NFL Players Banned From Wearing Beats Headphones on Camera
Thanks to a new marketing deal with Bose, NFL players will no longer be allowed to wear Apple’s line of Beats headphones around television cameras, according to Re/code. The restriction is in place for TV interviews during training camp, practice sessions and game day, running from before the game or event through 90 minutes after play has ended.
Many professional athletes have sponsorship deals with Beats, with the headphones frequently spotted around the necks of players both before and after games. Beats accounts for more than 60 percent of the premium headphone market.
“Over the last few years athletes have written Beats into their DNA as part of the pre-game ritual,” a Beats spokesperson said. “Music can have a significant positive effect on an athlete’s focus and mental preparedness and has become as important to performance as any other piece of equipment.”
Beats, which has seen significant success with its athlete endorsements, ran ads last year with NFL stars Colin Kaepernick and Richard Sherman tuning out opposing fans with Beats noise-canceling headphones.
Something similar happened during the World Cup when headphone sponsor Sony banned Beats from stadiums, but not from outside the arenas where players frequently used their preferred headphones. Many advertising industry experts said Beats still won the day with its star-studded “The Game Before The Game” video, portions of which ran repeatedly during World Cup commercial breaks.
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Recommended Reading: Apple’s Jony Ive talks design and the timepiece
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you’ll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
A Rare Look at Design Genius Jony Ive: The Man Behind the Apple Watch
by Robert Sullivan,
Vogue
The man behind much of Apple’s design doesn’t often open up for interviews, butfollwoing Cupertino’s Watch reveal, much of the focus has been on the fashion-minded. That said, Jony Ive offered Vogue a bit more on the upcoming wrist-worn device and his aesthetic mindset as a whole — right down to things like the sound a watch band makes as it closes.
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The Goodell Blackout We’ve detailed the FCC no longer protecting the NFL’s long-standing blackout policy, but that’s just one of the issues that Commissioner Roger Goodell faces at the moment. This piece from Grantland discusses the US government’s recent chatter on the league. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
This is How You Build the Scariest Video Game Monster Ever Alien: Isolation is due to hit consoles and PC next week, and the creature you’ll need to keep at bay in order to survive is frightening. After you read up on their origins, head over to Joystiq for the full review. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
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Innovation Nation: Las Vegas This multi-part series details the $350 million project backed by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh that’s transforming downtown Las Vegas and looking to build a startup haven. If you’ve yet to read up on the whole thing, this is a great place to start. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
What It’s Like to Build a Startup in Gaza as the Bombs Drop By now, you’ve likely read a bit about the ongoing unrest in Gaza, but a group of entrepreneurs is still hard at work to bring innovation to the area. Wired offers a look at what startup life is like amidst the disorder. Pocket!function(d,i)if(!d.getElementById(i))var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
[Photo credit: LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Misc
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Buyer’s Guide: Deals on the Retina MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPhone 6 Cases, and More [Mac Blog]
This week’s Buyer’s Guide has deals on the 2013/2014 Retina MacBook Pro, the 2013/2014 MacBook Air, the Mac Pro, and several Apple accessories, including iPhone 6 cases, cable organizers, and a nifty accessory that adds AirPlay to any stereo with an input.
Retina MacBook Pro
The 2014 Retina MacBook Pros are on sale for approximately $100 to $150 off the retail price from several different sites. The 2.6Ghz/8GB/128GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,119.99 from Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. The 2.6Ghz/8GB/256GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,399 from Best Buy, Adorama, B&H Photo, and MacMall. The 2.8Ghz/8GB/512GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,699.99 from Adorama, B&H Photo, and MacMall.
The 15-inch 2.2Ghz/16GB/256GB Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,899 from Adorama and the 15-inch 2.5Ghz/16GB/512GB Retina MacBook Pro is available for $2,349 from B&H Photo.
There are some deals on remaining 2013 Retina MacBook Pros. The 2.4Ghz/4GB/128GB 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is available for $1,099 from Adorama and B&H Photo. The 2.6Ghz/8GB/512GB 13-inch model is available for $1,549 from Adorama and B&H Photo. The 2.0Ghz/8GB/256GB 15-inch model is available for $1,599 Amazon, Adorama, and B&H Photo. The 2.0Ghz/16GB/512GB 15-inch model is available for $2,199 from Amazon, and Adorama.
The non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro is also on sale for $999 from Best Buy, Adorama, and B&H Photo.
Mac Pro
Stock configurations of Apple’s Mac Pro desktop computer are available at slightly discounted prices from several retailers this week. The 6-core 3.5Ghz/16GB/256GB machine can be purchased for $3,739.99 from Best Buy, Adorama, and B&H Photo, while the 4-core 3.7Ghz/12GB/256GB machine for $2,839.99 from Best Buy, Adorama, and B&H Photo.
MacBook Air
A few retailers are offering the 2014 MacBook Air for approximately $100 off and while that’s not the best deal we’ve ever seen on the MacBook Airs, it is decent. The 11-inch 1.4Ghz/4GB/128GB MacBook Air is available for $799 from Best Buy, while the 11-inch 1.4Ghz/4GB/256GB MacBook Air is available for $999 from Best Buy, Amazon, and B&H Photo.
The 13-inch 1.4Ghz/4GB/128GB MacBook Air is available for $899 from Best Buy, Amazon, and B&H Photo. The 13-inch 1.4Ghz/4GB/256GB MacBook Air is available for $1,099 from Best Buy and B&H Photo.
B&H Photo is still offering low prices on some of its remaining 2013 MacBook Air inventory. The 1.3Ghz/4GB/128GB 11-inch MacBook Air is available for $819, while the 1.3Ghz/4GB/256GB 11-inch MacBook Air is available for $889.
B&H and Adorama, as always, are a good choice for buyers who live outside of New York and New Jersey, as the sites only charge sales tax in those states.
Retina iPad
Walmart is selling the 16GB Wi-Fi-only fourth-generation iPad with Retina Display for $299, a discount of $100 off its standard $399 retail price.
Apple Accessories
The Naztech Metro Case for the iPhone 6 is available for $17.99 from Groupon, a discount of $8. The MogoLife Protective Case for iPhone 6 or 6 Plus is available for $9.99/$11.99 from Groupon, which is 67% off the standard price.
The Case Logic Rugged Slim Fabric Case for the iPhone 6/6 Plus is available from Groupon for $12.99 to $14.99, and the Star Wars iPhone 4/5/5s cases are available for $7.99 from Tanga.
The iHome Helium Folio Case for iPad Air is available for $14.99 from Groupon, a discount of $15. The fish-shaped Goldie CableKeep for the iPhone is available from LivingSocial for $9, a discount of $7.
Previous-generation Beats by Dr. Dre Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones are available for $229 from Groupon and the Klipsch S4i Rugged In-Ear Headphones are available from Woot for $34.99. The Sabrent WiFi Audio Receiver that adds AirPlay compatibility to any speaker system is available for $22 from Amazon with coupon code WFRADU22.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
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Chinese Model Hints at Fashion-Oriented Advertising Push for Apple Watch
Chinese model Liu Wen may be involved in a fashion-oriented advertising campaign for the Apple Watch, according to an image that she recently shared on Instagram. In a photo that shows her trying on the Apple Watch at Parisian fashion boutique Colette, Wen writes “My second meeting with the #AppleWatch, this time in Colette. The first time? Well, you’ll see soon.”
Several fashion publications have taken Wen’s statement to mean that she is somehow involved in marketing the Apple Watch, possibly taking part in an upcoming advertising campaign designed to promote Apple’s wearable device.
Liu Wen is a well-known fashion model, who has modeled for high-end luxury brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes, Gucci, Chanel, and more.
The Apple Watch is Apple’s first product that has had a distinct focus on fashion, and the company has been working towards positioning it as a high-fashion accessory. In addition to debuting the Apple Watch at French luxury boutique Colette last week, Apple also made an effort to include high-profile fashion editors and bloggers at the September event where the Apple Watch was introduced along the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
As Apple gears up to launch the Apple Watch in early 2015, it is likely that the company will hold additional fashion-oriented events in order to promote the device. Apple may take several different approaches in its Apple Watch advertising to reach a wide range of potential customers, as June rumors suggested it was also testing the watch with several different professional athletes, who may also be involved in advertisements.
Ahead of introducing the Apple Watch, Apple made a number of hires from various luxury retailers, including Angela Ahrendts, the former Burberry CEO who now serves as Apple’s head of retail, and Paul Deneve, the former Yves Saint Laurent CEO who now works on “special projects.” Apple has also picked up Patrick Pruniaux, a former Tag Heuer Sales Director, and famous designer Marc Newson.
The company’s Apple Watch, expected in early 2015, will be available in a wide range of materials and at several different price points. On the lower end, the Sport version of the device will retail for $349, and rumors have suggested the higher-end solid gold Edition models could sell for thousands of dollars.
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Tim Cook Asks Apple Employees to Remember Steve Jobs on Third Anniversary of His Death
Ahead of the third anniversary of Steve Jobs’ passing, Apple CEO Tim Cook has sent a memo to Apple employees (via iClarified), asking them to take some time to remember the “many ways Steve made our world better.”
Team,
Sunday will mark the third anniversary of Steve’s passing. I’m sure that many of you will be thinking of him on that day, as I know I will.
I hope you’ll take a moment to appreciate the many ways Steve made our world better. Children learn in new ways thanks to the products he dreamed up. The most creative people on earth use them to compose symphonies and pop songs, and write everything from novels to poetry to text messages. Steve’s life’s work produced the canvas on which artists now create masterpieces.
Steve’s vision extended far beyond the years he was alive, and the values on which he built Apple will always be with us. Many of the ideas and projects we’re working on today got started after he died, but his influence on them — and on all of us — is unmistakeable.
Enjoy your weekend, and thanks for helping carry Steve’s legacy into the future.
Tim
Though Steve Jobs passed away three years ago on October 5, 2011, the former Apple CEO has continued to have a major impact on the company. His fourth floor office has remained untouched since his death, and Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken several opportunities during recent interviews to emphasize Jobs’ influence on the company’s direction and on the development of new products.
“His spirit will always be the foundation of the company,” Cook said in an interview with Charlie Rose, where he said that Steve will always be in his heart. “He is deep in Apple’s DNA.”
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Apple to Unveil New iPads, Retina iMacs, and OS X Yosemite on October 16
Apple is planning to hold its next fall event on Thursday, October 16, where it is expected to introduce new iPads, reports Re/code. The company is also expected to introduce new Retina iMacs and release OS X Yosemite to the public.
According to Re/code, Apple’s iPad event will be more low-key than its September iPhone event, and it will be held at the company’s Town Hall Auditorium. The company’s iPhone event, which saw the introduction of the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, Apple Watch, and Apple Pay, was held at the Flint Center, where the original Mac was unveiled 30 years ago.
Physical mockup of the second-generation iPad Air
Apple has a few more new products to unveil before the year is out, and it plans to show them off in a couple weeks. Sources tell Code/red the company will hold its next special event on Thursday, Oct. 16 — not the 21st. Headlining the gathering: The latest updates to its iPad line, along with those new iMacs that 9to5Mac told us about earlier this week. Also: OS X Yosemite.
Apple’s next-generation iPad Air and iPad Retina mini are both expected to come with updated processors and support for Touch ID, the fingerprint first sensor introduced with the iPhone 5s. The iPad Air may also come in a gold color variation, and it may include a new anti-reflective laminated display.
The Retina iMac, which may come with a “5K” resolution of 5120 x 2880, may be available only in 27-inches and it may also feature AMD graphics. It is expected to use a Haswell processor, as next-generation Broadwell processors for the iMac won’t be available until 2015.
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Apple’s upcoming iPad event may take place on October 16th
It’s no secret that Apple tends to reveal its new iPads in October — at least, that’s been the company’s tradition for the past few years — so the big question has been exactly when in October we can expect to see these upcoming tablets. According to Re/code, which has a history of predicting such event dates with a high degree of accuracy, we should mark October 16th on our calendars. The report indicates that the launch will take place at Apple’s Town Hall auditorium, so it’ll be a smaller affair than last month’s spectacle. While we haven’t seen as many rumors of the new devices as we did with, say, the iPhone 6, there’s been a lot of buzz about a new 12-inch model making the rounds in addition to the usual 9.7-inch Air and 7.9-inch mini. There’s also a chance we’ll see new options on the iMac side; and with OS X Yosemite and Apple Pay due very soon, you can count on some fanfare about those as well.
[Image credit: AP]
Filed under: Tablets, Wireless, Apple
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iPhone 6 Reservations in China Top Four Million [iOS Blog]
Demand for the iPhone in China is strong, with reservations for the iPhone 6 reaching four million in just one day, reports Chinese media outlet Tencent. This figure tops the two million in six hours reported yesterday and is based on information provided directly by the companies processing reservations on China.
According to reservation company Jingdong, reservations are almost evenly split between the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 Plus has accounted for 1,189,083 reservations, edging out the iPhone 6 with 1,106,379 reservations. Apple announced earlier this week that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will go on sale in China starting October 17.
A recent report from Digitimes claims the iPhone 6 Plus may account for 60 percent of Apple’s total iPhone 6 device shipments, although usage numbers so far have been skewing heavily in favor of the smaller iPhone 6. Demand for the 5.5-inch model has, however, exceeded supply so far, with the device quickly going out of stock shortly after launch. Shipping estimates for the iPhone 6 Plus are still showing a delay of 3-4 weeks, while the iPhone 6 is available in 7-10 business days in the US and a number of European countries.
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Early Apple CarPlay Reviews Cite Ease of Use, Excellent Siri Voice Integration
Apple and several of its partners showed off CarPlay at its official unveiling earlier this year, mainstream users are finally getting their hands on the system with Pioneer’s release of its promised CarPlay update for for several of its aftermarket car audio receiver yesterday.
Early reviews of CarPlay from Consumer Reports and Australian technology and car blog EFTM suggest the system is indeed easy to use and effective at reducing driver distraction, thanks to excellent Siri integration.
Consumer Reports points out the many benefits offered by Siri, which allows you to send text messages, get directions, set reminders, and more without touching your iPhone.
As handy as Siri’s natural speech recognition is when you’re just walking around with your phone, it really comes into its own in the car. Siri makes it easy to choose music, get directions, and read or send text messages—all by using your voice with natural speech, rather than menu-driven, formulaic commands.
Consumer Reports also notes that updating the AVIC-5000NEX unit was easy, requiring the owner to download the firmware to a USB stick, plug the stick into the receiver, and wait for unit to update itself.
For his part, Trevor Long of EFTM provides a detailed walkthrough with screenshots of CarPlay’s major features. Demoing Pioneer’s AVH-X8650BT stereo installed in a 2010 Mazda 2, Long shows how easy it is to make phone calls, interact with visual voicemail, listen to music, and more.
CarPlay is a revolution in in-car entertainment. While many of the features have been available for some time on other cars, the genuine integration with your smartphone and capabilities that have been added make it well worth considering if you’re an Apple iPhone user who spends a great deal of time in your car.
If you’re shopping for a new car – ask the dealer – is CarPlay available? and if no – will it be available via a firmware upgrade in the future?
Pioneer this week released its CarPlay firmware update, making it the first aftermarket receiver manufacturer to offer CarPlay to consumers. Among Pioneer’s U.S. models, CarPlay is available for the $1400 AVIC-8000NEX, the $1200 AVIC-7000NEX, the $900 AVIC-6000NEX, the $750 AVIC-5000NEX and the $700 AVH-4000NEX. CarPlay is also compatible with Pioneer’s new $600 smartphone receiver, AppRadio 4. Consumers can generally find Pioneer’s units at significant discounts from list price from a variety of retailers.
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Hulu Plus on iOS looks a lot flatter and cleaner now
The word “reimagining” can be a bit scary at times. At its worst you get stuff like Johnny Depp playing Willy Wonka, but on the other side of the coin is SyFy’s Battlestar Galactica. Hulu’s redesigned iOS app seems to fall on the latter portion of that spectrum. The application’s gotten an overhaul, with a keen eye toward making it cleaner and, above all, easier to use. First things first: the landing screen is now divided into three sections; Home, Shows You Watch and Navigation. Home is where content curated by Hulu resides, while Shows You Watch and Navigation are pretty self-explanatory. The kicker is that now when you swipe either left or right from anywhere within the app, you’ll pull up either of the latter, respectively.
The streaming outfit didn’t neglect the video player itself, either, tidying up its appearance and adding controls for captions and Chromecasting within the viewing window. It all resembles HBO Go and YouTube’s Android apps a bit, but compared to what Hulu on iOS looked like recently it’s hard to complain. When those on Google’s mobile OS will see a similar patch is up in the air for now.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Software, HD, Mobile, Apple
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AIVAnet 