Detailed iPad Air 2 Claims Likely Based on Circulating Rumors, Not Genuine Leaked Information

Apple is expected to hold an event on Thursday, October 16, where it will unveil the second-generation iPad Air, Retina iMacs, and OS X Yosemite. Ahead of that event, The Michael Report claims to have acquired “pictures and illustrations” of the iPad Air 2 from “sources within Apple,” although it has opted not to share such evidence publicly.

While the site goes into significant detail about the iPad Air 2, it appears to be largely aggregating existing rumors about the device, adding little new information. Overall, the site claims the iPad Air 2 will have a slightly thinner body, something that has been claimed in previous reports and perhaps enabled by a new integrated display, as shown in early part leaks from April.

Along with its display prediction, The Michael Report details several minor design changes that have previously been seen in an iPad Air 2 dummy unit, which MacRumors also has had on hand for several months, suggesting the site may be basing much of its information off of a replica device rather than actual information.

For example, the site suggests that the second-generation iPad Air 2 will do away with the mute switch to “achieve [a] thinner profile,” but that is likely an erroneous conclusion based on the unfinished design of the circulating dummy units rather than a legitimate leak as claimed by the site. On the iPad Air 2 dummy units, there is indeed a hole where the mute switch would normally be located. The Michael Report suggests this may be a microphone, but more likely, it is a pilot hole marking the location for the mute switch. Similar pilot holes have been seen for larger physical features such as SIM card trays in other dummy units and unfinished prototypes.

Recessed volume buttons and pilot hole for mute switch from MacRumors’ dummy unit

The mute/vibration switch is completely gone in the new redesign, with sources from within Apple telling us that it was a necessary move to achieve the thinner profile of the new tablets. […]

The microphones on the iPad Air 2 have been relocated from the top of the iPad Air (where it currently is; within the antenna band) to next to the back camera modules. One of them is to the right of the camera module, the other is to the left — on the sides of the iPad Air.

Other predictions from The Michael Report include recessed volume buttons, a redesigned speaker grille, and a microphone hole relocated near the rear camera, all design elements that have been previously seen in the iPad Air 2 mockups. When examining the dummy device, MacRumors did notice that the recessed volume buttons and hole for the mute switch had been moved higher on the device than on the original iPad Air, nearly in line with the rear camera. The reason for this design change is unclear.

Echoing other previous rumors, the site’s predictions include an upgraded A8 processor, an 8-megapixel camera, support for Touch ID and Apple Pay, and 2 GB of RAM, which has not been confirmed but is a rumored upgrade to support split-screen multitasking.

Many of The Michael Report‘s predictions are based on previous rumors and are likely to be accurate, but some of the more unsubstantiated claims, like 2 GB of RAM and the lack of a mute switch are somewhat more nebulous.

Another image of the iPad Air 2 mockup with Touch ID
Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 6, The Michael Report came out with a similar roundup that it claimed was based on contact with Apple employees, but several of the predictions (seemingly based on rumors circulating at the time) turned out to be wrong, including “a waterproof and dust-proof enhanced sapphire glass screen” and an “iPhone 6L” nomenclature, among other things.

Apple is expected to unveil its second-generation iPad Air on October 16, and it is possible the second-generation Retina iPad mini with support for Touch ID will also debut at that event. Apple is also expected to unveil Retina iMacs and provide a final look at OS X Yosemite before its public launch.

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1Password Updated With iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Support, Improved Touch ID Functionality [iOS Blog]

AgileBits today updated its 1Password app for iOS to version 5.1, adding support for the larger-screened iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. With native support for the two new devices, the app is no longer zoomed in and is now able to display more information on the screen.

Along with built-in support for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, 1Password has also been updated with improved Touch ID and PIN functionality. Before the update, it was unclear why the Master Password would often be requested when Touch ID integration was enabled, but the Auto-Lock settings have now been retuned to remove confusion.

1Password on iPhone 6 Plus Before 5.1 update on left, after 5.1 update on right
The app has gained a new setting that allows users to disable third-party keyboards within 1Password to keep passwords more secure, and several bug fixes have been implemented.

– The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are out. Were you one of the lucky millions who got one already? 1Password 5.1 has been updated to give you a beautiful experience on these new devices with 3x images and improved rich icons.

– Touch ID and the PIN Code have been significantly improved. The Auto-Lock timeout will now function across both the Master Password and Touch ID/PIN Code, removing the confusion the separate settings caused. The iOS Keychain will be used to store the Master Password when Touch ID/PIN Code is enabled, allowing Touch ID/PIN Code to be used reliably in the 1Password Extension. Configure what works best for you in Settings->Security.

– Tag you’re it. You can now add brand new tags to your items.

– Customer keyboard preference. Choose to enable or disable 3rd party custom keyboards within the Advanced Settings.

– Many fixes for the most popular issues and crashes

1Password can be downloaded from the App Store for free, with the app’s full functionality unlockable through a $9.99 in-app purchase. [Direct Link]

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Walter Isaacson’s ‘The Innovators’ Charts the History of Computing and the Internet

More than a decade ago, Walter Isaacson began working on a book to highlight the history of computers and the Internet, but the project was sidelined in early 2009 when he took on the task of writing Steve Jobs’ authorized biography. That book, which debuted just weeks after Jobs’ death in October 2011, topped best seller charts and revealed a number of interesting details about Jobs and Apple.

Following the publication of Steve Jobs, Isaacson returned to his earlier project of documenting the history of computing, and that work debuts tomorrow as The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution. While Apple and Jobs play relatively minor roles in the book, overall it offers an interesting look at how computers and the Internet developed into what they are today.

Isaacson breaks his book into nearly a dozen different sections, highlighting a number of advancements along the way. It begins with Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage outlining their thoughts on a mechanical “Analytical Engine” in the 1830s and 1840s before jumping ahead nearly 100 years to Vannevar Bush and Alan Turing and their visions for the earliest computers that would follow soon after. Further sections address advances in programming, transistors, microchips, video games, and the early Internet before broaching the topics of the modern personal computer and the World Wide Web.

Throughout the book, Isaacson focuses on the importance of teamwork rather than individual genius in the development of computers, frequently involving contrasting but complementary personalities of visionaries, technical experts, and managers. Popular examples include Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak at Apple, or Bob Noyce, Gordon Moore, and Andy Grove at Intel, but the observation extends further as time and time again teams have been responsible for many of the biggest innovations.

Innovation comes from teams more often than from the lightbulb moments of lone geniuses. This was true of every era of creative ferment. […] But to an even greater extent, this has been true of the digital age. As brilliant as the many inventors of the Internet and computer were, they achieved most of their advances through teamwork.

Isaacson also emphasizes the importance of building on previous discoveries, including collaboration both within and between generations of scientists. A number of characters in the book appear at multiple stages, often first as innovators themselves and later helping to foster discoveries by the next generation.

Other observations include the various roles of government, academia, and business in the development of computing and how they frequently came together, particularly in the early days, to lead advancements. Isaacson also uses several cases to argue that innovation works best when different business models compete against each other, particularly in software development as with Apple’s integrated systems vying with Microsoft’s unbundled model while the free and open-source approach maintained its position in the market.

Each model had its advantages, each had its incentives for creativity, and each had its prophets and disciples. But the approach that worked best was having all three models coexisting, along with various combinations of open and closed, bundled and unbundled, proprietary and free. Windows and Mac, UNIX and Linux, iOS and Android: a variety of approaches competed over the decades, spurring each other on — and providing a check against any one model becoming so dominant that it stifled innovation.

Packing the entire history of computing into 500 pages leaves some topics feeling brief or left out altogether, but Isaacson’s book gives an interesting overview for those who may not be familiar with the technical advances stretching back decades that have given rise to the current state of the art. Focusing more on the people and relationships than the technical details, it offers some insight into how breakthroughs have been made and how some innovators have gained fame and fortune while others slipped into near obscurity.

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Construction Continues at Apple Campus 2, Foundation Nears Completion

The City of Cupertino, where Apple is building its spaceship-shaped second campus, has today shared an update on the progress of the campus along with a new aerial photo.

Construction continues at a rapid pace, with workers on site throughout the weekday and weekend. Apple appears to have completed much of the foundation of the main circular building and concrete mixers have been on site for the last several weeks. Much of the construction continues to be hidden from view at street level, but heavy construction equipment is visible.

Traffic around the area of the campus remains congested, as several roads continue to be shut down. Pruneridge Avenue is permanently closed, and there have been several lane reductions on Wolfe Road and Homestead Road, which surround the campus.

Along with a new aerial photo shared by the city, a drone captured new footage of the building site over the weekend, giving a clearer picture of the ongoing construction. As seen in the video, several sections of the circular foundation are covered with concrete.

According to a general project schedule, Apple plans to have street utilities and demolition complete by the end of the year, with earthwork continuing on until Q2 2015 and construction on the building itself lasting until the end of 2016.

Apple’s completed campus, located in close proximity to the company’s existing Infinite Loop campus, will feature the iconic 2.8 million square foot ring-shaped main building, an underground parking facility capable of accommodating 2,400 cars, a 100,000 square foot fitness center, and a 120,000 square foot auditorium.

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Claimed iPhone 6 Prototype Appears on eBay With Bids Reaching $89,000

eBay seller kimberlyk1018 claims to have received a prototype iPhone 6 by accident and is auctioning the device with bids reaching over $89,000 since the auction’s posting late last week. While the high bids are undoubdtedly not genuine, the auction is obviously attracting a significant amount of attention.

According to a rather suspect story from the auction description, the device supposedly is a prototype 64 GB iPhone 6 that was shipped to the seller from Verizon Wireless.

Apple does NOT let these phones out of their possession yet I was accidentally sent one upon renewing my contract. As you can see from the photos, iOS8 has not been placed on this device, rather it is in the true developer mode. There are no FCC markings on the rear of the device or a model number. This is the real deal!!! The lightening port is red which is a sure sign of a prototype.

The authenticity of the device and the story behind it cannot be verified, but several photos that accompany the listing suggest it is not a consumer device.

The device apparently does not include iOS 8, instead shipping with several development and testing apps that are similar to those seen on previously leaked prototypes. It also ships with a red-bordered Lightning port and lacks the FCC regulatory information that appears on all consumer iPhone models.

If authentic, this unit joins several previous prototypes that have made their way from Apple to eBay’s auction listings. Most of these earlier prototypes were quickly removed from the auction website, likely at Apple’s request.

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Adobe Updates Line of iOS Apps With New Features, Enhanced Creative Cloud Syncing

At its Adobe MAX conference today, Adobe is announcing updates for nearly all of its iOS apps, bringing new features that emphasize the creation of shapes and brushes along with enhanced syncing with the company’s Creative Cloud services. The updates come alongside a new Creative SDK public beta to allow developers to build mobile apps connecting to Creative Cloud, as well as a number of enhancements to the core Creative Cloud apps.

Building on its existing Adobe Kuler app, which allows users to create color palettes using any photo and which is now being rebranded Adobe Color CC, the company is now rolling out two additional “Capture” apps for mobile: Adobe Brush CC, which turns photos into brushes for use throughout Photoshop and Illustrator apps, and Adobe Shape CC, which automatically converts high-contrast photos of objects into vector art for use in Illustrator.

Adobe Shape CC (left) capturing a shape to be used in Illustrator (right)
Meanwhile, the newest version of Adobe Photoshop Mix is now a universal app for both iPad and iPhone, while Adobe Photoshop Sketch brings new acrylic and pastel brushes and integration with brush sets created in Adobe Brush CC.

Adobe Illustrator Line now allows users to utilize content from the Creative Cloud Market and includes new smart spacing and grid tools. Adobe Lightroom for iOS now allows specified users to comment on photos shared through Lightroom’s web interface, and includes additional language support in addition to the ability to sync GPS information from the iPhone with Lightroom desktop.

Adobe Illustrator Line
Finally, Adobe Premiere Clip lets users edit video shot on an iPhone or iPad right from the device, or send to the full Premiere Pro CC for more advanced editing.

Adobe Premiere Clip
Core Creative Cloud apps are also seeing a number of updates today, including new 3D printing support for Photoshop CC, a new Curvature tool for Illustrator CC, interactive EPUB support for In Design CC, SVG and Synchronized Text support for Muse CC, and 4K/Ultra HD viewing support for Premiere Pro CC.

All of Adobe’s updated iOS apps require a free membership to Adobe Creative Cloud, while desktop apps like Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Illustrator CC require separate subscriptions. Download links for all of the apps can be found below, while the full set of updates for Creative Cloud are expected to be available to members by the end of the day.

– Adobe Brush CC [Direct Link]
– Adobe Shape CC [Direct Link]
– Adobe Color CC [Direct Link]

– Adobe Photoshop Sketch [Direct Link]
– Adobe Photoshop Mix [Direct Link]
– Adobe Lightroom for iPad [Direct Link]
– Adobe Lightroom for iPhone [Direct Link]

– Adobe Illustrator Draw [Direct Link]
– Adobe Illustrator Line [Direct Link]

– Adobe Premiere Clip [Direct Link]

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Apple’s Sapphire Partner GT Advanced Technologies Files for Bankruptcy

GT Advanced Technolgies, Apple’s partner in a sapphire production facility in Arizona, today announced that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it seeks to reorganize its businesses. The company remains positive that it will continue to be able to meet its obligations during this time of transition.

GT indicated that as of September 29, 2014 it had approximately $85 million of cash. In addition, it is now seeking debtor-in-possession financing, which, once obtained, would provide the company with an immediate source of additional funds. These funding sources will enable GT to satisfy the customary obligations associated with the daily operation of its business, including the timely payment of employee wages and other obligations. […]

“GT has a strong and fundamentally sound underlying business,” said Tom Gutierrez, president and chief executive officer of GT. “Today’s filing does not mean we are going out of business; rather, it provides us with the opportunity to continue to execute our business plan on a stronger footing, maintain operations of our diversified business, and improve our balance sheet.

“We are convinced that the rehabilitative process of chapter 11 is the best way to reorganize, protect our company and provide a path to our future success. We remain committed to our roots in innovation and our diversification strategy. We plan to continue to operate as a technology leader across our core set of businesses.”

GT’s finances have taken a significant hit as it has retooled to support its partnership with Apple, turning its focus to ramping up sapphire production for Apple rather than selling furnaces to other companies. Still, with Apple making a series of pre-payments to GT to help fund the new initiative, the circumstances surrounding the bankruptcy filing are not yet clear.

Apple had been widely expected to include sapphire display covers on at least some iPhone 6 models, but the development did not come to pass. With Apple having no commitment to purchase from sapphire, it is possible that an unexpected decision by Apple to omit sapphire from the device put GT into a precarious financial position. Apple is planning to use sapphire on some versions of its upcoming Apple Watch, but it is unclear whether it is indeed sourcing sapphire from GT for the product, and if so, whether the quantities involved would be enough to support GT’s efforts in the area.

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Bose’s NFL deal won’t let players wear other headphones on camera

Back in March, the NFL reached a deal to make Bose its official audio provider — nothing special at the time, especially given the league’s fondness for technology agreements. However, it now looks like this pact is about to influence the headphones you see on camera. The NFL has confirmed to Recode that the arrangement prevents players and coaches from wearing anything but Bose gear in the moments they’re on TV in an official capacity, whether it’s just before kickoff, on the sidelines or in locker room interviews. In other words, the scenarios you see in a few Beats commercials (where players tune out interviewers and hostile fans using the company’s headphones) would get the athletes in trouble.

Such deals aren’t that unusual elsewhere. FIFA, for instance, prevented teams at the 2014 World Cup from using Beats either on game days or at media events. For Americans, though, the NFL exclusive is bound to be much more noticeable — something Bose is no doubt counting on as it tries to win the high-priced audio wars. It has just 22 percent of the US’ over-$100 headphone market versus Beats’ whopping 61 percent, according to the NPD Group, so any success with the agreement could mean that you’ll see considerably more Bose hardware both on and off the field.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video, Apple

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Source: Recode

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Apple Updates Malware Definitions to Protect Against Botnet Threat Coordinated Via Reddit

Last week, Russian anti-virus firm Doctor Web disclosed a newly discovered piece of OS X malware known as Mac.BackDoor.iWorm that at the time had affected roughly 17,000 machines around the world. While the exact mechanism of infection was unclear, an interesting twist to the story involves compromised machines running search queries on Reddit to obtain instructions about which command and control servers should be used to manage the botnet.

It is worth mentioning that in order to acquire a control server address list, the bot uses the search service at reddit.com, and — as a search query — specifies hexadecimal values of the first 8 bytes of the MD5 hash of the current date. The reddit.com search returns a web page containing a list of botnet C&C servers and ports published by criminals in comments to the post minecraftserverlists under the account vtnhiaovyd.

Once connected to a command and control server, the backdoor opened by the malware on the user’s system can receive instructions to perform a variety of tasks, from stealing sensitive information to receiving or spreading additional malware.

In an effort to address the threat, Apple has now updated its “Xprotect” anti-malware system to recognize two different variants of the iWorm malware and prevent them from being installed on users’ machines.

First introduced with OS X Snow Leopard, Xprotect is a rudimentary anti-malware system that recognizes and alerts users to the presence of various types of malware. Given the relative rarity of malware targeting OS X, the malware definitions are updated infrequently, although users’ machines automatically check for updates on a daily basis. Apple also uses the Xprotect system on occasion to enforce minimum version requirements for plug-ins such as Flash Player and Java, forcing users to upgrade from older versions known to carry significant security risks.

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