Apple Acquires Cloud Networking Startup Union Bay Networks, Opens Seattle Office

Apple acquired Seattle-based cloud networking startup Union Bay Networks sometime in the last couple of months and has opened an office in the city that houses more than 30 engineers, reports GeekWire. The site uncovered Apple’s acquisition and Seattle office after former Union Bay Networks co-founder Benn Bollay posted a job opening for a Systems Software Engineer that read “Ever wanted to work at Apple, but didn’t want to live in Cupertino?”

Apple later confirmed the acquisition of Union Bay Networks to The Seattle Times, providing its standard acquisition statement: Apple “buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

Union Bay Networks was a stealth startup focused on “enabling the next generation of networking for cloud computing and software defined datacenters,” and seven out of nine former employees are said to have been hired by Apple, moving to an unknown office location.

Apple’s Seattle office is already home to more than 30 employees, and the company is hiring more, posting two software engineering positions in the city last week. Both positions mention a focus on the design and development of core infrastructure services, and both mention iCloud, suggesting Seattle is being positioned as the hub for Apple’s future cloud development projects.

Apple Releases First iOS 8.1.1 Beta to Developers

Following this afternoon’s release of the first OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 beta, Apple has seeded the first iOS 8.1.1 beta to developers. The iOS 8.1.1 beta comes two weeks after the release of iOS 8.1, which included support for Apple Pay, SMS Forwarding, and more.

The beta, build 12B432, is available though Apple’s over-the-air update system on iOS devices and through the iOS Developer Center. Apple has also released a new Apple TV beta.

As a minor update, iOS 8.1.1 includes fixes for several bugs, but major new features rumored for iOS 8, like improvements to Maps and split-screen multitasking for the iPad, will be reserved for major iOS 8 updates that are also in development.

HomeKit-Enabled Chips Begin Shipping to Smart Home Device Makers

At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple announced HomeKit, a platform designed to allow smart home devices to seamlessly integrate with iOS devices via Bluetooth and Wi-FI. As part of the certification process for Apple HomeKit, manufacturers must purchase their Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips from Apple-approved chipmakers like Marvell, Texas Instruments and Broadcom. Those Apple-approved chips have begun shipping to smart home accessory makers, according to Forbes.

These chipmakers have begun shipping their chips loaded with HomeKit firmware to device manufacturers, Broadcom and Texas Instruments have confirmed to me. That means we could begin seeing HomeKit-certified devices show up on store shelves sometime soon. Although Apple hasn’t officially launched HomeKit yet, device makers can at least start putting together their gadgets now that they have the wireless chip armed with the HomeKit firmware.

Brian Bedrosian, Broadcom’s senior director of embedded wireless, tells Forbes that smart home device makers are “getting ready” and that users should “expect to see new product launches in the next cycle of product releases.” Bedrosian does caution that the firmware on the chips hasn’t been finalized by Apple yet, and is essentially just a beta version of HomeKit. Broadcom and other chipmakers will be able to update the firmware remotely as HomeKit’s feature set continues to be developed.

According to Bedrosian, the smart home device market has been fragmented thus far, but HomeKit provides a reliable way to bridge protocols and create simple connections between various devices using iCloud.

We’ve already seen several products that will take advantage of HomeKit, including a smart USB charger, a line of connected home sensors from Elgato, and the August Smart Lock, but Apple’s HomeKit supports a wide range of products like lightbulbs, locks, fans, thermostats, power outlets, garage doors, and more. Apple has also announced several partners already, including Philips and Honeywell, and has finalized hardware specifications, bringing us one step closer to the launch of HomeKit.

Apple has plans to hold a Made for iPhone (MFi) summit November 12 through November 14, providing accessory manufacturers and developers with information on HomeKit, iBeacon, AirPlay, and more, and with chips shipping to manufacturers, we should be seeing additional hardware products with HomeKit support surfacing in the near future.

Apple Seeds First OS X 10.10.1 Yosemite Beta to Developers

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming OS X 10.10.1 Yosemite update to developers, nearly three weeks after first releasing OS X Yosemite to the public.

The new beta, build 14B17, is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store and will be available through the Mac Dev Center shortly.

While it is unclear what improvements the first update to OS X Yosemite will bring, there are several bugs in the operating system including a major Wi-Fi issue that has caused connection problems for a number of users.

Sketchy Report Claims Apple May Discontinue iPad Mini to Focus on ‘iPad Pro’

Apple may be planning to discontinue its iPad mini lineup in order to focus its efforts on the upcoming larger-screened “iPad Pro,” according to a somewhat questionable rumor from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News [Google Translate] (via GforGames). The site believes Apple will cease updating the 7.9-inch iPad mini next year, making the new iPad mini 3, released in October, the last tablet in the series.

A preference towards larger screen sizes, the introduction of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, declining iPad sales, and “fierce competition” in the tablet market are said to have led to Apple’s alleged decision to discontinue the tablet.

It was a bit of a surprise when Apple announced a major update to the iPad Air in October, introducing an upgraded A8X processor, Touch ID, slimmer form factor, improved camera, and more in the iPad Air 2, while the iPad mini 3 gained no new features aside from Touch ID support. Rumors have suggested that the relatively minor update was due to the iPad mini’s lack of popularity compared to the 9.7-inch iPad Air.

Apple has been known to pull resources away from products that are not selling well. For example, Apple has been investing fewer resources in the iPod touch, a device that no longer receives regular updates. The fifth-generation iPod touch was released in 2012 and while the device received a major update at that time, only a few changes have been made since then, tweaking storage capacities and prices. It’s possible the iPad mini could go the way of the iPod touch — remaining in the product lineup but receiving few updates.

Economic Daily News, much like Taiwanese news site Digitimes, appears to have some solid supply chain sources, but lack of context and ever-changing production plans have resulted in some serious rumor misses. For example, the site said that the iPad mini 3 would be 30 percent slimmer when it launched, and suggested the larger iPhone 6 Plus would not be called an iPhone. Some accurate information has come from Economic Daily News, however, including several correct rumors pointing towards Apple Watch sizing and release dates.

Apple’s “iPad Pro,” which is said to be replacing the iPad mini as a companion to the iPad Air, is rumored to have a screen size between 12.2 and 12.9 inches. It’s said to be slightly thicker than the iPad Air 2, coming in at around 7mm, and it may have stereo speakers and an ultra high-definition display. A release date for the iPad Pro remains unclear, as Apple was said to be targeting an early 2015 launch but pushed back production in order to focus on the iPhone 6 Plus.

AT&T and Verizon Announce Voice Over LTE Interoperability for 2015 [iOS Blog]

AT&T and Verizon today announced voice over LTE (VoLTE) interoperability plans that will allow Verizon Wireless and AT&T customers to make VoLTE to VoLTE calls between networks.

VoLTE is a feature that is designed to enable high-definition voice calls that significantly improve call quality.

Engineers from both companies are working through a full set of requirements, beginning with extensive testing in lab environments and then moving to field trials. This approach ensures customers will have a seamless experience making VoLTE HD Voice calls between networks and lays the foundation for interoperability of other Rich Communications Services (RCS) such as video calls, rich messaging, and more in the future.

Verizon introduced its Advanced Calling 1.0 services with VoLTE support back in September, shortly before the release of the iPhone 6. With VoLTE, Verizon customers are able to use simultaneous voice and data capabilities over a 4G LTE network for the first time.

VoLTE in action on Verizon

AT&T is still in the process of rolling out VoLTE support to all markets, continuing to test the feature in a limited number of cities in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Georgia, and Texas.

VoLTE requires both built-in phone support, included in the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, and carrier participation. VoLTE interoperability between AT&T and Verizon is good news, as it is not currently possible to make VoLTE calls to outside carrier networks.

Both Verizon and AT&T state hope to establish similar deals with other carriers in the future as VoLTE continues to pick up traction.

Microsoft Announces ‘Skype Translator’ Early Preview for Windows 8.1 Users [Mac Blog]

Microsoft today announced that it’s opening signups for an early preview of Skype Translator, a real-time language translation feature that it first showed off earlier this year at Re/code‘s Code Conference.

While the initial trial program will be limited to customers who own a Windows 8.1 computer or tablet, Microsoft is open to bringing Skype Translator to other platforms in the future.

The preview program will be free and will initially be available for Windows 8.1 computers and tablets only, and will kick-off with a limited selection of languages. That said, as part of the sign-up process, you’ll have the chance to tell us which languages are important to you, what platforms you’d like to see added, and how you plan to use Skype Translator once it becomes available. We look forward to this feedback, as it will help enhance future releases.

In a May demo of the Skype translation tool, a Skype employee conducted a conversation with a German-speaking colleague, with Skype providing real-time translation from German to English and vice versa. While the translation software did not perform perfectly, audience members at the time said its translation capabilities were “pretty good.”

Microsoft also demoed the feature at its Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, showing off somewhat more polished translation capabilities. According to Microsoft, Skype Translator continually improves as it translates text back and forth from one language to another.

Microsoft Skype Translator Demo
As with the demo, the early preview version of Skype Translator only works with a small number of languages, but Microsoft has plans to continually add additional languages to the app as development progresses.

Microsoft has previously said that after Skype Translator is beta tested on the Windows platform, it will be brought to Mac users.

MCX Executive: Social Security Number Won’t Be Required, Most Customers Don’t Use Major Credit Cards

Composed of a large group of retailers aiming to introduce the QR code-based “CurrentC” payments system, Apple Pay competitor Merchant Customer Exchange, or MCX, has been in the spotlight in recent weeks after the removal of Apple Pay support from Rite Aid and CVS, two prominent MCX members.

Following a hacking incident and negative press focused on CurrentC’s convoluted QR code payment process and privacy issues, MCX has been scrambling to reverse the public’s negative perception of CurrentC.

After a press conference last week where executives suggested MCX was under attack for “challenging the status quo” of large, entrenched payments systems, MCX chief operating officer Scott Rankin did an interview with USA Today to clear up more misconceptions about MCX and CurrentC.

One of the major privacy complaints about CurrentC centered around a requirement that users provide both a social security number and a driver’s license when signing up. According to Rankin, this is only necessary for the pilot test, and he does “not expect to have those requirements” when CurrentC launches in early 2015.

Another issue has been CurrentC’s ability to link to a customer’s bank account, allowing merchants to avoid paying costly credit card fees, a feature Rankin says is actually based on customer preference. 75 percent of all purchases made at the 50 MCX merchants (including Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, and more) are done with cash, debit cards, and gift cards, rather than with Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards.

MCX has previously said CurrentC will accept debit and credit cards in addition to connecting directly to a checking account, and Rankin downplayed the focus on connecting to a user’s bank account, saying that he doesn’t expect it to be the most prevalent CurrentC payment method.

Rankin also addressed the QR code payment process, which has been described as “convoluted” by the media. He called it “frictionless,” but even described in his own words, it requires several steps beyond Apple Pay’s one-finger Touch ID checkout process. MCX has said that it will explore NFC in the future if necessary.

Here’s how Rankin describes the checkout process with CurrentC.

After the sale is rung up, and you say you want to pay via mobile, “You pull out the phone, open the app, click pay and a QR code is displayed. She scans it, and you’re done. It’s like when the QR code is sent to you by the airline and you use it for your boarding pass. It’s frictionless.”

Finally, Rankin once again addressed the exclusivity agreements that bind all MCX members, stating that exclusivity terms are “closer to months than years.”

Rite Aid and CVS, as MCX members, were required to cease accepting Apple Pay to remain part of MCX, but are free to leave at any time. Meijer, another MCX member, has opted to continue offering Apple Pay support in its stores, It is not clear if Meijer has left MCX or if it is ignoring exclusivity restrictions. Rankin confirmed there are no fines for companies that leave MCX, but he did not address the large sums of money companies have already invested in the program.

Rankin’s full comments on CurrentC and MCX can be found at USA Today. MCX executives have plans to speak on CurrentC at the Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas this week, further explaining how CurrentC will benefit consumers.

Christian Bale Pulls Out of Upcoming Steve Jobs Biopic

Christian Bale will not be starring as Steve Jobs in Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming Steve Jobs biopic, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actor has reportedly decided that he was “not right for the part,” deciding to withdraw from the film.

Bale was announced as the star of the film just last week, with Sorkin saying that Christian Bale was “the best actor in a certain age range” to play Jobs, and that he had agreed to the part without an audition.

Set to be directed by Danny Boyle, who also directed the Oscar-winning hit Slumdog Millionaire, the upcoming Steve Jobs project focuses on three continuous 30-minute scenes that depict three of Apple’s product launches.

While it is now unclear who will play Steve Jobs in the movie, Seth Rogen is reportedly in talks to play Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and Jessica Chastain, from The Help, is also being considered for an unspecified role in the film.