Healthcare Apps Bring Dosage Reminders, Doctor Consults to Apple Watch [iOS Blog]

As Apple Watch pre-orders continue to roll in, a few healthcare companies have announced apps for the device that aim to provide services from reminding users to take the correct dosage to initiating a video conferencing call with a doctor on an iPhone.

WebMD‘s app plans to introduce a “Medication Reminder” feature “designed to encourage medication compliance and help improve patient outcomes.” The Watch app will allow users to view their personal log of medical information, schedules, and instructions, with custom pill images of their own personal medication, and taptic feedback reminders on when to take each dosage.

The company also promises to take advantage of Glances and the Watch’s Long-Look features, allowing users to quickly glance at their next timed pill dose and look at their watch longer for more detailed instructions when a notification comes in.

“One of the most significant barriers to achieving positive patient outcomes is the issue of medication non-compliance, which remains a largely unsolved problem today,” said WebMD President Dr. Steven Zatz. “We believe that the combination of WebMD’s Medication Reminder on Apple Watch represents a powerful new approach to address the issue of non-compliance in a way never before possible.”

HealthTap also announced plans to enter the Apple Watch app market, with the “DocNow App” allowing customers to initiate one-on-one conversations with a doctor 24/7, the consults priced at $2.99 per minute. The company, which already provides the one-on-one service via an iPhone app, promises the Watch app will introduce more detailed, personalized consults thanks to the Watch’s gathering of each individual user’s healthcare and activity data.

“We’re extremely excited to be on the forefront of the third generation of computing by offering this first-of-its-kind ‘Affordable-Care App’ via the all-new Apple Watch,” says Ron Gutman, HealthTap’s founder and CEO. “At HealthTap we’re committed to continuously innovating and continuously launch new ways to provide faster, more affordable access to trusted doctors so billions everywhere can live healthier happier lives.”

Lastly, Medisafe announced its own Apple Watch app, showcasing a standard Apple Watch app version of the company’s iPhone experience. Medisafe notes that Watch features like Force Touch will let users mark medications as “taken” and more quickly respond to the app’s prompts. Similar to WebMD’s Glances, Medisafe plans to use the feature in providing quick-second glances at each user’s scheduled dosage reminders.

It only took around 6 hours for the initial shipping estimates of all Apple Watch models to slip to a 4-6 week dispatch estimate, or even later in cases of more popular band and color options. As try-on appointments happened over the weekend, and continue to happen in the weeks ahead, more and more users post pictures and experiences with the device, generating more buzz for Apple’s first wearable in the lead-up to its April 24 launch date.

List of Apple Stores With 12-Inch Retina MacBook Display Models [Mac Blog]

Following our own list of Apple Stores carrying the Apple Watch Edition that we published last week, we now have a crowdsourced list of Apple retail locations that have 12-inch Retina MacBook display models set up in the United States, Canada, China, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom. Given how quickly this list will likely change, we will not be updating this article and recommend keeping tabs on the MacRumors discussion thread instead.

Since this is a crowdsourced list by MacRumors forum members, only some locations have been independently verified by us to have new MacBook display models in store. Apple Stores that did not have new MacBooks available on launch day should receive them in the near future, as many retail employees confirmed to us that Apple was expected to be delivering display models soon. Keep in mind that this list covers display models only and not in-store stock of new MacBooks available for purchase.

United States

• Hawaiian Village (HI): Not displayed, not available
• Easton (Columbus, OH): Not displayed, not available (Possibly April 13)
• Beavercreek: Not displayed, not available (Possibly April 13)
• Tyson’s Corner (Washington DC): Displayed, not available
• Pentagon Mall (Washington DC): Displayed, not available
• West 14th St. (New York, NY): Displayed, not available
• Boston: Displayed, not available (Possibly April 24)
• Frisco (TX): Displayed, not available
• Naperville (IL): Displayed, not available
• Oak Brook (IL): Displayed, not available
• Broomfield (CO): Not displayed, not available
• Highland Village (Houston, TX): Displayed, not available
• Boulder (CO): Not displayed, not available
• Evergreen Walk (CT): Not displayed, no info about availability
• Valley Fair (Santa Clara, CA): Displayed, not available
• Walnut Creek (Bay Area, CA): Displayed, not available
• Grand Central (New York, NY): Displayed, not available
• Ala Moana (Honolulu, HI): Displayed, not available
• Scottsdale Quarter (Scottsdale, AZ): Displayed, not available
• International Plaza (Tampa, FL): Displayed, not available
• Galleria (Houston, TX): Displayed, not available
• Penn Square (Oklahoma City, OK): Displayed, not available
• Burlingame (CA): Displayed, not available
• Albuquerque (NM): Displayed, not available
• Stanford (CA): Displayed, not available
• Bethesda (MD): Displayed, not available
• Bethesda (MD): Displayed, not available
• San Antonio (TX): Displayed, not available
• Towson (MD): Displayed, not available
• Willow Bend Mall (Plano, TX): Displayed, not available
• La Jolla (CA): Displayed, not available
• South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa, CA): Displayed, not available
• Burlington (MA): Displayed, not available
• Short Pump (Richmond, VA): Displayed, not available
• Park Meadows Mall (Lone Tree, CO): Displayed, not available
• Cherry Creek Mall (Denver, CO): Displayed, not available
• Crabtree Valley Mall (Raleigh, NC): Displayed, not available as of April 10 morning

Canada

• Halifax Shopping Centre (Halifax, NS): Not displayed, not available
• Place Ste-Foy (Quebec, QC): Not displayed, not available
• Eaton Centre (Toronto, ON): Not displayed, not available
• Mapleview Centre (Burlington, ON): Not displayed, not available

China

• Shenzhen (Southern China): Displayed, not available (In stock in 4 weeks)

France

• CAP 3000 (Nice): Not displayed, not available (No availability announced)
  Confluence (Lyon): Not displayed, not available

Germany

• Jungfernstieg (Hamburg): Not displayed, not available
• Alstertal (Hamburg): Not displayed, not available
• Kö-Bogen, Königsallee 2 (Düsseldorf): Not displayed, not available

Netherlands

• Amsterdam: Not displayed, not available
• The Hague: Not displayed, not available
• Haarlem: Not displayed, not available

Spain

• Paseo de Gracia (Barcelona): Not displayed, not available (No availability announced)
• La Maquinista (Barcelona): Not displayed, not available (No availability announced)

United Kingdom

• Watford: Not displayed, not available
• Brighton: Not displayed, not available
• Covent Garden: Not displayed, not available
• Kingston: Not displayed, not available (Possibly April 24)
• Exeter: Not displayed, not available
• Edinburgh: Not displayed, not available
• Birmingham Bull Ring: Not displayed, not available
• SouthGate (Bath): Not displayed, not available
• Regent Street (London): Not displayed, not available

Apple’s 12-inch Retina MacBook became available to purchase in silver, space gray and gold on April 10, the same day that Apple Watch pre-orders began in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. The notebook starts at $1,299 for the base 256GB configuration, while a 512GB model with a slightly faster processor is available for $1,599.

The 12-inch MacBook, positioned at the lower end of Apple’s notebook lineup, paves the way for the future with an ultra-thin design, one USB-C port, redesigned keyboard with an all-new butterfly mechanism, Force Touch trackpad, fanless architecture and all-day battery life. Initial reviews of the new MacBook found the notebook to have major design appeal, but too many key compromises.

Apple Launches New Final Cut Pro X, Motion, and Compressor Updates

Apple today sent out a press release announcing an update to its professional video editing software, Final Cut Pro X, along with updates to companion apps Motion and Compressor. The updates bring new features for motion graphics and enhancements to speed up video editing, packaging, and delivery.

As described by Apple, Final Cut Pro‘s 10.2 update marks the debut of easy-to-use tools for the creation of 3D titles, with a variety of templates that include built-in backgrounds and animations. Text styles can customize the look of titles with different materials and lighting, and it’s possible to convert 2D to 3D titles and see changes in real time.

Today’s update also lets editors view up to four video scopes at the same time for better precision when color grading, and there are now improved Shape masks that can be applied to any effect and saved as a preset. Finally, the update includes support for more video formats and makes it faster to work with RED RAW files.

Motion 5.2 offers additional options for 3D titles, bringing tools for the creation of dynamic titles with lights and cameras, while Compressor 4.2 makes it easier to prepare movies for sale on the iTunes Store.

“From Hollywood blockbuster directors to first time movie makers, Final Cut Pro X is changing the way we edit movies today,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The updated Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor make it even easier to edit, title and package everything from short videos to feature-length films.”

Apple’s press release includes details from Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who co-directed the Will Smith film Focus and used Final Cut Pro X to edit the video. The duo’s work with the software was previously featured by Apple on its Final Cut Pro X feature page.

“We loved using Final Cut Pro X to edit Focus,” said Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, co-directors of the 2015 feature film, Focus. “We created the final theatrical titles for the movie right in Final Cut Pro, and the new 3D titling and effects features will let us take in-app graphics even further. We’re using the new Final Cut Pro on our next feature film.”

Several sites have been able to get hands-on access to the new software updates ahead of their launch, and have shared details on the new tools included in the update. Fcp.co has a complete rundown on all the new features, along with screenshots, as does The Next Web.

All of today’s updates are free for existing Final Cut Pro, Compressor, and Motion users.

Final Cut Pro can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $299.99. [Direct Link]

Compressor can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $49.99. [Direct Link]

Motion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $49.99. [Direct Link]

Redesigned YouTube App for iOS Briefly Appears for Some Users [iOS Blog]

MacRumors has received multiple tips from users that claim a redesigned version of YouTube for iOS briefly appeared on iPhone last week before reverting back to the current design. One tipster sent us a gallery of screenshots showing off the possible redesign, which is speculated to be in the works for both iOS and Android alongside a new web-based video player that is currently in testing.

While we cannot verify the authenticity of these photos, and were unable to witness the redesigned version of YouTube firsthand, the possible redesign appears consistent with the appearance of other Material Design apps on iOS and Android. Specifically, the screenshots show that the app will gain a cleaner look, red header and new bottom menu with options for home, trending videos, all videos and user profiles.

The unofficial Google Operating System blog reported over the weekend that YouTube is testing a new HTML5 desktop video player for Mac and PC with a transparent control bar that automatically hides until you hover over it. It would seem logical that an updated version of YouTube for iOS and Android may also be in development at Google, although an exact timeframe for a release date remains unknown.

iOS 8.3 Prevents iFunBox, iExplorer and Similar Tools From Accessing Apps [iOS Blog]

Apple has changed security settings in iOS 8.3 that prevent file managers and transfer utilities such as iFunBox, iTools, iExplorer, iBackupBot and PhoneView from gaining access to app directories on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The change breaks current versions of transfer utilities for OS X and Windows, forcing many developers to release new versions of their software with workarounds that restore at least partial sandbox access.

“iOS 8.3 ruined our freedom of controlling data in our installed Apps and Games,” writes iFunBox in a Facebook post. “Apple blocked access of the entire sandbox directory of every installed App since iOS 8.3. Previously only writing is block in executable directory. Now we totally lost the control of Apps on our own devices. We are investigating the situation. Before there is a solution, iFunbox will fail to open data directory of any App if the device is not jailbroken.”

iFunBox was one of the first utilities to be updated over the weekend with a partial fix, with the latest version 2.95 enabling all apps with “iTunes File Sharing” enabled, such as iFileExpress or VLC player, to be opened for sandbox browsing per usual through the utility. Access to other apps will require jailbreaking. iFunBox 2.95 also allows any music file type, such as MP3, to be imported as a ringtone.

Macroplant, the developers of iExplorer, are still looking into the changes in iOS 8.3:

“We are currently investigating how the iOS 8.3 update blocked access to the Apps directory, and we are looking into ways around it. All iDevice transfer utilities seem to be experiencing this exact same blocked access in iOS 8.3, so it’s not just a bug with iExplorer or iBrowse. Apple has definitely changed something with the way apps can be accessed in iOS.”

The change does not affect users that jailbreak their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, as doing so enables OpenSSH to be installed for complete filesystem privileges and command line access. File transfers between a jailbroken iOS device and Mac or PC can still be completed as usual, although keep in mind that no jailbreak is available for iOS 8.3 and downgrading is no longer possible after Apple stopped signing iOS 8.2 last week.

Apple Watch Received Estimated 1 Million Pre-Orders in U.S. on April 10

Apple Watch received an estimated 957,000 pre-orders in the United States on April 10, the day the wrist-worn device became available for purchase, according to Slice Intelligence (via Quartz). The digital commerce tracking firm claims that nearly two-thirds of customers purchased the Apple Watch Sport model, with the 42mm space gray case the most popular version sold on the first day.

Slice Intelligence’s sales projection is based on e-receipt data from 9,080 online shoppers that opted-in to have their inboxes tracked for email receipts. The report finds that 71% of Apple Watch pre-orders on April 10 were for the larger 42mm case, with 32% of aluminimum Sport customers purchasing the smaller 38mm version compared to 24% of stainless steel Apple Watch buyers.

“Slice Intelligence estimates that 957,000 people in the U.S. pre-ordered an Apple Watch on Friday, the first day the watch was available for sale. According to ereceipt data from 9,080 online shoppers, each Apple Watch buyer ordered an average of 1.3 watches, spending $503.83 per watch. Those ordering an Apple Watch Sport spent $382.83 per watch and those ordering the Apple Watch spent $707.04.”

The report adds that 40% of pre-orders were for the Apple Watch Sport with space gray aluminum, followed by the silver stainless steel Apple Watch at 34%, silver aluminum Apple Watch Sport at 23% and space black stainless steel Apple Watch at 3%. Apple Watch Edition sales were not disclosed, with Quartz claiming that the expensive 18-karat gold model did not represent enough pre-orders to be included in the report.

Slice Intelligence also revealed that 28% of Apple Watch pre-orders included a black Sport band, making it the most popular option among customers on April 10. The steel Milanese Loop trailed in second at 25%, while the Link Bracelet (14%), black Classic Buckle (12%) and white Sport band (8%) rounded off the top five. The next seven most popular bands were split between different colors of the Leather Loop and Modern Buckle.

The shopping firm did not provide Apple Watch pre-order data for the other eight countries where the wrist-worn device became available Friday, including Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, China and Hong Kong, and it is likely that sales numbers will vary greatly in each of those regions. In China, for example, the Apple Watch Edition is predicted to sell considerably better than in most other countries.

Saw the estimates of 1M Apple Watch pre-orders in my inbox. Won’t be surprised by an official Apple statement tomorrow saying 2M.

— Kevin C. Tofel (@KevinCTofel) April 13, 2015

There are a number of variables to consider when interpreting these Apple Watch pre-order estimates, including that data was limited to the United States and likely extrapolated based on a relatively small pool of consumers. Apple has not provided official sales figures for the Apple Watch, nor did it provide comment on the accuracy of this data, so the exact number of pre-orders Apple received remains to be seen.

Retail Apple Watches Still Have a Hidden Diagnostic Port

The Apple Watch became available for pre-orders on Friday as well as for try-on appointments in Apple retail stores around the world.

One MacRumors reader, Louis, was able to slip off the bottom band during his Apple Watch try-on appointment to discover that the hidden diagnostic port on early models still remains in the retail versions.

The presence of the diagnostic port was first reported in March by TechCrunch with speculation that it could eventually open up the market for “smart” band accessories that can interface with the Apple Watch, itself. Apple, however, has made no such promises and doesn’t even acknowledge the presence of the port in any official documentation. Louis also reports the retail staff had no training on the use of the port.

Thanks Louis

Faster ‘NVM Express’ SSD Interface Arrives on Retina MacBook and OS X 10.10.3

Apple has quietly introduced support for the next generation NVM Express (NVMe) interface to SSD Flash drives in their latest OS X 10.10.3 update as well as in the new Retina MacBook which was released on April 10th.

System Report on new Retina MacBook
The NVMe software interface replaces the AHCI software interface in Apple’s previous notebooks, and offers improved latency and performance over the old protocol. Anandtech offers a good overview between the technologies:

AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) dates back to 2004 and was designed with hard drives in mind. While that doesn’t rule out SSDs, AHCI is more optimized for high latency rotating media than low latency non-volatile storage. As a result AHCI can’t take full advantage of SSDs and since the future is in non-volatile storage (like NAND and MRAM), the industry had to develop a software interface that abolishes the limits of AHCI.

The result is NVMe, short for Non-Volatile Memory Express.

The new protocol is not to be confused with the underlying hardware that connects the SSD to Apple’s notebooks. Apple has already upgraded the physical interface to the much faster PCIe connectors a number of years ago.

Going into the future, NVMe will allow Apple’s hardware to take further advantage of the performance of SSDs as well as improve battery life with less time spent transferring data. Intel expects NVMe to also be coming to tablets and phones in the near future.

Thanks Jonathan

Apple Wireless Keyboard Now Ships in 1-2 Weeks, New Backlit Model Possible [Mac Blog]

Apple Wireless Keyboard shipping times have slipped to 1-2 weeks on the Apple Online Store in the United States, prompting speculation that Apple may refresh the keyboard in the near future. Nevertheless, the wireless keyboard is still listed as in stock or available to ship within 1 business day in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, so this could also be a regular fluctuation in stock on the U.S. storefront.

Images of an Apple Wireless Keyboard with backlight keys and a power button briefly appeared on the Apple Online Store in Czech Republic and Hungary last month, with an identical Arabic version appearing on the U.S. storefront. The addition of backlight controls on the F5 and F6 keys leads us to believe that Apple could be planning to release a new backlit wireless keyboard, although when remains unknown.

The current Apple Wireless Keyboard has gone largely unchanged since receiving a major redesign with an aluminum enclosure in August 2007. A revised two-battery model was released in October 2009 and became the standard keyboard that shipped with iMacs, and Apple updated the keyboard again in 2011 when it added a new label on the Exposé key and changed the Dashboard key to a Launchpad key.

Apple Wireless Keyboard with backlight keys that briefly appeared on the Apple Online Store in Czech Republic and Hungary last month
A number of other Apple products have also seen their shipping times slip from “in stock” to “1 business day” on the Apple Online Store in the United States, including the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, iPhone, iPad Air, iPad mini and Apple TV. Many of those product lineups have been updated within the past six months, so supply constraints due to the Apple Watch is the more probable cause than something major.