MacBook Buyer’s Guide: Which MacBook is Right for You? [Mac Blog]

With the recent introduction of the 12-inch MacBook, Apple’s added a whole new product to the existing MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineup, making it more difficult than ever to decide which MacBook is right for you.

If you’re planning a purchase and you just aren’t sure which Apple notebook suits your needs, read through this guide, which will walk you through all of the options and give you the pros and cons of each machine.

You can basically think of Apple’s product lineup as meeting two different needs: power and portability.

If you’re looking for a machine that’s going to handle whatever you can throw at it, you’re going to want the MacBook Pro. If you’re looking for something that’s portable and more than capable of handling every day tasks, you’re going to want to look at the MacBook Air. And if you want the newest technology, the latest form factor, the ultimate in portability, and you don’t mind the price tag, the MacBook is the machine for you.

Retina MacBook Pro

The Retina MacBook Pro is Apple’s workhorse MacBook, with the fastest processors, the best graphics, and the most available RAM (via upgrade). If you want to do things like serious photo, video, or audio editing, this is the Mac for you. Use Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, or Logic Pro X on a regular basis? You probably need a MacBook Pro.

You’re also going to want to choose a MacBook Pro if you want a machine capable of playing modern system-intensive games. Don’t care about games and just want to do things like browse the Internet, write papers, and answer emails? The MacBook Pro may be more computer than you need — consider a MacBook Air if you don’t care about a Retina screen, or a MacBook if you don’t mind the price.
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Google Debuts ‘Project Fi’ Wireless Service in Partnership With Sprint, T-Mobile

Google today announced its entrance into the wireless service business, with the debut of Project Fi, a service that combines multiple cellular networks with Wi-Fi hotspots to offer “the best network wherever you go.”

As rumored back in January, Google is teaming up with both Sprint and T-Mobile for Project Fi, and the two carriers will provide the cellular service for Google’s initiative. With Project Fi service, customers will be able to connect to the fastest network at any given location, whether it’s Sprint LTE, T-Mobile LTE, or a Wi-Fi hotspot.

We developed new technology that gives you better coverage by intelligently connecting you to the fastest available network at your location whether it’s Wi-Fi or one of our two partner LTE networks. As you go about your day, Project Fi automatically connects you to more than a million free, open Wi-Fi hotspots we’ve verified as fast and reliable. Once you’re connected, we help secure your data through encryption. When you’re not on Wi-Fi, we move you between whichever of our partner networks is delivering the fastest speed, so you get 4G LTE in more places.

By positioning itself as an MVNO or mobile virtual network operator partnered with existing carriers, Google is able to provide reliable cellular service and its own pricing tiers without needing to build out its own infrastructure. Other well-known MVNO’s in the U.S. include Boost Mobile, FreedomPop, and Straight Talk.

Project Fi brings phone numbers to the cloud, letting users talk and text with their personal phone numbers on any phone, tablet, or computer, and it introduces a simplified pricing structure that’s easier to understand than most carriers’ complicated plans.

There’s a single plan that costs $20 per month for talk, text, and Wi-Fi tethering, plus an extra $10 per GB for cellular data in the U.S. and abroad. So a plan with unlimited talk and text with 3GB of data would be priced at $50. Google’s also only charging for data used, so customers who pay for 3GB and only use 1GB will get a refund.

Google is debuting a Project Fi early access program that’s available to customers who have a Nexus 6. According to Google, this is the first smartphone that supports the hardware and software necessary to work with Project Fi. Nexus 6 users can in areas where coverage is available can request access.

Google is the first major technology company to introduce its own wireless service, and it’s possible that other companies could follow in its footsteps. In the past, there were rumors suggesting Apple would take on the role of a mobile carrier, selling service directly to consumers, but in 2012, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple did not need to be a carrier and would be better off focusing its efforts on making great devices.

Apple to Offer Band Only Exchanges for Apple Watch

Apple is planning to offer customers an opportunity to exchange only their Apple Watch bands rather than an entire Apple Watch if a band is the wrong size or the wrong style. Retail employees have been instructed to suggest a band swap as an alternative to a whole watch return if an Apple Watch is being returned based on size, color, or band style.

A band swap, according to an internal employee training document, can potentially save the customer time as it eliminates the need to set up and sync an entirely new watch. Band swaps are available for the Apple Watch Sport and the stainless steel Apple Watch, but will not be available for the more expensive gold Apple Watch Edition.

There are several rules for band swaps:

– The new band must be within the same collection as the watch and must be an available band option for that watch face.

– The band swap is within 14 day return period.

– The watch must have been purchased at the Apple Online Store, Kiosk, or Apple Store App.

– You are not using band swaps as a way to configure a sellable product for a customer.

Band swaps won’t be done entirely in store. After an employee confirms that a customer is within their 14-day return window and wants a new band, the swap must be initiated through the Online Store call center. Customer support representatives will create a new band order, ship it out to the customer, and provide instructions on how to mail in an old band for a refund.

One interesting tidbit in the document suggests band swaps can’t be done for watches purchased at other retailers for warranty reasons, such as those bought from select boutiques around the world where the Apple Watch will be sold, including Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London, The Corner in Berlin, and more.

If a customer wants to make a full watch return rather than just a band return, the band must be provided. Apple will not provide partial refunds — bands that shipped with a watch cannot be returned for a refund and Apple Watches cannot be returned without their bands.

The document also outlines the full return guidelines for the Apple Watch Sport, the Apple Watch, and the gold Apple Watch Edition, with the latter requiring a “visual, mechanical, and micro-inspection” by a trained genius accompanied by a manager.

The Apple Watch is set to launch this Friday, with the first customers receiving their pre-orders at that time. Supplies are constrained, but Apple has been making efforts to get shipments out as fast as possible. Many Apple Watch bands are also in short supply with multi-week shipping estimates, so customers who do wish to exchange a band might have to wait awhile for their desired band to be available.

Apple Confirms Many Apple Watch Pre-Orders Will Arrive Sooner Than Expected

Earlier today, a number of Apple Watch pre-orders with delivery estimates of 4-6 weeks or later started changing from “Processing Items” to “Preparing for Shipment” on the Apple Online Store. Apple also began charging some credit and debit cards of customers with orders showing extended shipping times.

Apple has since confirmed to John Paczkowski at BuzzFeed that many customers will receive their Apple Watch pre-orders sooner than expected. The company says it is working hard to fulfill orders as quickly as possible based on the order in which they were received, and does note that some customers are still in for a long wait.

“We’re happy to be updating many customers today with the news that their Apple Watch will arrive sooner than expected,” an Apple spokeswoman told BuzzFeed News. “Our team is working to fill orders as quickly as possible based on the available supply and the order in which they were received. We know many customers are still facing long lead times and we appreciate their patience.”

Apple Watch pre-orders will begin on April 24 as scheduled, although exactly how many customers will receive theirs on day one remains to be seen. Ahead of the launch, customers in the United States have started receiving UPS shipment notifications confirming their upcoming Apple Watch delivery. Pre-orders became available on April 10 at 12:01 AM Pacific and sold out in less than six hours, with a combination of strong demand and limited supply quickly pushing back shipping estimates.

MacRumors reported earlier this month that Apple Watch pre-orders could arrive sooner than expected, based on an email exchange with an executive relations spokesperson that said extended shipping times were set deliberately to avoid disappointment.

‘Knock’ Aims to Let You Unlock Your Mac With Your Apple Watch [iOS Blog]

Knock, the iOS app that lets you unlock your Mac with Bluetooth instead of a password, is today being updated with Apple Watch support, bringing the same unlocking capabilities to Apple’s upcoming wrist worn device.

Knock for iOS lets an iPhone pair to a Mac to bypass the need to enter a password, and Knock for Apple Watch will work in the same way. It will no longer be necessary to dig an iPhone out of a bag or a purse, because the Apple Watch with Knock Glance will also let users log into their Macs.

When we saw Apple Watch, we knew immediately that we had to make Knock one of the first apps available for it. Knock and Apple Watch are a match made in heaven. With Knock 2.0, leaving your iPhone in your bag or the other room isn’t a problem. Whenever you open your Mac, Knock is right there at your wrist, ready to go. And with the Knock Glance, you can even unlock your Mac while you walk over to it — or lock it as you walk away.

Today’s Knock update also includes Touch to Unlock, which aims to introduce an extra layer of security for those who need it. With Touch to Unlock, unlocking a Mac with an iPhone also requires a finger to be placed on Touch ID, so it’s no longer possible to unlock the Mac with just the iPhone in the event of a theft.

The new Touch to Unlock feature works in conjunction with the Apple Watch in a unique way that’s similar to how Apple Pay works. When the Apple Watch is placed on the wrist, users are prompted to use Touch ID or a PIN code to unlock a Mac, and that enables the Apple Watch to continue to unlock the Mac as long as it remains in contact with skin on the wrist.

When removed from the wrist, the Apple Watch will no longer be able to unlock the Mac, effectively preventing it from being used to open a Mac with Knock installed without the owner’s permission. Touch ID Apple Watch verification through skin contact lets Knock users take advantage of two-factor security without the hassle of needing to place a fingerprint on the iPhone each time a connected Mac is unlocked.

Knock for iPhone has received some criticism because it often takes longer to unlock a Mac with the iPhone than it does when entering a password, but some users have found it to be a fun alternative to the standard password entry for Macs. It’s not clear if the Apple Watch will speed up the unlocking process, but Knock provides an interesting look at one of the ways the Apple Watch can be used by developers.

Knock can be downloaded from the App Store for $3.99. [Direct Link]

Some Apple Watch Pre-Orders With 4-6 Weeks or June Delivery Estimates Already ‘Preparing for Shipment’

With less than two days until the Apple Watch launches in the United States and eight other countries, customers who pre-ordered the Apple Watch and received shipping estimates of 4-6 weeks or later are beginning to see earlier than expected movement on their orders placed through the Apple Online Store.

A growing number of people have turned to the MacRumors discussion forums and tipped us individually about their Apple Watch pre-orders with 4-6 weeks or June delivery estimates changing from “Processing Items” to “Preparing for Shipment” on Apple’s order tracking page for various aluminum and stainless steel models.

A portion of those that pre-ordered have also seen credit or debit card charges from Apple appear on their statements, although it is likely that the majority of those charges are Apple preauthorizations to ensure a customer’s bank account is in good standing. Apple’s payment and pricing information on its website provides further details about the steps that are taken.

“When you place an order, Apple will contact your credit or debit card’s issuing bank to confirm it is a valid account. Apple requests an authorization, which holds the funds for the full or partial purchase amount. As Apple prepares your items, authorized funds will be unavailable and may display as “pending” on your credit or debit card’s online statement.

If you are shipping an item, your card will only be charged after the item has shipped. For pickup items, you will be billed before your item is ready for pick up. If your order contains multiple items, you may see multiple charges on your credit or debit card statement.”

It remains unknown how many customers will receive their Apple Watch pre-orders on April 24, the day the wrist-worn device officially launches in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. Any movement on pre-orders, however, such as order status changes and credit and debit card charges, is a good sign for those patiently anticipating the arrival of their Apple Watch.

MacRumors reported earlier this month that Apple Watch pre-orders could arrive sooner than expected based on an email exchange with Apple’s executive relations that said extended shipping estimates are set purposefully to avoid disappointment through false guarantees. At the same time, the exact number of Apple Watch pre-orders fulfilled on day one remains to be seen.

Apple Retail Store Logos Go Green for Earth Day

Today is Earth Day and in celebration of the occasion, Apple has updated the logos of some of its retail stores with green leaf accents, as it does each year on April 22. The green leaves mark a departure from the standard white logo, and Earth Day represents one of the few occasions each year where Apple tweaks its store logos.

This Earth Day, and every day, we’re committed to leaving the world better than we found it. http://t.co/iIHRXEwpfA pic.twitter.com/SIyZVAeznL

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 22, 2015

Along with installing green-leafed Apple logos at retail stores Apple may also be planning to hold a special Earth Day celebratory event at its Cupertino campus, as it did last year.

In a tweet about Earth Day, Tim Cook linked to Apple’s environmental website and highlighted the company’s efforts to “leave the world better than we found it.” Apple updated the website two days ago with its most recent Environmental Responsibility Report, noting that 100 percent of its U.S operations and 87 percent of its global operations are now run on renewable energy.

Under Tim Cook’s watch, Apple has ramped up its environmental conservancy efforts, heavily pursuing improved recycling, renewable energy through solar farms, a reduced carbon footprint, and most recently partnering with The Conservation Fund to protect and create the forests that supply its packaging materials.

WatchAware Now Cataloging All 2,143 Approved Apps With Previews, Screenshots [iOS Blog]

Apple Watch-focused site WatchAware has seen some major improvements since its launch earlier this year, and its Apple Watch apps section now houses screenshots and details from all 2,143 Apple Watch apps that have been approved by Apple to date.

It’s the most comprehensive resource for Apple Watch app discovery, displaying all Apple Watch apps in a grid-like view. App screenshots and videos are positioned on top of Apple Watch casings to give a clear picture of what each app will look like on when it’s actually being run on your wrist.

Apps on the site have varying levels of interactivity. Some apps just cycle through available App Store screenshots, but others include videos or more interactive elements that let you switch between the app itself, Glances, and Notifications, the three types of experiences developers can create on the watch.

WatchAware now organizes available apps into categories to make it easier to find the type of app you want to see, and deeper category lists are going to be implemented later today. A search tool will be added to the site this afternoon, and there are also curated lists that highlight some of the best available apps for the Apple Watch.

Each of WatchAware‘s Apple Watch listings have detail pages accessible with a click, offering more information on the app and tools for sharing on social networks. In this detail page for the new Apple Watch game Letterpad, for example, it includes screenshots, an app description, a download link, and sharing tools.

It’s also possible to embed apps into blog posts with fully customizable options for choosing bands, casing materials, the amount of band shown, and the portion of the app that’s displayed first.

We’re just days away from the 4/24 Apple Watch launch date, which will see the first customers receiving their watches. Checking out WatchAware for a list of available apps could be a useful way to figure out what you might want to download when you have your watch in hand.

Popular Apple Watch App Screenshots Revealed Ahead of Friday’s Launch

A new tool created by developer Steven Troughton-Smith that allows you to search for Apple Watch app screenshots based on iTunes links has provided an early glimpse at several popular apps for the wrist-worn device. Some developers have already shared screenshots, and other websites have shared additional ones, but this tool provides the closest look yet at third-party apps for Apple Watch ahead of its April 24 launch.

Clear

Flipboard

RunKeeper

Shazam

Twitter

Yahoo Weather

Apple Watch app screenshots are required to be submitted by developers and should begin appearing on the App Store when the wrist-worn device launches on April 24, or soon after, alongside traditional iPhone and iPad screenshots. In the meantime, this tool provides an easy way to search for your favorite Apple Watch apps for a sneak preview of what they look like ahead of time.

Apple Unlikely to Release New 4-Inch iPhone This Year, New Low-End Model Expected in 2016

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a note to investors on Wednesday, a copy of which was obtained by MacRumors, reiterating that Apple is unlikely to launch a new 4-inch iPhone this year. Kuo, who has a respectable track record at reporting on Apple’s upcoming product plans, added that Apple will instead likely release a new 4-inch iPhone with Apple Pay compatibility in 2016.

“iPhone 5S still going strong; next 4-inch likely in 2016. Shipments of 5S are still going strong at 5-7mn units every quarter, an impressive level at such a mature stage of the product cycle. Momentum is being sustained by a more affordable price and the product’s outstanding design. But we still believe it’s necessary for Apple to have a new 4-inch iPhone because: (1) it will be key to extending momentum in the 4-inch category; and (2) it could complete the Apple Pay ecosystem, assuming it is equipped with NFC. We predict a launch in 2016.”

The well-informed analyst claims that the iPhone 5c will likely reach the end of its product cycle later this year, with the iPhone 5s becoming the new entry-level device in Apple’s smartphone lineup once the so-called “iPhone 6s” and “iPhone 6s Plus” are released this September. For now, the oft-rumored “iPhone 6c,” speculated to be an iPhone 5s with plastic casing, is not planned.

Foxconn is expected to be the primary manufacturer of the 4-inch iPhone in 2016.