Buyer’s Guide: Deals on Civilization V for Mac, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Cases, and More [Mac Blog]

We’ve partnered with GameAgent this week to offer MacRumors readers a great deal on one of the best Mac games around — Civilization V. From now until Sunday, readers can get Sid Meier’s Civilization V: The Complete Edition for just $12.50, which is 75% off the standard price of $49.99.

The Civilization V Complete Edition includes the original game plus two expansion packs: Gods & Kings and Brave New World, along with the released add-on content.

As for Macs, there are a few limited deals this week, including a low price on the newest low-cost 21.5-inch iMac and some ongoing deals for the 2013 Retina MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. There are also some discounts on select models of the iPad Air and the Retina iPad mini from Best Buy, and finally, we have an array of iPhone 6 cases that can be purchased at low prices, along with a few other iPhone accessories.

iMac

The 1.4GHz/8GB/500GB iMac, which is Apple’s newest iMac, is available from Best Buy for $979.99, down from the original price of $1,099. Best Buy has some modest discounts on other iMacs, including the 21.5-inch 2.7Ghz/8GB/1TB model, which is priced at $1,179.99, and the 21.5-inch 2.9Ghz/8GB/1TB model, priced at $1,379.99.

The 27-inch 3.2Ghz/8GB/1TB iMac is available from Best Buy for $1,679.99 and the higher-end 27-inch 3.4Ghz/8GB/1TB iMac is available from Best Buy and Amazon for $1,879.99.

iPad Air and Retina iPad mini

Best Buy is currently offering $100 off all of its Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Air models (with a new two-year contract), and $50 off all of some of its higher-capacity Wi-Fi only iPad Air models. the 32GB Wi-Fi only iPad Air is available for $549.99, while the 64GB Wi-Fi only model is available for $649.99.

With a $100 discount, the entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad Air is available for $529.99, with higher capacity versions available for $629.99, $729.99, and $829.99.

Similar to the iPad Air, Best Buy is also offering $50 off of its higher capacity Wi-Fi only Retina iPad mini models, and $100 off all cellular models with a two-year contract. The 32GB Wi-Fi only Retina iPad mini can be purchased for $449.99, and the 64GB version is available for $549.99.

The entry-level 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular Retina iPad mini is available for $429.99 with Best Buy’s $100 discount, and higher capacity versions are priced at $529.99, $629.99, and $729.99 with the discount.

Best Buy is also currently running a promotion that lets customers trade in older iPads (except for the first-generation model) for a $150 gift card.

Mac Mall has a small selection of Retina iPad minis on sale, offering the 32GB Wi-Fi only model in silver for $399.99, and the 64GB Wi-Fi only model in space gray for $499.99.

MacBook Air

B&H Photo is continuing to offer rock bottom prices on remaining inventory of the 2013 MacBook Air. 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 and the 1.3Ghz/4GB/256GB 13-inch MacBook Air is available for $999.

Retina MacBook Pro

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, Adorama, and B&H Photo.

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.

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.

Apple Accessories

Best Buy is selling leather cases for the new iPhone 6 for $39.99, which is $5 less than the cost directly from Apple. The Urban Armor Gear 5″ Case for iPhone 6 is available for $20 from DealMac.

Groupon has pre-orders available for a range of different iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases at very low prices. The MogoLife Protective case for iPhone 6 or 6 Plus can be purchased for $9.99 or $11.99, down from $29.95. The Abyss Tough Armor Rugged Case for the iPhone 6 can be purchased for $11.99, down from $29.99. The Prolix Slim Armor Protective Case for the iPhone 6 is also available for $11.99, down from its normal price of $29.99.

The Urge Basics Dual-Layer Protection Cobra Case for iPhone 6 is available for $9.99, regularly $29.99. The iHome Reflex Case for iPhone 6 is available for $12.99, a discount of $7, and the Xentris Soft-Shell Case for iPhone 6 is available for $9.99, a discount of $10.

The Incase Hammered Hardshell Case for the 11-inch MacBook Air is available for $12.99 from Groupon, down from $59.95. Groupon is also offering the Jawbone Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speaker for $89.99, down from $150. The LifeProof frē Case for the iPad mini is available for $32.99, down from $99.

Kensington Personalized iPad Air and iPad mini Cases are available for $14.99 from Groupon, and the Lifeproof Nuud case for the iPhone 5/5s can be purchased for $49 from DailySteals.

MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.

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Apple Ceases Signing iOS 7.1.2, Downgrading No Longer Possible [iOS Blog]

As of today, Apple has stopped signing the iOS 7.1.2 firmware, which will prevent users from downgrading from iOS 8 back to iOS 7 (via iClarified). This means that users who are unhappy with the changes that iOS 8 have brought or unsatisfied with bugs introduced with the update will be unable to downgrade back to iOS 7.1.2.

Apple’s decision to stop signing iOS 7.1.2 is not unusual, as the company often stops signing prior versions of iOS shortly after the release of a new version of iOS. iOS 8, the latest Apple mobile operating system, was released to the public on September 17.

iOS 7.1.2 does, however, remain available for iPhone 4 users, as the iOS 8 operating system can only be installed on the iPhone 4s and later.

Released on June 30, iOS 7.1.2 is the latest version of iOS 7, which included minor bug fixes, security improvements, and a fix for an email attachment encryption issue.

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Audio Testing Confirms iPhone 6 Not Yet Capable of Direct HD Audio Playback

Earlier this year, Apple was rumored to be adding support for high-definition audio playback in iOS 8 and shipping new EarPods with the iPhone 6 in order to support this 24bit/96kHz standard. Apple ultimately made no such announcements for iOS 8 or the iPhone 6, and Mashable has now confirmed with some testing that Apple’s latest iPhone 6 does not currently support high definition audio playback.

With the help of audio testing expert David Ranada, Mashable tested several sample .wav files encoded at a 96kHz sampling rate with 24 bits per sample. The tracks were played using third-party apps such as Onkyo’s HF music player and recordings were made through the headphone jack to determine the quality of the audio output.

The results show that iPhone 6 does not yet support HD audio playback, even though the audio hardware inside the phone may be capable of 24bit/96kHz output. According to teardown analyses, Apple’s iPhone 6 includes the custom made Cirrus Logic 338S1201 chip, which is likely the successor to the Cirrus Logic CS42L61 chip used in previous iPhone models. Though also a custom build, the older CS42L61 chip is part of Cirrus Logic’s CS42L51 family, which supports 24bit/96kHz HD audio.

It’s hard to conceive of Apple either creating a custom chip that’s less capable than the equivalent off-the-shelf component, let alone downgrading the audio capabilities of the iPhone’s DAC in subsequent generations. So it stands to reason the DAC on board the iPhone 6 is capable of sampling 24-bit/96kHz audio.

It’s possible, however, that Apple could later update iOS 8 with support for HD audio and enable the playback of hi-res music through the iPhone’s headphone jack. Apple is accepting 24bit/96kHz uploads from musicians and is allegedly preparing to enable high-definition 24-bit downloads from iTunes.

Customers who want HD audio sooner will have to look at Lightning-equipped audio devices such as the recently announced Fidelio M2L headphones from Philips. The Fidelio M2Ls will connect to an iPhone or iPad via the Lightning port and will support 24-bit audio using an internal DAC and amplifier built into the headphone unit.

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Apple Once Again Allowing HealthKit-Capable Apps in iOS App Store

Just before the public launch of iOS 8 earlier this month, Apple removed all HealthKit-enabled apps from the iOS App Store due to an last-minute issue with the service. Addressing the issue, Apple promised it was working on a fix with the goal to “have HealthKit apps available by the end of the month”. As spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple is now allowing apps with HealthKit features back into the iOS App Store.

One of the first apps to debut with HealthKit today is FitPort [Direct Link], a replacement for the iOS 8 Health app. The fitness dashboard allows users both to view health stats pulled from Apple’s Health database and to enter new data manually. Now that Apple is approving these apps, there should be a deluge of new HealthKit-capable apps appearing in the App Store in the coming days.

Apple planned to fix the HealthKit issue with iOS 8.0.1, but problems with cellular connectivity and Touch ID functionality on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices forced Apple to pull the update shortly after release. The company fixed these iOS problems and updated HealthKit in iOS 8.0.2, which was released late Thursday.

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Apple iOS 8.0.1 Issues Linked to Maps Debacle, Same Manager Oversaw Both Projects

Apple’s recent iOS 8.0.1 issue, which saw the update disable the cellular connection and Touch ID functionality on numerous iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices, may have links to Apple’s 2012 Maps debacle, reports Bloomberg.

According to “people familiar with Apple’s management structure,” the same mid-level manager was in charge of overseeing quality assurance for both projects, having been moved to the iOS team after being removed from the Maps team.

[The manager] was removed from the maps team after the software gave users unreliable directions and mislabeled landmarks, though he remained in charge of testing for iOS, said one person, who asked not to be identified since the information isn’t public.

The employee in question, who has worked at Apple since 2000, is in charge of a team of more than “100 people around the world” responsible for testing the software before it reaches consumers, says Bloomberg.

According to the Bloomberg report, engineers who test the new software often are unable to get the latest iPhones until they are available to customers, “resulting in updates that may not have gone through tests that are are rigorous as those for the latest handsets,” and internal issues can also impact Apple’s testing, which may explain how such a significant bug got through the testing process.

Internal turf battles also can impact quality testing, according to a former senior manager. Teams responsible for testing cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity will sometimes sign off on a product release, then [the manager’s] team will discover later that it’s not compatible with another feature, the person said.

Released yesterday, iOS 8.0.1 contained a critical bug that caused the cellular service and Touch ID on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices to malfunction. Though the update was pulled after approximately an hour and fifteen minutes after it was first released, numerous iPhone users were able to download the software, which effectively disabled their phones.

Apple announced that it was investigating the situation in the afternoon, and yesterday evening, the company released a support document saying iOS 8.0.2 was in the works and directing users to fix the problem via an iTunes restore to iOS 8.

Apple has seen several issues with iOS 8 in recent weeks, including a major bug with HealthKit that caused the company to pull all HealthKit-enabled apps from the App Store ahead of the public release of iOS 8. Apple promised a quick fix, and iOS 8.0.1 was supposed to repair the issue and allow apps that use HealthKit back into the App Store.

Apple has just released iOS 8.0.2 to fix the bugs that were introduced with iOS 8.0.1.

Update: This post has been updated to remove the individual’s name.

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Apple: Most OS X Users Safe from ‘Bash’ Security Flaw, Software Update Coming Soon

Yesterday, it was revealed that security researchers from Red Hat uncovered a major exploit in the “Bash” command shell found in OS X and Linux. Named “Shellshock” by security experts, the exploit allows hackers to gain access to web connected devices and services through the use of malicious code.

Now, an Apple spokesperson (via iMore) has commented on the matter, stating that the majority of OS X users are safe from the exploits and that the company is working to provide a software update for advanced UNIX users:

The vast majority of OS X users are not at risk to recently reported bash vulnerabilities,” an Apple spokesperson told iMore. “Bash, a UNIX command shell and language included in OS X, has a weakness that could allow unauthorized users to remotely gain control of vulnerable systems. With OS X, systems are safe by default and not exposed to remote exploits of bash unless users configure advanced UNIX services. We are working to quickly provide a software update for our advanced UNIX users.

The exploit was called “as big as Heartbleed” by security researcher Robert Graham, who was referring to a flaw discovered in the popular open-source software OpenSSL that affected 66% of the Internet earlier this year. Apple eventually announced that Heartbleed did not affect its software or key services, and also released updates for AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule. It is likely that a fix for the Bash exploit will arrive relatively soon for users.

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Apple shows off its own bend tests for new iPhones

All these reports about how the new iPhones can bend and remain bent might have you asking: did Apple even do stress tests on these new devices? To answer your question, Apple invited a handful of journalists to observe its testing facilities and prove that yes, the company crushed, pushed, twisted and pounded on 15,000 iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units each before unleashing them to the public. According to the Wall Street Journal, Recode and The Verge, each phone goes through five different tests, including one that places pressure on the center of the phone in varying degrees, using weights reaching 25 kilos. Next, weights are again pressed in the middle of the phone’s display hundreds of times, followed by a test that twists the device around 8,000 times while a machine is clamping both ends.

[Image credit: Unbox Therapy]

Apple also tests the phones in real-life situations, such as placing them in the back pockets of tight jeans (Samsung has its own version of the test) so they can be sat on in different angles repeatedly. Finally, the company sends hundreds of prototypes home with select employees in order to see how they’d perform in the real world. This isn’t the first time Apple has opened its testing facilities to journalists in the wake of a scandal: back in 2010, the company also invited a handful of people to its wireless testing labs after iPhone 4’s antenna issues came to light.

If you’re wondering why Cupertino still received nine bent phone complaints, it’s because the phones do get deformed if you apply a huge load/weight (presumably much larger than what the testing equipment can apply on the device) onto it. As Dan Riccio, Apple’s SVP of hardware engineering told Recode, the phones can “take a set” with enough force, though he didn’t exactly list out real-world scenarios that can lead to a bent iPhone.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple

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Source: The Wall Street Journal, Recode, The Verge

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Engadget Daily: Haven’s barricade-style smart lock, Nissan’s electric pickup truck and more!

Need to catch up on the last 24 hours of tech news? Read on for our daily highlights, including Nissan’s EV pickup truck, a heavy-duty smart lock that can withstand a battering ram, the deal with Apple’s iOS 8 bugs and more.

Filed under: Misc, Internet

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