New Samsung Ads Poke Fun at Apple Live Stream Issues, iPhone 6 and Apple Watch
Capitalizing on Apple’s much-talked about and publicized special event yesterday, Samsung has released a series of new web ads (via Engadget) poking fun at the live stream’s struggles, the iPhone 6 getting a screen size upgrade, the Apple Watch and more. All six ads can be seen in the video playlist below.
All of the ads feature two actors dressed similar to Apple Geniuses in an environment that looks like the back area of an Apple Store. The first ad notes how the live stream for Apple’s event intermittently cut out for some viewers while also experiencing odd production issues, like two songs playing over each other or a Chinese translator having her audio played over the keynote.
The second ad features the two eagerly anticipating “something groundbreaking” from the keynote until the larger-screened iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are unveiled, which has them excited until they compare it to large-screened Android phones. Another ad points out that the Samsung Gear S doesn’t require a phone for all of its features, like the Apple Watch. The Samsung Gear S will launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 this fall.
The rest of the ads continue Samsung’s effort to differentiate its Galaxy devices from the new iPhones, pointing out its Fast Charging Mode, Multi Window multitasking and the Galaxy Note’s S Pen stylus.
Samsung often releases ads capitalizing on moves Apple makes with its iPhone line, most famously releasing a series of ads of people waiting in line for the latest iPhone while enviously looking at Galaxy devices.
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Samsung ads poke fun at everything from Apple’s stream to its Watch
Now that Apple’s new iPhone 6 Plus is ready to play in the Galaxy Note 4’s size territory, Samsung is taking the competition on with a few new ads. It’s revived the “It Doesn’t Take A Genius” tagline, and first up is a segment making fun of Apple’s glitchy live video stream during yesterday’s presentation. The rest of the videos play up Samsung’s features like multitasking windows, stylus and fast charging, or make fun of anyone using a watch that still requires a phone to get connected. Whether you’re already lined up for a refreshed slate of iStuff or if you weren’t too impressed, the latest round of Apple vs. Samsung — on store shelves instead of in the court room — is here (complete with bonus flame action).
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung
Source: Samsung Mobile (YouTube)
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Apple Upgrading Existing iCloud Subscribers to More Affordable Plans
Just a day after unveiling new pricing for iCloud, Apple has begun emailing existing iCloud subscribers to notify them that the company is upgrading their accounts to the new price points and will be refunding them the difference. However, users will be allowed to keep the same storage sizes.
For example, a user subscribed to the 25 GB plan, which is no longer an option under the new iCloud pricing, will have their price reduced from $40 a year to $11.99 a year. The discounted price is in line with the new $0.99 a month price for 20 GB, although established iCloud customers do get an extra 5 GB. However, once a user changes their plan away from “legacy plans” like the 25 GB, they cannot return to them.
Apple says the new price points are in effect due to iCloud Drive, which lets users store and access data from any of their devices. The launch of both iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite will see the launch of iCloud Drive this fall.
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Equil’s Smartpen 2 can transcribe your notes without your tablet’s help
The Equil JOT smartpen was a nice evolution on digitally-enhanced writing implements. Much like Livescribe’s digitizing pen, it copied all a writer’s scribbles to a companion iPad app — but the JOT didn’t need a special notebook to do it. Rather than requiring writers to buy special smartpen-friendly paper, Equil created a sensor that could be attached to any notebook and synced wirelessly with iOS devices. Now that JOT’s rebranded successor, the Smartpen 2, doesn’t even need to do that.
The Equil Smartpen 2 launched this week at TechCrunch disrupt, and it’s mostly the same writing device as last year’s model, but with one important difference: the pen’s notebook sensor can save your notes locally. This means that you no longer need a smartphone or tablet handy to digitize your notes, and can sync digital scribblings later at your leisure. The new model will retail for $169, but can be had for a tad cheaper for the duration of an Indigogo campaign, which prices the device at $79 and increases in $10 increments as orders are filled.
Filed under: Misc
Source: IndieGoGo
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[VIDEO] Apple Watch Parody Ad: “You didn’t really ask for it, so here you go”
Apparently something happened in Apple land yesterday – something about new devices – but naturally we didn’t pay much attention to it as it was business as usual from the tech giant. As an Android fan though, I love the parody ads that spring up on YouTube around this time when Apple announces new products. Apple’s new smartwatch, the Apple Watch, is no different, and a new Apple Watch parody ad courtesy of Jack Douglass of jacksfilms has been doing the rounds today. Check it out:
It definitely gave me a few laughs, particularly the part were he keeps accidentally saying “iWatch” instead of “Apple Watch”. I also didn’t know that “Apple Watch” stood for “A Pleasantly Plump Little Electronic Watch Android’s Terrible Come Here” but you learn something new everyday. I don’t think I’ll elaborate more about the Apple Watch here, suffice to say that it doesn’t really offer anything to the smartwatch industry that we haven’t seen before, nor does anything better, unless you count sending your heartbeat to somebody else as innovative – I just find it slightly creepy. Plus, it just looks like a LG G Watch with a shinier wristband.
What do you think about jacksfilms’ Apple Watch parody ad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: YouTube via TalkAndroid
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Apple’s New iCloud Storage Plans Go Live, Monthly Prices at $0.99 for 20GB, $19.99 for 1TB
After yesterday’s media event, Apple updated its website to provide additional information on its iCloud pricing ahead of the launch of both iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.
As of today, the company’s updated storage plans are live, allowing users to purchase iCloud storage upgrades using the new pricing scheme. While customers will continue to get 5GB of cloud storage for free, Apple has dropped the pricing on the rest of its storage lineup across the board.
Users can now get 20GB of storage for $0.99 per month, 200GB of storage for $3.99 per month, 500GB of storage for $9.99 per month, and 1TB of storage for $19.99 per month. The iCloud upgrade options can be accessed in the Settings app under iCloud —> Storage & Backup —> Change Storage Plan.
The launch of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite will see the official debut of iCloud Drive, Apple’s new cloud storage initiative. With iCloud Drive, users can store any type of document, including presentations, spreadsheets, PDFs, images, and more, and then access them from any iOS device, Mac, or PC.
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Apple Launches New iTunes 12 Beta for OS X Yosemite [Mac Blog]
Apple today released a new version of the iTunes 12 beta for both developers and OS X Yosemite beta testers, following yesterday’s iOS 8 Golden Master release. Yesterday, users reported having difficulties installing the iOS 8 GM from Yosemite with the iTunes 12 beta, and this update may fix the issue.
First introduced in July, iTunes 12 includes an “elegant new design” that also includes support for several iOS 8/Yosemite features including Family Sharing.
iTunes 12 also includes improved playlists, a redesigned Info Window, and a new icon. iTunes 12 and OS X Yosemite remain in a beta testing phase, with a public release for the software expected this fall, possibly in October.
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Apple Watch Will Use Skin Contact for Apple Pay Security
When Apple announced that the Apple Watch would be able to use Apple Pay, the company’s new mobile payment initiative, many wondered how secure the payments would be if the device lacked the security of Touch ID, which is used in the iPhone 6’s implementation. Now, several members of the press have confirmed how the system works.
Both Rene Ritchie of iMore and Cult of Mac report that when a user first puts on the Watch they must type in a PIN code to authorize Apple Pay. Once it’s on, the Watch uses constant skin contact, which it can sense using the four sapphire-covered lenses on the underside of the device, to authorize payments. However, once the device is removed from a user’s wrist, they must re-enter their PIN when putting the device back on their wrist.
Thanks to sensors on the Apple Watch’s back, the device can tell when it’s being worn and when it has been taken off. When you first put the watch on, you must enter a code. When the watch is removed from your wrist, the watch locks itself and can’t be used for payments unless the code is entered again.
MasterCard’s mobile payment executive Ed McLaughlin also told Re/code that the Watch would use the four sensors on the back of the device as a security measure, while Visa CEO Charlie Scharf said that Apple understood the risks of contactless payments and has a solution.
The Apple Watch is due to arrive in early 2015 and will start at $350.
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A watch expert’s take on the Apple Watch: the benefits and failures of digital
Despite Benjamin Clymer’s many accolades across the past several years — the New York Times calls him the “High Priest of Horology” — it’s possible you’ve never heard of his website Hodinkee. The name might not bring watches to mind, but it’s actually a Czech word for “wristwatch” (technically it’s “hodinky” in Czech). The site’s established itself as a go-to source for wristwatch obsessives, and Clymer’s its executive editor, which is exactly why we were so interested to read his thorough dissection and impressions of Apple’s first ever watch: Apple Watch.
In a lengthy piece (that we suggest you read in full), Clymer begins by setting expectations: “I’m not even sure we can call it a watch.” That isn’t to say he doesn’t like Apple’s effort, but comparing it directly to a traditional, mechanical wristwatch is near impossible.
Compared with similarly priced ($350) watches, Clymer says, “the Apple Watch simply blows away anything — digital or analog.” He also notes that Apple Watch pays special tribute to the history of human time-telling. “The Apple Watch, in its own way, really pays great homage to traditional watchmaking and the environment in which horology was developed,” Clymer writes.
In terms of major faults, he cites two thoroughly watch-centric issues: not being able to fit easily underneath a cuff (“I was surprised by how bulky this is”) and lack of timelessness (“It is still not as cool as a mechanical watch, to real people.”). That latter bit is especially interesting. In the video seen below, Clymer speaks to how he got into watches: his grandfather and him were great friends, and on his 16th birthday, his grandfather gifted him a watch. As he puts it, “My watches will last for generations, this Apple Watch will last for five years, if we’re lucky.”
Again, take the time to read the whole enchilada from Clymer himself on Hodinkee. It’s a thoroughly interesting perspective on Apple’s newest product category.
Filed under: Wearables, Software, Mobile, Apple
Source: Hodinkee
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Apple Implementing ‘Reservation Pass’ System at Retail Stores for iPhone 6 Launch
Apple may be implementing a new reservation system for customers who opt to wait in line outside of a retail store to purchase a new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, reports 9to5Mac. The company is said to be handing out training materials to employees on a new “virtual queue” system called Reservation Pass.
Reservation Pass will reportedly keep track of the line position of each customer, syncing with the store’s inventory information to ensure customers waiting in line will be able to receive a device.
This new system is called Reservation Pass. It will sync with Back Of House inventory information in realtime so Apple doesn’t handout too many product reservations. Customers will receive their digital reservation card via SMS or Email. A reservation allows the customer to come back at any point during the day to make their purchase. Customers could also leave line in the past but it was not encouraged since the physical card reservation system was not as accurate as the new Reservation Pass system.
Currently, Apple hands out paper cards to those standing in line, allowing them to reserve an available device, but the company often waits until just before purchase time to provide the cards. It is likely the Reservation Pass system will work similarly, with customers being registered shortly before the opening of the store, which actually provides little end benefit to those who wait in line overnight or longer.
Customers will, however, be able to reserve an iPhone after waiting in line and then purchase it later in the day should any issues arise, such as problems with carrier authorization or upgrade eligibility. This will also prevent people from selling the physical cards on release day.
Both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus will be available for purchase beginning on Friday, September 19. Apple is accepting preorders this year, and will take orders starting on Friday, September 12, likely at 12:01 AM Pacific Time.
The iPhone 6 is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities starting at $199 with a two year contract, while the iPhone 6 Plus is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities starting at $299 with a two-year contract.
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AIVAnet 