Benchmarks Show iPhone Performance Difference When iOS 9’s Low Power Mode is Activated

With iOS 9, Apple introduced a Low Power mode, designed to extend battery life when an iPhone’s power is running low. According to the feature’s description, Low Power mode works by reducing an iPhone’s performance and cutting down on background activity.

Geekbench 3 has just been updated to work with iOS 9, letting us get a more detailed look at how Low Power mode works and how much it throttles an iPhone’s CPU performance when activated.

Without Low Power mode activated, an iPhone 6 Plus scored 1606 on the single-core processor test and 2891 on the multi-core processor test. When Low Power mode was turned on, the same iPhone 6 Plus scored 1019 on the single-core test and 1751 on the multi-core test, suggesting there’s a significant performance reduction when Low Power mode is enabled to save as much battery as possible.

Results were similar on an iPhone 5s, with performance reduced by about 40 percent. We saw single/multi-core scores of 1386/2511 without Low Power mode and scores of 816/1405 with Low Power mode turned on.

Low Power mode activates when an iPhone is at 10 or 20 percent battery level, providing a popup that lets users toggle it on quickly. It can also be turned on via the new Battery section of the Settings app. When it’s turned on, in addition to lowering CPU speeds, Low Power mode also disables Mail Fetch, Background App Refresh, motion effects, and animated wallpapers.

Indicated by a yellow battery icon, by limiting performance and disabling battery draining features, Low Power mode can extend an iPhone’s battery life by up to three hours. Other performance improvements in iOS 9 extend the iPhone’s battery by an hour even when Low Power mode is not enabled.

iOS 9 is currently available to developers and will be released to the general public in the fall.

(Thanks, Brandon!)

Troubleshoot Issues on Apple Watch by Backing Up and Restoring [iOS Blog]

No matter how much research and testing goes into ensuring the Apple Watch runs smoothly with no problems, there’s always a chance that you will have to perform a few IT-style actions in order to fix a minor issue with your device.

The best way to troubleshoot a problem on Apple Watch is to backup the data and restore it. We’ve got a guide for backing up your Apple Watch to your iPhone and then restoring data from a backup.

Backups include most data collection, like system settings, language, Mail, Calendar, Stocks, app-specific data, and health and fitness data (if you are using iCloud or an encrypted iTunes backup).

Backups do not include calibration data, synced playlists, credit and debit cards used for Apple Pay, and your Apple Watch passcode

Backup iPhone First

Before starting the process on your Apple Watch, it is a good idea to sync the data on your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes. When you do, any previously backed up Apple Watch data is included.

Unpair Apple Watch

The only way to force a backup on Apple Watch is to unpair it from your iPhone. Unfortunately, this is a time consuming process.
Read more

App Store Search Bug Prevents iPads From Seeing iPhone-Only Apps [iOS Blog]

It appears some iPad users are seeing a bug in the iOS App Store that prevents them from being able to locate and download iPhone-only apps. When using an iPad to search for an app that’s only available on the iPhone like Instagram or Snapchat, results do not list iPhone-only apps even when the “iPhone Only” filter is turned on.

For example, in a search for “Snapchat” on an iPad Air 2 with the “iPhone Only” option selected, the results that are displayed include only universal apps made by third-party companies. The actual Snapchat app does not come up in the results at all, preventing it from being installed on an iPad. A test for several other iPhone-only apps revealed the same search error.

It is not clear when this App Store search bug started, but we first saw an issue last night and a MacRumors reader alerted us to the problem this morning. It is also not clear if all users are experiencing the issue, but each of the iPads we tested failed to bring up the proper search results.

It’s likely this is an error that Apple will fix shortly, and while iPhone only apps can’t be downloaded via search, they’re still available in the list of purchased apps. Installing an iPhone-only app on the iPad can be done by installing it on an iPhone first and then downloading it on the iPad from the purchased list. It’s also possible to search for the app in Safari to get a direct link to it in the App Store.

(Thanks Tim!)

OS X El Capitan Code Hints at 4K 21.5-inch Retina iMac

Apple’s newest OS X El Capitan beta, released on Tuesday, contains code that may hint at some upcoming Apple product updates. Shared by 9to5Mac, the code references a Retina display with a 4096 x 2304 resolution, potentially referring to a future 21.5-inch Retina iMac with a 4K resolution.

There’s also a mention of Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200, the graphics chipset that accompanies Intel’s newest line of Broadwell processors. Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 and a Broadwell/Skylake processor could potentially be destined for a 4K 21.5-inch Retina iMac, but the chipset is also suitable for a number of notebooks. There’s a further mention of AMD Radeon M380 – M395X graphics, which could be used in high-end iMac models.

Apple has updated its 27-inch iMac with a 5K Retina resolution, but the 21.5-inch iMac has thus far remained untouched as Apple has had to wait on appropriate chips for the machine. Apple’s plans for the 21.5-inch iMac remain unclear, as Intel has only released two desktop-class Broadwell chips and does not plan to release additional desktop chips. For that reason, a 21.5-inch Retina iMac update could still be months off should Apple opt to wait for Broadwell’s successor, Skylake.

In addition to pointing towards a potential 21.5-inch iMac upgrade, code in the latest El Capitan beta also hints at a revamped Remote with a multi-touch trackpad that supports scrolling, a dedicated Bluetooth chip, and audio support, potentially for Siri commands. Details on the remote, which will likely accompany the upcoming Apple TV, were first shared in May.

Apple Updating iTunes U With New Tools for Students and Teachers [iOS Blog]

Apple will today launch a significant upgrade to its iTunes U, reports Re/code. The aim of the update is to improve the tools available for teachers to interact with students, incorporate educational apps in course materials, and manage homework assignments.

Following the update, students who use iPads in the classroom will be able to submit homework assignments directly from their tablets, complete with time stamps to make sure work is turned in on time. The change makes it easier for students to submit homework, but it also simplifies the grading process for teachers, with alerts whenever an assignment is received and tools for sending reminders to students who are failing to turn in their work.

Teachers will also be able to use popular third-party educational apps in their iTunes U course materials, and there are new discussion features that allow students and teachers to more easily interact and share ideas.

As Re/code points out, iTunes U has become an increasingly important tool for teachers who incorporate the iPad into their classrooms. Teachers can use the tool to create entire courses using digital textbooks, videos, and apps, with today’s update enhancing the tool’s capabilities even further.

Beats 1 to Include Programming Blocks From Celebrities Like Elton John, Pharrell, and Dr. Dre

News has been swirling around the impending launch of Apple’s new streaming music service, Apple Music, for a few weeks now. This morning, it was revealed that rapper Eminem will be the first official guest interviewed by DJ Zane Lowe on the Beats 1 live 24/7 radio show, setting up for a launch next Tuesday, June 30. Today, thanks to an in-depth post from The New York Times, new details regarding the show’s programming schedule and celebrity partners have been revealed.

Lowe envisions Beats 1 as a sort of social media platform for music, a place where users worldwide can flock to in search of new song discoveries and celebrity interviews and news, akin to platforms like Twitter and Instagram. To tackle such a task, Beats 1 will be broken down into one- and two-hour slots, sometimes hosted and produced by celebrities and musicians themselves.

“Everyone keeps going to their devices because of fear of missing out,” he said. “I’m constantly going on Instagram, Twitter, wondering what’s going on in my friends’ lives. What am I missing? I want that for radio. What’s on right now, right now, that I didn’t know I wanted to listen to?”

To keep Beats 1 sounding fresh around the world, the station will alternate one- and two-hour programming blocks by established broadcasters with those by musicians and celebrities, who will host and plan the shows themselves. Among the names on board: the teen actor Jaden Smith, the alternative singer St. Vincent, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and the British electronic duo Disclosure.

Small hints were given to the specificities of some of Beats 1’s shows, including a Dr. Dre-hosted hour called “The Pharmacy,” and a smash-up between eclectic oldies and modern classics hosted by Elton John, suitably titled “Elton John’s Rocket Hour.” Other celebrity partners with planned shows include Pharrell and Drake, the former with a planned exclusive single for the service and the latter publicly supporting Apple Music on stage at WWDC this year.

The original idea for Beats 1 came from musician — and key designer of Apple Music — Trent Reznor, who hoped to expand the window of each individual user’s musical tastes, fearing a lack of discovery and creativity in the current landscape of digital downloads. Listening to Lowe’s own BBC-hosted radio show led Reznor to eventually helping Apple form and create the idea of Apple Music, and specifically a worldwide “monoculture” of a radio show in Beats 1. “Part of the last three months has been desperately trying to come up with a new word that’s not radio,” Lowe mentioned to The New York Times. “We couldn’t do it.”

Apple Music has faced a few hurdles in the weeks leading up to its big debut, namely in the public criticism of its three-month free trial by musician Taylor Swift, followed immediately by the company’s reversal on its no-royalties policy during that period. Those interested should check out The New York Times‘ full-length feature on Zane Lowe and his addition to Apple Music, which is just five days away from launch.

T-Mobile’s New ‘Jump On Demand’ Lease Program Allows Up to 3 Smartphone Upgrades Per Year [iOS Blog]

T-Mobile today introduced a new Jump on Demand smartphone trade-in program that enables customers to upgrade their smartphone up to three times per year with no fees or waiting times. The new program provides customers with a new smartphone with $0 due at signing in return for 18 monthly payments alongside the standard cost of a service plan. The smartphone can then be upgraded up to 3 times in a 12-month period at no cost.

“With Jump! On Demand, you make payments on your phone for 18 months. After 18 months, you can simply turn in your phone with nothing more to pay, or upgrade to your next new phone and start a new plan, or make a final payment and keep your phone. If you keep your phone and make the final payment, the total of your payments will equal the retail price of the phone. In addition, customers can pay off their JUMP! On Demand plan at any time by paying the remaining payments in advance, and keep their phone without penalty.”

Customers that cancel their T-Mobile wireless service in less than 18 months must pay the sum of their final monthly payments and return the working smartphone, or purchase the smartphone outright for a fee, such as $164 for the iPhone 6. Jump on Demand will be available for eligible devices at participating T-Mobile stores in the United States beginning Sunday, June 28.

NSFW Warning: Language may not be suitable for all audiences

T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus through Jump On Demand for just $15 and $19 per month respectively for a limited time, prices that are unmatched by competing carriers. T-Mobile customers interested in the deal can sign up to receive updates about Jump On Demand through the carrier’s website.

Taylor Swift to Stream Top-Selling Album ‘1989’ on Apple Music

Taylor Swift has decided to stream her most recent best-selling album “1989” on Apple Music when the music service launches on June 30 next week.

After the events of this week, I’ve decided to put 1989 on Apple Music…and happily so.

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 25, 2015

Updating…

Apple Removes Civil War Games From App Store Because of Confederate Flag

Apple has removed seemingly all Civil War games from the App Store for displaying the Confederate Flag in “offensive and mean-spirited ways,” our sister website TouchArcade has learned. Apple has sent a removal letter to affected developers to inform them that their app does not comply with Section 19.1 of the App Store Review Guidelines.

“19.1 Apps containing references or commentary about a religious, cultural or ethnic group that are defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited or likely to expose the targeted group to harm or violence will be rejected.”

MacRumors did a spot check of the App Store and can confirm that Apple has removed dozens of Civil War games depicting the Confederate Flag, which has been at the center of a racial controversy ignited by a Charleston, South Carolina church shooting last week. Most educational or generic Civil War apps remain available on the App Store.

A sampling of the Civil War games removed from the App Store:

Civil War: 1863

Apple did not immediately respond to request for comment.

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.

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