Apple is reportedly unveiling its wearable device on September 9th
If you ask many pundits when Apple will unveil its often-rumored wearable device, many of them will say October. However, we may have to revise those expectations a bit. Recode‘s sources now claim that Apple will unveil the gadget on September 9th — you know, the same day that many expect to see at least one new iPhone. There’s little to back the claim at this point beyond the site’s reputation for accurate leaks, but the timing makes sense given that the iPhone and the mystery wristwear are expected to work virtually hand-in-hand. As for actual technical details? Besides the expected fitness and home automation support, there isn’t much more to say — most likely, you’ll have to wait a couple more weeks to get the full scoop.
[Image credit: Ruben Schade, Flickr]
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Apple
Source: Recode
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Apple to Unveil Wearable Device on September 9 Alongside iPhone 6
Apple has plans to unveil its upcoming wearable device in September, alongside the iPhone 6, reports Re/code. The site previously suggested Apple had planned to debut the device at an October event, but now says that Apple’s plans have changed.
iWatch concept by Todd Hamilton, based on the Nike Fuelband
Remember back in June when I said Apple hoped to schedule a special event in October to show off a new wearable device? Remember how I also said this: “Could things change between now and fall? That’s certainly possible.” Turns out that was a prescient hedge, because things have changed. Apple now plans to unveil a new wearable alongside the two next-generation iPhones we told you the company will debut on September 9th.
According to Re/code, the device will “make good use” of both HealthKit and HomeKit, two sets of APIs that were introduced during WWDC. HealthKit, which ties into Apple’s iOS 8 Health app, focuses on health and fitness, while HomeKit is a home automation platform designed to allow users to control a variety connected devices.
Though Apple has plans to introduce a wearable device in September, there is no word on when the device might ship. Given a lack of part leaks and rumors pointing towards a late 2014 or early 2015 launch, it is likely the device will be shown several months before it will be available to consumers.
Apple’s upcoming wearable device has been frequently referred to as the iWatch by both MacRumors and other rumor sites, but it remains unclear what Apple will call the device at launch. It is expected to be a wrist worn device, however, and rumors have suggested that it will come in multiple sizes with several different designs available at multiple price points.
It is also expected to incorporate an array of different health and fitness sensors to measure various health-related metrics like steps taken, sleep quality, heart rate, and more.
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Apple Seeds OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 Build 13F24 to Developers [Mac Blog]
Apple today seeded Mavericks 10.9.5 build 13F24 to developers, just over a week after seeding the fourth OS X 10.9.5 beta, build 13F18, and more than a month after releasing OS X 10.9.4 to the public.
The beta is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store and through the Mac Developer Center.
It is unclear what improvements the 10.9.5 update will bring to Mavericks, but it is likely to include bug fixes and stability enhancements. Apple is asking developers to focus on USB, USB Smart Cards, Graphics, Safari, and Thunderbolt.
Along with working on improvements to Mavericks, Apple is also beta testing OS X Yosemite, which is due to be released in the fall. The last Mavericks update, 10.9.4, added several Wi-Fi fixes and improved wake from sleep reliability.
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LaCie 8big Rack Now Available With Up to 48 TB Storage, Dual Thunderbolt 2 Ports [Mac Blog]
LaCie today announced the availability of its 8big Rack storage device. Unveiled earlier this year at the annual NAB trade show, the LaCie 8big Rack is the company’s first Thunderbolt 2 rackmount storage solution.
The 8big Rack includes 48 terabytes of capacity with eight Seagate 6 TB 7200 RPM hard drives that deliver speeds up to 1330 MB/s. Geared towards 4K videographers and other professional media editors, the 8big Rack also features Raid 5/6 data redundancy and dual Thunderbolt 2 ports that expand the storage potential of the Mac Pro to 1.7 petabytes.
The LaCie 8big Rack (48TB) is available today for $4,599.99 through LaCie and its authorized resellers. The storage solution also is available in a four–disk 12 TB or an eight–disk 24 TB configuration for $1,599.99 and $2,599.99, respectively.
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More Evidence of NFC Support for Both iPhone 6 Models
Last week, Chinese repair firm GeekBar shared a claimed schematic for the iPhone 6 showing what was claimed to be the pinning diagram for the device’s rumored near field communications (NFC) chip. The part addressed on the schematic, PN65V, was thought to be a version of NXP’s PN65 NFC package currently used in several Android devices.
The leak is one of several schematics shared by GeekBar over the past week and a half, and while some of the components have been misidentified, it is looking increasingly likely that the schematics themselves are legitimate. Seen in that light, it is worth taking a look back at the NFC claim to see if there is additional evidence for it.
Closeup of 4.7-inch iPhone 6 logic board with likely NFC chip location boxed in red, LTE modem boxed in green
MacRumors forum member chrmjenkins has pointed us toward a document showing the package used by NXP for its PN65, noting that it measures 5 mm x 5 mm with 32 terminals for connectivity. In examining the bare logic boards from the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 models, chrmjenkins believes he has spotted where that chip will be located.
Broader view showing likely NFC chip location boxed in red: 4.7-inch iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, 5.5-inch iPhone 6 (left to right)
The location on the board is a square patch that does not correspond to any component from the iPhone 5s logic board, indicating that it may indeed be for a new component such as an NFC chip. Existing components may of course see changes in shape between generations, but many of the current major components can be mapped reasonably well to locations on the iPhone 6 logic boards, leaving relatively few candidates for this new square patch.
Rumors of NFC for the iPhone have circulated for years, but they have yet to come to fruition. As a result, this year’s crop of NFC rumors has understandably been greeted with skepticism, although the volume and specificity of the rumors has seemed greater this time around, with multiple sources pointing toward an NXP chip solution for the iPhone. And with Apple rumored to be making a push into mobile payments as soon as later this year, the time may finally be right for Apple to bring NFC to the iPhone.
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Dropbox Expands Pro Plan With Improved Security Controls, New 1TB/$10 Monthly Plan [Mac Blog]
Dropbox today announced changes to its Pro subscription, offering a single plan that provides up to 1 terabyte of storage for $9.99 a month or $99 per year. The new Pro plan also improves its sharing controls and adds new security options that make it easier and safer to share your data with friends, family and colleagues.
The new Dropbox Pro makes it easier to secure your shared data with new password and expiration options. Pro plan users now can add a password to a shared link as well as set an expiration date that limits how long files are being shared. When sharing a folder, Dropbox now has a new “View-Only” permission option that controls whether recipients can view or edit files within that shared folder.
For smartphone, tablet and notebook users, Dropbox has added a new remote wipe feature that allows users to delete files from a lost or stolen device. This feature destroys the data on the compromised device, while keeping a copy safely stored on Dropbox’s servers.
Dropbox’s biggest change is in its pricing, with the Pro plan now offering up to 1 TB (1,000 GB) of data for $9.99 per month. This pricing leapfrogs Amazon with its 1TB/$500 yearly plan and brings Dropbox in line with Google, which also offers a similar 1TB/$10 monthly option. Apple is launching its own iCloud Drive solution later this year alongside iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, but pricing at the 1 TB level has yet to be announced. Apple’s 200 GB plan will be priced at $3.99/month.
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Apple to Reportedly Launch Thinner MacBook in Late 2014 or Early 2015
Apple will launch a thinner MacBook near the end of this year or early next year, according to a new report from Digitimes. Citing supply chain sources in Taiwan, the report notes that component production has already begun in small volumes. Apple will also reportedly cease production of the 13-inch non-Retina MacBook Pro by the end of 2014.
A report last month claimed that Intel’s continued delays of its Broadwell chip may cause Apple to push back the release of its 12-inch MacBook until late this 2014 or early 2015. The 12-inch MacBook is said to include a Retina display and may either be a successor to the MacBook Air or join Apple’s current 11-inch and 13-inch models.
A previous report in June stated that Apple would begin production of a 12-inch MacBook Air in the third quarter of this year, with Quanta Computer in charge of assembly. The 12-inch MacBook Air was also described as appearing similar to the 11-inch and 13-inch models, but featuring a Retina display and internal changes to various components.
Other reports throughout the year have also shared information on a 12-inch MacBook Air, with NPD DisplaySearch and KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also stating that the new notebook would feature a Retina display. A user on a Chinese forum who previously shared accurate information noted that the 12-inch MacBook Air would incorporate a new cooling system and button-less trackpad design.
If Apple is indeed looking to launch a new MacBook late this year or early next year, the company may unveil the notebook at an October event following the introduction of the iPhone 6 in September.
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Apple makes its mobile ads longer, bigger
Next time you’re playing a favorite game on your iPhone and iPad, a huge ad — or worse, a minute-long video roll — might take over the screen. iAd platform’s full-screen interstitial banner and pre-roll video ads, which were first announced earlier this year, are now available to developers. The full-screen ads appear as transitional screens, say, whenever you reach the end of a game level, while the video ads come in 15, 30 and 60-second variants. These are already available on other ad platforms, of course, but iAds were typically more unobtrusive, just banners that you can click on to launch advertisers’ websites. As you’d expect, these new options will cost devs a lot more money. But if Apple does unleash an iPhone with a much larger screen (possibly this September), then these ads might just be worth their cash.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple
Via: The Verge, Apple Insider
Source: Apple Developers
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This is not the iPhone 6
We’re almost completely done with summer, and as fall approaches we expect football, TV premieres (and cancellations, the turning of the leaves and of course one more thing: iPhone leaks. Apple’s next gen phone is just weeks away from its debut and as usual, the rumor mill is running at full steam with parts, rumors about parts, and the inevitable blurrycam pictures of vague rectangles flying around the internet. As a (self) reminder to not take any of it too seriously we present this video from The Second City Network, providing the exclusive first look at a device that our sources in the manufacturing chain have confirmed is definitely not the iPhone 6.
New #iPhone6 leaked! The new design is amazing! @verge @FastCompany @engadget @lifehacker VIDEO: http://t.co/EP8QwZ7L8v
– Second City Network (@SecondCityNetwk) August 26, 2014
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
Source: The Second City Network (YouTube), Doldo411
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August Smart Lock Finally Begins Shipping to Customers [iOS Blog]
After a long delay, the August Smart Lock is finally shipping out to preorder customers beginning today. First introduced in May of 2013, the August Smart Lock is a Bluetooth-based iPhone-compatible locking system designed by Jason Johnson and notable designer Yves Béhar.
At August, our mission is to make beautiful products that allow your physical environment to seamlessly respond to you. Today, we are one step closer to achieving that goal. We are excited to announce that the August Smart Lock has begun shipping in limited quantities.
The August Smart Lock, which allows users to unlock their doors with their iPhones, is crafted from anodized aluminum and looks similar to a standard home lock. It comes with several different faceplates and deadbolt adapters to fit the majority of locks on the market, functioning on four AA batteries.
Like competing products from Lockitron and Kevo, the lock can be programmed remotely to let in visitors through an accompanying iPhone app. It’s also designed to monitor when guests enter and it can be customized with specific timers.
Initial preorders of the August Smart Lock, which originally had an estimated shipping date of November or December 2013, were available for $199, but the retail price of the lock is now $249.99. The company plans to fulfill orders for the lock over the course of the next few months, with new orders displaying a prospective shipping date of “late October.”
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