself from the myriad other music services available, and has premiered videos like Pharrell’s “Freedom” and Eminem’s “Phenomenal.” A recent rumor has suggested some of the exclusive videos Apple has offered, including Drake’s “Energy,” have been developed in-house with Apple working alongside artists to produce content for Apple Music.
Apple Appears to Have Ditched Plans for 4-Inch ‘iPhone 6c’ in 2015
While several reports since last December claimed that Apple was planning to release a new 4-inch “iPhone 6c” as a low-cost option alongside the so-called “iPhone 6s” and “iPhone 6s Plus” later this year, Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri recently told investors that supply chain evidence of the rumored smartphone has seemingly disappeared since around March.
Arcuri, in a research note obtained by Business Insider, speculates that Apple may have delayed or dropped plans to release the “iPhone 6c” due to concerns that the budget smartphone would cannibalize the iPhone 6, which has experienced record-breaking sales and could continue to be a hot product for Apple if given a price reduction alongside the “iPhone 6s” and “iPhone 6s Plus” in September.
“I think one of the reasons is because the iPhone 6 has sold so well,” Arcuri said. “And they said, ‘Look, why would we want to cannibalize? If we came out with an iPhone 6C, we would essentially cannibalize a price-reduced iPhone 6.’”
Arcuri believed that the “iPhone 6c” would essentially be iPhone 6 hardware shrunken down to the size of an iPhone 5s, including an all-metal unibody that would differentiate itself from the plastic iPhone 5c released in 2013. Investment banking firm Jefferies predicted in late June that a 4-inch metal “iPhone 6c” will be released in early 2016, but that timing appears questionable.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a note to investors in April that claimed a new 4-inch iPhone was unlikely in 2015, and a few weeks later said that Apple is instead likely to release a new 4-inch iPhone with Apple Pay compatibility in 2016. Kuo said that Foxconn will be the primary manufacturer of the low-cost handset, but Apple’s product roadmap could have changed since that time.
Apple frequently tests new products and services internally that are never released, so it is entirely possible that the company never planned to make the “iPhone 6c” available to the public. Sketchy rumors and leaked images of the purported “iPhone 6c” shell — notably plastic — began picking up in December, but few concrete details about the rumored smartphone have surfaced since that time.
iPad Mini 4 Rumored to Be Smaller Version of iPad Air 2, A9-Based iPad Air 3 Still Possible for 2015
Apple’s fourth-generation iPad mini could be a miniaturized version of the iPad Air 2, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara. The report claims that the iPad mini 4 will adopt some of the same features and specifications as the iPad Air 2, including an 8-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera, ultra-thin 6.1mm design and possibly a fully laminated display with anti-reflective coating.
Mac Otakara claims that Apple may release the new iPad mini alongside an A9-based iPad Air 3, contrary to a sketchy report last week from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News that said no new iPad Air will be released in 2015 and that the iPad mini 4 could be Apple’s last 7.9-inch tablet as the company focuses on its larger-sized iPad Air and much-rumored “iPad Pro” in the future.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a respectable track record at reporting on Apple’s upcoming product plans, recently issued a note to investors that also claimed the iPad mini 4 will essentially be a smaller version of the iPad Air 2. Kuo did not make any predictions about the iPad Air 3 or the “iPad Pro” in his note, but he has mentioned the latter 12.9-inch tablet in previous notes to investors.
Apple releasing a trio of new iPads later this year — the iPad Air 3, iPad mini 4 and “iPad Pro” — could help the company rebound from five consecutive quarters of declining iPad sales. Moreover, while Mac Otakara has a respectable track record reporting about Apple, there is not enough substantive evidence at this time to firmly suggest that all three tablets will actually be unveiled this autumn.
Apple, Google, and Microsoft Among Companies Signing New White House Climate Pledge
Apple will join twelve other companies from across the country today at the White House in support of the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, which aims to tackle climate change head-on thanks to the backing of partners like Apple.
The new pledge will cut nearly 6 billion tons of carbon pollution through the year 2030, “an amount equivalent to taking all the cars in the United States off the road for more than 4 years.” Apple’s addition to the pledge doesn’t appear to include any projects debuting exclusively for the new initiative, but the company will seemingly continue to heavily support a positive environmental message, now in partnership with the White House.
Apple, already running all of its U.S. operations on 100% renewable energy, will bring an estimated 280 megawatts of clean power generation online by the end of 2016 through investments in Arizona, California, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon and Sichuan Province, China. Since 2011, Apple has reduced carbon emissions from its global corporate facilities, data centers and retail stores by 48%.
The other companies signing the pledge include: Alcoa, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Cargill, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Goldman Sachs, Google, Microsoft, PepsiCo, UPS, and Walmart. By signing on as a partner, the companies are voicing support for a “strong” outcome for the climate negotiations in Paris this December, and promising an “ongoing commitment” to positive environmental action.
In total, the American Business Act on Climate Pledge amounts to about $140 billion in environmental investments, with all of the participating companies estimated to generate more than 1,600 megawatts of new renewable energy. As the White House points out, the partnerships announced today “are only the beginning,” with a second round of pledges expected to be announced sometime this fall.
Note: Due to the political 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.
Beijing Police Shut Down Large-Scale Factory That Made Over 41,000 Counterfeit iPhones
Beijing police have shut down a large iPhone counterfeiting ring within the city that had managed to produce more than 41,000 fake versions of the flagship smartphone, some of which even managed to reach the United States (via Reuters). All told, the ring’s counterfeit production had grown to be worth as much as 120 million yuan (about $19 million).
The police have arrested a total of nine suspects thought to be involved directly in the counterfeiting operation, all due to a combined effort to enforce stricter counterfeit and intellectual property laws in China. Of the nine arrested were a 43-year-old man and his 40-year-old wife, whom police believe ran the counterfeit scam under a gadget maintenance shop front before the operation was raided in May.
The information is just coming out today, however, thanks to a social media post from the public security bureau in Beijing, which said the couple had set up the factory in January, beginning with as many as six assembly lines and “hundreds” of workers. The raid, which took place on May 14 thanks to a tip from United States authorities, ended with the police seizing as many as 1,400 counterfeit smartphones and “large quantities” of accessories.
The counterfeit iPhone — and now Apple Watch — market has grown in China since the device’s debut, and only became more prevalent a few years back when entire counterfeit Apple Stores were discovered by a blogger who posted photos of the false retail stores online. China remains a big target for Apple, with the company stating during last week’s earning call that the country is positioned to be its “largest market in the future.” It’s already begun to affect changes in the design of its products, with Tim Cook confirming that Chinese consumer tastes are the main reason behind the new gold color options of the iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch lines.
Apple to Expand Retail Presence in India With 500 Authorized Mobility Resellers
Following a focus on expanding its presence in the greater China area, sources speaking with NDTV Gadgets have confirmed Apple is looking to increase its foothold in India as well through the launch of a new retail store program. The new initiative — dubbed the Authorized Mobility Resellers program — will reportedly see the company open 500 retail store locations across 12 cities in India.
The stores will showcase a heavier focus on Apple’s mobile offerings, like the iPhone and iPad, along with “related third-party accessories.” Apple has already signed up over 100 partners it wants to work with on the AMR program and has even begun to earmark specific locations it wants for the new retail sites. The company will also allow the program to discount iPhones below retail price, according to the information gained from NDTV Gadgets.
Apple products are rarely sold at a discount across the world and there was a time when India was pretty much the same. However, in recent years Apple has changed its distribution model and has been happy to turn a blind eye to retailers discounting the iPhone, MacBook Air, and other products as it looks to gain marketshare. NDTV Gadgets has learnt that Apple will follow a similar model with AMR partners, which means they will be able to sell below MRP.
Apple will hire a contractor to be sure that all of the sites adhere to the company’s strict guidelines regarding size and design, but afterwards the company will hand back over reigns to the third-party resellers it’s partnering with to operate and run the stores. The exact timeline of the AMR program remains unclear, however, with no word from Apple on whether its presence in the country could be seen as early as this year or not.
Apple Maps Vehicles to Begin Surveying France and Sweden in August
Apple has announced that its fleet of vehicles collecting street-level mapping data in multiple countries will begin surveying France and Sweden throughout August. The vehicles will be driving through the Malmö and Stockholm metropolitan areas in Sweden and Île-de-France region of Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne in France.
Apple Maps vehicles will also begin surveying Tennessee later in August, raising the total number of U.S. states that Apple has driven through to 30. Apple began collecting street-level mapping data in 13 more U.S. states this month, including Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Apple confirmed in June that it is driving vehicles around the world to collect data to improve Apple Maps, and the mapping imagery is almost certainly being used to create a Google Maps “Street View” competitor. Apple Maps vehicles are also taking photos of businesses and storefronts in major metropolitan areas to replace current imagery provided by third-party sources such as Yelp.
Apple has posted a complete list of new areas in the United States, France, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom it will be surveying throughout August on its Apple Maps vehicles website, including extended coverage of unmapped areas in California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Texas, Utah and Washington.
