Some Owners of Older iOS Devices Receiving Up to $300 in Liquid Damage Indicator Settlement

Back in April 2013, it was announced that Apple had agreed to a $53 million settlement in a class action lawsuit involving iPhone and iPod touch units that may have been improperly denied warranty coverage due to liquid damage indicators having been triggered in the devices.

The settlement, which covers iPhones denied warranty coverage on or before December 31, 2009 and iPod touches denied coverage on or before June 30, 2010, stems from Apple’s use of triggered liquid damage indicators as sufficient reason for denying warranty coverage. Given the timeframe for the issue, the settlement is limited to iPhone 3GS and earlier and third-generation iPod touch and earlier models.

With the indicators’ manufacturer, 3M, acknowledging the indicators could be at least partially triggered by humidity and not necessarily direct liquid contact, some owners pursued a case against Apple for improperly denying warranty coverage. Apple did later adjust its procedures to require additional visual inspection for liquid damage on devices where the indicators had been triggered, but for those who had already paid out of pocket to replace their devices, the case continued.

As outlined on the settlement home page, administrators finally began sending out settlement checks to eligible claimants last week, and a number of MacRumors readers have reported receiving their checks over the past few days.

Owners of several different iPhone models have reported receiving checks for $251.55, with some reporting amounts as high as $300 while others have received smaller amounts for affected iPod touch units. Users receiving checks have until January 21 to cash or deposit them.

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Pebble Drops Prices on Its Watches, Pokes Fun at Jony Ive

Pebble is dealing with the threat of Apple’s upcoming Apple Watch by making jokes about the enthusiasm Apple employees have shown for the device. On its website, Pebble has a graphic of a gleeful Pebble, which says “Chill.” Above that, are the words “Breathe, Jony. It’s just a watch.”

Further down, Pebble advertises the seven day battery life of its smart watches. “Why measure battery life in days? ‘Cuz we can.” This is a reference to the poor battery life seen in other smart watches, including Samsung’s Galaxy Gear and the Moto 360, both of which last less than a day before requiring a charge.

Though Apple has not announced battery life of the Apple Watch, rumors have suggested that it will last for about a day, requiring nightly charging. It is likely, however, that the company is continuing to make tweaks to improve battery as much as it can, which is why no specific information on battery has been released.

Pebble also touts its customizability and its relatively low cost while poking a bit of fun at some of Apple’s Apple Watch statements. “Overpriced trophy watch wasn’t on our to-do list,” reads the site. “Pebble is made by real people, for real people keeping it real,” it says, wrapping up with the following statement: “Just to recap, we made a watch. We didn’t solve global warming.”

In addition to highlighting the capabilities of the product with sly references to the Apple Watch, Pebble has also announced plans to cut the prices of both the Pebble and the Pebble Steel. The standard Pebble watch now retails for $99, while the more recently introduced Pebble Steel retails for $199. Both options are quite a bit more affordable than the Apple Watch, which is said to start at a price of $349.

Pebble has also introduced new health and fitness capabilities for Pebble devices. Following an update, Pebble users are now able to track activity non-stop and monitor their sleep habits. Additionally, Pebble watches will be available in more retail locations, including Sam’s Club, Fry’s Electronics, and more.

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Apple Releases OS X Yosemite Golden Master Candidate to Developers

Apple today released a candidate golden master version of OS X Yosemite to developers, just over two weeks after releasing the eighth Developer Preview alongside the third public beta of the upcoming Mac operating system.

The latest update for developers, which arrives as Build 14A379a, can be downloaded from the Mac App Store and through Apple’s Mac Dev Center. Apple has also released Xcode 6.1 GM seed and a new version of OS X Server 4.0 developer preview.

OS X Yosemite brings a flatter, more modern look to OS X, with an emphasis on translucency and redesigned dock, windows, and more. It also includes a multitude of new features, such as improved integration with iOS 8 through Continuity, a new “Today” view in Notification Center that offers integration with third-party apps, a retooled Spotlight search with new data sources, and several new features for apps like Mail, Safari, and Messages.

Over the course of the beta testing period, each Developer Preview has added new features and refined the look and performance of OS X Yosemite, although changes have become less obvious in more recent builds as Apple begins finalizing Yosemite ahead of its public release, which is expected in late October.

The current build may or may not be a final version of OS X Yosemite, depending on the outcome of final testing. As an example, Apple last year seeded its planned golden master build to developers on October 3, although it did release a second golden master version a few weeks later just ahead of the public release on October 22.

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Apple to Announce Q4 2014 Earnings on October 20 [Mac Blog]

Apple today updated its investor relations page to confirm it will announce earnings for its fourth fiscal quarter (third calendar quarter) of 2014 on October 20. The quarterly earnings statement will be released around 1:30 PM Pacific / 4:30 PM Eastern, with a conference call to discuss the report following at 2:00 PM Pacific / 5:00 PM Eastern.

This quarterly earnings report covers the period up to September 27 and will include early sales of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which launched in a number of countries on September 19. With a highly anticipated China launch slated for October 17, iPhone sales in the current quarter are expected to continue to be strong. The company confirmed it sold a record-breaking 10 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units in the first weekend of sales and would have sold significantly more units if supply had not been constrained.

MacRumors will provide coverage of both the earnings release and conference call on October 20.

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O2 now lets you charge iTunes credit to your phone bill

O2 already has a number of deals in place that allow its customers to buy digital wares and charge the cost straight to their phone bill. It now has a new partner in Apple, as the carrier’s “Charge to Mobile” program has been expanded to include iTunes vouchers this week. Direct-carrier billing is supposed to be about convenience, but O2 contract and pay-as-you-go customers need to jump through a few hoops to take advantage of this new way to pay. It’s handled through an O2 subsite — o2vouchers.co.uk — where you select an iTunes voucher of up to £30 that’ll be emailed to you when the payment goes through. You then volunteer your mobile number, and you’ll be sent a text you must reply to in order to approve the transaction. When the code eventually hits your inbox, you can use the credit in iTunes, iBooks and the iOS/Mac App Stores. A slightly more convoluted process than you were hoping for, we imagine, but at least you can get a fiver off a £25 voucher from now until this introductory promotion closes at the end of next week.

Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, Apple

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Via: The Inquirer

Source: O2

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Velvetwire Unveils First Smart USB Charger Powered by Apple HomeKit Technology

Smart energy company Velvetwire today announced Powerslayer Blu, the latest addition to its Powerslayer lineup of USB chargers. This new model offers Bluetooth low energy (BLE) connectivity and is compatible with Apple’s HomeKit technology rolling out with iOS 8. Apple’s vision for HomeKit is to make it easy for developers to allow users to control and interact with accessories around the home, leveraging BLE for energy-efficient communications.

“We are proud to be among the first group of companies to produce HomeKit-compatible devices,” said Eric Bodnar, co-founder and CEO at Velvetwire. “By integrating Bluetooth technology into the Powerslayer, we’re offering customers a new way to interact with their devices and be part of Apple’s HomeKit. Velvetwire is committed to developing intelligent, energy-efficient devices that allow users to live more consciously without sacrificing convenience. We look forward to sharing Powerslayer Blu and future generations of our power-saving devices with the world.”

The Powerslayer Blu improves upon earlier Powerslayer models with HomeKit integration and iOS app support that gathers information from the charger using Bluetooth LE. Users can receive notifications about the charging status of their devices and view energy level information via Velvetwire’s iOS app. The device also includes the option to switch between a fast, high-power charging profile and an energy conservation mode that maximizes battery life.

The Powerslayer Blu will be available before the end of the year and will retail for $89. While the price tag is likely to be a hurdle for many potential customers, Powerslayer Blu serves as a good example of the potential of HomeKit to use iOS as a hub for bringing together devices from around the home.

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Mass Production of Apple Watch Reportedly Slated for January 2015

Apple is reportedly finalizing the details on its upcoming Apple Watch as it prepares to begin mass production of the device ahead of its launch early next year. Mass production of the smartwatch device may begin January 2015, reports Taiwanese news source AppleDaily (via G For Games).

According to the news report, Apple is working only with long-time manufacturing partner Quanta to produce the device. This contradicts an earlier report suggesting Quanta would be handling the bulk of the production with Inventec supplementing the supply.

Quanta has allegedly received Apple’s heads-up and has begun making preparations (which involve increasing its worker head count to 4 million). Even more, it is said that Apple and Quanta have entered a deal which prohibits the Taiwanese company from manufacturing/assembling smartwatches for Apple’s rival OEMs.

Inventec was among several assembly companies said to be vying for Apple Watch orders months ago, but Quanta may have won an exclusive arrangement due to the complexity associated with manufacturing the device.

Apple says its Watch is unlike any device it has ever made, with cutting edge sensor and haptic feddback technologies. Given the advanced features of the device, it’s not surprising Apple has selected to work with only one manufacturer as it streamlines the production process, as others may have been unable to meet Apple’s standards.

Relatively reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously reported that Apple was planning a November production ramp for the Apple Watch, so a shift to January could indicate Apple believes it needs a bit more time to finalize the product’s design.

Apple is expected to begin selling the Watch starting in early 2015, with one insider saying Apple would be “lucky” to launch it in time for Valentine’s Day on February 14. A production ramp beginning in January would indeed make it difficult for Apple to have significant quantities available in time for Valentine’s Day purchases. The smartwatch will retail at a starting price of $349 for the base model, with several collections including 18-karat gold luxury options available at higher prices.

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Foxconn Hiring More Workers to Help with Strong Demand for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus [iOS Blog]

Foxconn has begun another large-scale hiring effort for its factories in Shenzhen and Zhengzhou in order to help out with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus production, reports Digitimes.

Because working on assembly lines is no longer as attractive as before for workers in China, Foxconn is having issues recruiting sufficient numbers of workers. The company has been hosting hiring events recently to maintain its manpower, the sources added.

The report notes that Apple’s goal to launch its new handsets in 115 countries by the end of 2014 also pushed Foxconn to start another round of large-scale hiring. The company was previously said to be bringing on 100,000 new employees in June ahead of the iPhone 6 launch.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus went on sale in the first wave of countries on September 19 and saw expanded availability to more countries last Friday, September 26. Overall demand for the new devices has been greater than supply to this point, as Apple’s Online Store still shows a 7-10 day shipping estimate for new iPhone 6 orders and a 3-4 week delay for new iPhone 6 Plus orders in the U.S.

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Apple Watch Makes First Public Appearance at Parisian Fashion Boutique Colette

As indicated by an announcement yesterday, Apple has teamed up with Parisian fashion boutique Colette to show off the Apple Watch at the retailer’s gallery on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris for today only. The special event marks the first public appearance for the Apple Watch since being announced last month at a media event, as a long line began forming around Colette’s before the event started at 11 AM local time.

According to Engadget, Colette is displaying both the 38mm and 42mm versions of the Apple Watch to the public, while MacGeneration (Google Translate) states that the models being displayed are mostly from the Apple Watch Sport Collection while some are from the Apple Watch Collection. Also on display are some watches from the Apple Watch Edition Collection, which feature 18-karat gold casings and a sapphire display.

Image taken by Elle magazine editor-in-chief Robbie Myers
Customers are only being allowed to look at the devices and will not have the opportunity to actually try out the smartwatch’s capabilities. However, some journalists were allowed to try on the devices. Apple will also not be announcing any new details about the device at today’s event, as info about full pricing and battery life remain unknown.

Left to right: Colette’s Sarah Andelman with Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, Jony Ive, and Marc Newson (via Vogue’s Suzy Menkes)
A number of members from Apple’s industrial design team are also present at the event, including Apple’s Senior Vice President of Design Jony Ive and newly hired Apple designer Marc Newson. Both Ive and Newson were also pictured with a number of high-profile fashion personalities, including notable designer Karl Lagerfeld and Vogue magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Other fashion journalists present also include Jean-Seb Stehli of Madame Figaro and Elle magazine editor-in-chief Robbie Myers.

In addition to positioning the Apple Watch as a brand new product, Apple has also been pushing the wearable device as a fashionable accessory. The company invited top fashion editors and bloggers to its September 9 media event, and even allowed some to go hands-on with the smartwatch. Fashion publications including InStyle and Voguewere impressed with the Apple Watch, praising its design and the Digital Crown input method. However, others like The Doneger Group’s Roseanne Morrison were unimpressed with the device, calling it “not pretty” and “future techno as opposed to feminine sexy.”

At its event earlier this month, Apple said it is targeting a early 2015 launch for its wearable device. A report after the event stated that Apple would be “lucky” to launch the watch by Valentine’s Day due to software development issues. The Apple Watch will start at $349 and may run up to $1,200 for the high-end Edition version.

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