Amazon and Apple out new iPhone 7 ahead of announcement
Looks like Amazon jumped the gun and accidentally posted its iPhone 7 accessories landing page ahead of Apple’s actual event. While we can’t guarantee that the page has the correct information about the yet-to-be-announced iPhone, it does look like at least Amazon and Speck are expecting to see the end of the headphone jack on the device. So many Bluetooth headphones. It also looks like the dual camera cases are only for the 7 Plus.
Update: Looks like Apple is getting in on the fun of outing its hardware before the official announcement. The company’s Twitter account just dropped tweets about the new iPhone 7 being water resistant, having stereo speakers and a longer battery life. Plus you can pre-order the new phone on September 16.
Update: Looks like Apple pulled the offending tweets. So here are some screenshots.
New cameras. Water-resistant. Stereo speakers. Longer battery life. This is 7. Learn more. https://t.co/yhSolSpN7J pic.twitter.com/fHHJTnaFEp
— Apple (@Apple) September 7, 2016
iPhone 7. The best iPhone ever, in every way that matters. Pre-order now. Available 9/16. https://t.co/x7ssUQ99p3 pic.twitter.com/jK5y3cpzpr
— Apple (@Apple) September 7, 2016
Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple’s “See You” event.
Via: Gizmodo
Live from Apple’s iPhone 7 launch!
It’s September and Apple is hosting an event. That can only mean one thing: New iPhones are afoot. You may have heard that the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are rumored to ditch the headphone jack, but we’re also hearing talk of larger (maybe even dual) cameras, a pressure-sensitive home button, increased base storage and possible new color options. Even if the no-headphone-jack thing ends up feeling unsurprising, though, we’ll still be curious to hear how Apple justifies the move to would-be buyers, who are likely pretty set in their ways.
Also at today’s keynote we expect to get release dates for the latest versions of iOS, macOS and watchOS, and maybe even a look at the long-awaited second-gen Apple Watch. As for other hardware, reports point to an upcoming Mac refresh, but don’t necessarily expect to see the new models today. Then again, we could be totally wrong there. There’s only one way to find out: Tune in to Engadget at 1PM Eastern today as we liveblog the event from start to finish.
Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple’s “See You” event.
Apple announces the water-resistant iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
Apple accidentally introduced the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the latest iterations of its premium smartphone, via Twitter, before deleting the tweets. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus look remarkably similar to the phones they replace — this is the smallest generational design shift in the iPhone’s history — but that’s not to say nothing has changed.
The antenna bands on the back of the previous models have been made more discreet; they now hug the edges of the device. This repositioning has allowed Apple to squeeze in larger camera bumps on the back. For the first time in the iPhone’s history, the new phones are “water-resistant,” and have stereo speakers. And although they haven’t said so yet, there’s no headphone port to be seen
As hinted at by the larger bumps, the cameras for both models are new. The iPhone 7 Plus — which is sporting that rumored “piano black” look in the render — has a dual-camera setup that we’ll learn more about soon. The iPhone 7 has a 12-megapixel “low-light loving” camera with optical image stabilization.
The new iPhones will be available on September 16th, with pre-orders set to open today. We’ll have much more detail for you when Apple actually announces these things.
This story is developing, please refresh your page for more information…
Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple’s “See You” event.
Apple Music has 17 million paid users with the help of exclusives
When Apple teased its redesign for Apple Music back at WWDC, the company revealed that the the service had reached 15 million paid users. CEO Tim Cook kicked off today’s iPhone event by announcing that In the three months since, the music streaming option tacked on another 2 million. That’s still a long way from Spotify’s 30 million subscribers, but Apple continues to gain ground with features like Beats 1 and a stable of high-profile exclusive releases.
Speaking of exclusives, Tim Cook touted that Apple Music was home to 70 exclusive releases this year, including new material from Taylor Swift, Frank Ocean, Drake and more. It’s only September, so there’s plenty of time for Apple Music to stream a few more albums and videos before they’re available anywhere else.
Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple’s “See You” event.
Mario is coming to the iPhone and iPad
Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto showed up on the Apple stage today to reveal Super Mario Run, an iOS game starring everyone’s favorite red-hatted plumber. Super Mario Run is the first Nintendo title to launch as a standalone smartphone game, aside from the social-focused app Miitomo. It’s due to hit iOS in December. The iTunes listing for Super Mario Run says it’s a free game with in-app purchases.
Super Mario Run stars Mario as he leaps across familiar brick-lined landscapes and platforming levels. Tap to make Mario jump; the longer you hold your finger down, the higher he flies. In later levels, players are able to change Mario’s direction as well. The goal is to grab as many coins as possible and reach the flagpole before time runs out. There’s also a battle mode called “Toad Rally” where players attempt to beat other people’s high scores.
Developing …
Of course EE’s hyping wireless headphones on iPhone 7 day
EE’s Add to Plan scheme lets anyone taking out a two-year smartphone contract walk away with accessories in exchange for a couple of extra quid tacked onto their bill each month. Launched last year, EE today announced a slight change to the T&Cs. Instead of the cost being spread over 18 months and customers paying a premium for the convenience, they’ll now square it away in 11 and pay out no more than the retail price. A wider product range will soon be offered, too, including wearables from Fitbit (from £8 per month), smartwatches and Samsung’s Gear VR headset (also £8 per month).
What EE is pushing above all else, though, is wireless headphones from the likes of Beats, Bang & Olufsen and Skullcandy, which’ll be available through Add to Plan from £3 per month starting September 16th. Interesting timing on EE’s part, given it’s new iPhone day and many a rumour has suggested Apple is dropping the 3.5mm headphone jack this handset generation. Coincidence? Almost certainly not.
Source: EE
Apple’s high-end wireless earbuds may not ship with iPhone 7
The long-rumoured death of the iPhone’s headphone jack has left everybody wondering: What’s going to become of Apple’s EarPods? Well, they’ll probably go wireless, but according to one analyst, they won’t come with your iPhone. They’ll be sold separately — and they might be expensive. KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple will announce a pair of high-end “AirPod” earbuds tomorrow as a premium accessory for iPhone 7 buyers. They won’t come in the box like Apple’s current earbuds, he says, and may not even use Bluetooth.
According to Kuo, Apple may have designed a “Bluetooth-like communications chip” with more strict limits on power consumption. This same low-power chip may also be used to communicate with smart car systems and other home accessories. The Analyst even goes as far as to name Taiwan Semiconductor as the company he believes developed the chip.
So, if Apple’s wireless answer to removing the headphone jack is going to be a premium accessory, what about the average user? Not to worry: Kuo believes the iPhone 7 will bundle in a pair of lighting-connector compatible earbuds or, at bare minimum, a 3.5mm to lighting adapter. Even so, take this report with a grain of salt — Kuo has a strong history of getting these kinds of predictions right, but we won’t know for sure until tomorrow.
Source: Apple Insider, Digital Trends
Trademarks for ‘AirPod Case,’ ‘Iris Engine,’ ‘Touch Bar,’ and More Hint at Future Apple Products
Trademark lawyer Brian Conroy today shared the culmination of months of intensive research on Apple trademarks, giving us some solid insight into what the company might be working on based on its trademark filings around the world.
First and foremost, Conroy has tracked down a trademark filing for the iPhone 7, seemingly confirming the “iPhone 7” name just ahead of tomorrow’s event. The larger version of the iPhone, the “iPhone 7 Plus” is also mentioned in a separate filing, confirming that name as well.
Conroy has also found a trademark filing that confirms the “AirPods” trademark has been registered by Apple. MacRumors first discovered the AirPods trademark late last year and linked it to a lawyer associated with Apple, but Apple was careful to use a shell company for trademark registration. While there was little doubt the AirPods trademark belonged to Apple, there is now no question.
Alongside the AirPods, which are said to be wireless Bluetooth earbuds, Apple also appears to have trademarked the name “AirPod Case,” which is in line with rumors suggesting the AirPods will come with a battery case that is aimed at charging them on the go to increase battery life. The AirPods are rumored to feature four hours of battery life sans case and they could be announced at tomorrow’s event along with updated Beats headphones.
Conroy has also found trademark filings for future Apple products that include “Apple Iris Engine,” “Apple Iris Image Engine,” “Apple Smart Button,” and “Apple Touch Bar,” which he plans to cover in greater detail in later posts. Apple is rumored to be working on iris recognition capabilities for the 2017 iPhone, and “Apple Touch Bar” could potentially refer to the touch panel that’s built into the next-generation MacBook Pro, rumored to be coming tis October. Apple Smart Button is less clear, but could potentially refer to the new touch-based flush Home button coming in the iPhone 7.
Software-based filings have also been discovered, including “Apple Swift Labs,” “Apple Progress Card,” “Apple Breathe,” “Apple Smart View,” “Apple Rich Links,” “iBooks Storytime,” “Control Strip,” and many other trademarks for known iOS 10 features. macOS Sierra trademarks that hint at alternate names Apple might have used for the operating system have also been discovered and will be shared later.
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Amazon, Apple and Google back Microsoft fight over US gag orders
Microsoft isn’t going it alone in its lawsuit fighting gag orders for data requests. Amazon, Apple, Google and Mozilla have contributed to a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Microsoft’s case against the US government over the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which lets officials bar companies from telling customers when officials want their info. In theory, the brief could sway the court’s decision and have it deem the ECPA a violation of the constitutional right to be informed about searches and seizures.
It’s not just tech industry giants contributing, either. Supporters range from oil giant BP through to the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Fox News. Even five former Department of Justice and FBI officials are supporting Microsoft.
There’s no guarantee this will work. The Justice Department insists that Microsoft has no grounds for its lawsuit, that there are steps to protect rights and that there’s a “compelling” interest in keeping criminal investigations secretive. However, as with tech companies supporting Apple in its battle against the FBI, the brief is a reminder that any ruling will have an effect on the rights of many people, not just Microsoft’s users.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Reuters, Mozilla Blog
IFA 2016: The rose gold edition
No, Apple didn’t invent the color pink, but it certainly made “rose gold” famous. It all started last year with the company’s first rose gold iPhones, the 6s and 6s Plus, which quickly inspired other manufacturers to embellish their own devices with identical hues. It’s no surprise, then, that the IFA 2016 show floor is filled with rose gold gadgets, although some would prefer to be described as “copper” or “luxury pink.” Whatever it may be, it’s become a major trend in the tech world, one that shows no sign of slowing down. With that in mind, take a look at some of the best rose gold gadgets we found in Berlin.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
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