Apple Adds Dedicated Beats By Dr. Dre Accessory Section to Online Store

Now that Apple’s purchase of Beats Electronics is complete, the company has begun expanding its promotion of Beats products, giving the Beats by Dr. Dre line of accessories its own dedicated section in the Accessory portion of the Apple Online Store.

Added yesterday, the Beats by Dr. Dre section joins “All Accessories,” “Apple Accessories,” “Exclusives,” “Now Trending,” and Gift Cards” on the top menu bar of the “Shop Accessories” section of the online store.

Though Apple has long sold Beats products, the dedicated menu bar position gives the accessories far more prominence online. The section, first noticed by 9to5Mac, promotes Beats headphones, Beats in-ear headphones, Beats speakers, and Beats accessories like the Pill Dudes and Sleeves designed to hold Beats speakers.

Apple is also continuing to show off the Beats line of headphones in its retail stores, with the Beats by Dr. Dre Solo2 and Studio over-ear headphones accompanying iPod touches in many retail locations.

Apple’s $3 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics and Beats Music became official last week, following U.S. regulatory approval of the deal. As of August 1, Beats Electronics shut down its own online store and began directing customers to the Apple Online Store.

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‘Siri for Mac’ Virtual Assistant Described in New Apple Patent Application

Rumors suggesting Siri will make its way into OS X have been circulating for years, but the personal assistant has yet to debut on the Mac. A new patent application published by the U.S. patent and Trademark Office and spotted by AppleInsider revives these rumors with the description of an intelligent assistant for the desktop that provides features far beyond the current dictation available in OS X.

The patent application, which was filed in February of this year and based on a provisional application from a year earlier, describes a system that in one iteration can sit in the dock, waiting for touch input or voice commands to activate a personal assistant in a manner similar to Siri in iOS. The assistant would then perform tasks based on input by the user. The same system can function as a third hand, allowing users to interact physically with a mouse and keyboard while simultaneously performing a secondary task using their voice.

Methods and systems related to interfaces for interacting with a digital assistant in a desktop environment are disclosed. In some embodiments, a digital assistant is invoked on a user device by a gesture following a predetermined motion pattern on a touch-sensitive surface of the user device. In some embodiments, a user device selectively invokes a dictation mode or a command mode to process a speech input depending on whether an input focus of the user device is within a text input area displayed on the user device. In some embodiments, a digital assistant performs various operations in response to one or more objects being dragged and dropped onto an iconic representation of the digital assistant displayed on a graphical user interface. In some embodiments, a digital assistant is invoked to cooperate with the user to complete a task that the user has already started on a user device.

Though Apple is bringing some aspects of iOS to OS X such as Reminders, Apple has yet to integrate Siri into its desktop platform. The feature was not mentioned when Apple unveiled OS X Yosemite, and there is no known evidence in the current beta version of Yosemite that suggests Apple may integrate its personal assistant into future versions of the desktop OS. Still, it is clear Apple is thinking about ways to bring Siri-like features to OS X.

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United Airlines Rolls Out Passport Scanning for International Flights to iOS App [iOS Blog]

United Airlines today updated its official app for iOS with the ability to scan passports to check-in for international flights using a device’s camera. The new feature can be accessed when a user checks in within 24 hours of a departing flight, as all passports uploaded are verified by credential management service Jumio. Once a passport is verified, users can obtain their boarding passes and save them to the app.

– Customers can now use the United app to scan their passport for international check-in
– Upon check-in, verify your existing stored passport data (if already in our system) or scan your passport.
– Your device camera will be accessed, similar to many mobile banking deposit functions, and the scanned passport information will be verified for additional security. Once the image is validated, you will be able to complete your check-in and receive your boarding pass, saving you time at the airport.

United notes that flyers who require additional travel documentation such as a visa will still have to physically check-in at the airport. Passports that are scanned and uploaded can also be stored by United MileagePlus members for later flights. The app also includes additional bug fixes and more information on cards regarding flight boarding times.

United Airlines is a free app for iOS devices and can be downloaded through the App Store. [Direct Link]

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Square-Enix Releases Turn-Based RPG ‘Dragon Quest IV’ for iOS [iOS Blog]

Square-Enix’s classic RPG Dragon Quest IV has launched for iOS devices. Originally released over ten years ago, the game allows players to take the role of five different protagonists through five different chapters, with a bonus sixth chapter included in this newest release. Gameplay centers around a turn-based battle system, as the game’s controls, menus, and overall interface are all optimized for iOS devices.

Dragon Quest IV, the first installment in the Zenithian Trilogy, is now out on mobile devices!
– This epic adventure, unfolding over five unique chapters, each focusing on a different cast of characters, can now be enjoyed on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad!
– Chat with your loyal companions any time you like during your adventure!
They’ll tell you all kinds of interesting things, depending on where you are in the story, and what heroic feats you have accomplished!
– Tired of giving orders? Your faithful companions can be instructed to fight automatically! Use the various tactics at your disposal to see off even the toughest enemies with ease!
– Chapter 6? Experience an extra chapter past the ending and explore a challenging bonus dungeon.

Dragon Quest IV is available for the iPhone and iPad for $14.99 and can be downloaded through the App Store. [Direct Link]

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Detailed Yet Sketchy Report Claims 802.11ac Wi-Fi, NFC, Improved Touch ID, but No Sapphire Display for iPhone 6

VentureBeat today posted a detailed overview of features that are said to be built into Apple’s upcoming iPhone 6, with the outline provided by an unspecified source. While many of the proffered specifications in VentureBeat‘s outline echo past rumors, there are a few new specific details worth highlighting.

According to the site’s source, Apple will introduce both the 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones at its upcoming September 9 event, but while the 4.7-inch version will ship in mid-September, the larger 5.5-inch iPhone won’t ship until up to a month later. This is in line with rumors suggesting the 5.5-inch iPhone isn’t entering mass production until August or September, a month to two months after production is said to have began on the 4.7-inch iPhone.

iPhone 5s with mockups of 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 models
Feature wise, VentureBeat points towards a new 2.0GHz A8 chip, NFC capabilities, and 802.11ac WiFi, all of which have been mentioned in previous rumors as possible specifications for the iPhone 6. The site does get into some specifics, however, suggesting the device will use Qualcomm’s MDM9x35 cellular modem along with an NFC chip made by NXP and a WiFi chip from Broadcom.

Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor is said to include minor improvements that “speed up read times, cut down on false rejections, and improve security for mobile payments and biometrics,” and the source suggests the iPhone 6 will not use a sapphire screen.

We’ve also heard rumors that the new screens will be made of ultra-durable sapphire glass. Our source says the screens are made of an extremely hard material that’s slightly harder than Gorilla Glass but not as hard as sapphire. That corroborates an earlier video report showing that the purported iPhone 6 screen is harder than previous models’ screens but softer than sapphire crystal.

While a front panel said to be for the 4.7-inch iPhone has undergone some testing that suggests it may not be composed of sapphire, many rumors have pointed towards the use of a pure sapphire crystal display or sapphire laminated glass display in at least one of the iPhone 6 models. The volume of sapphire production at Apple’s Arizona sapphire plant run by GT Advanced also points towards the heavy use of the material and it is unlikely that all of the company’s sapphire is being allocated towards the iWatch. During Q2 2014 alone, GT Advanced spent over $45 million on “sapphire production ramp up costs, and previous rumors have suggested the plant can output enough sapphire to outfit approximately 100 to 200 million iPhones.

In addition to outlining possible features for the iPhone 6, VentureBeat also suggests that Apple is experimenting with special connectivity between the iPhone and Beats headphones using the Lightning connector. Apple did recently introduce a Lightning Cable MFi specification for headphones, making such a project a possibility.

Our source adds that Apple has also been playing around with some technology that would form a special “handshake” between iPhones and Beats headphones. This consists of a chip that would authenticate Beats headsets on iPhones using the Lightning connector. Whether or not that feature materializes is anybody’s guess.

VentureBeat‘s sources have not been particularly reliable in the past. For example, the site recently suggested Apple was pairing up with Swatch to develop the iWatch, a rumor that was quickly shot down by Swatch CEO Nick Hayek. The site’s source also “stresses” that the listed features may not be the “final spec list” for the iPhone 6, so the overall reliability of the provided information is unclear.

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Moscone Center Schedule Points Towards June 8-12 for 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference

Though it’s only been two months since Apple held its 25th annual Worldwide Developers Conference, the likely dates for its 26th conference have already surfaced. Apple’s 26th annual Worldwide Developers Conference will most likely commence on June 8, 2015, and last through June 12, 2015, according to dates blocked out on the Moscone Center’s 2015 summer schedule.

While the aforementioned dates are earmarked as just a “Corporate Event” on Moscone’s website, in previous years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012), the same non-specific Corporate Event during the June time period has turned out to be a placeholder for WWDC.

The June 8 to 12 time period reserved at Moscone West also coincides with a multi-year convention calendar for the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau that was discovered in 2010. Thus far, the listed dates, which cover potential WWDC events from 2010 to 2015, have been accurate for the past four conferences.

It is, of course, possible that the generic Corporate Event label pertains to another event unrelated to WWDC, but based on past history, it seems to point towards Apple’s events. It is also possible that Apple could opt to its schedule, but at this point in time, June 8, 2015 appears to be the tentative date for the next Worldwide Developers Conference.

An official confirmation of the dates for the 26th Worldwide Developers Conference will not come until the first few months of 2015, when Apple makes an announcement and begins ticket sales. In 2014, Apple announced its June 2 WWDC on April 3. Tickets to Apple’s 2014 conference were distributed via a lottery system due to high demand, and it’s possible tickets for the 2015 WWDC will be handled in the same way.

Though it’s early to predict possible product introductions at next year’s conference, based on past history, Apple will likely highlight both iOS 9 and OS X 10.11, Yosemite’s successor. The timing may also coincide with the launch of some of Intel’s Broadwell chips, making it an ideal event to unveil updated Broadwell-based MacBooks.

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Former Apple Employee Sam Sung Auctioning Business Card and Uniform for Charity [Mac Blog]

Former Apple retail employee Sam Sung is using his rather ironic name and job history to raise money for a Canadian charity (via Pocket-lint). Sung worked for Apple in Vancouver’s Pacific Centre store as a specialist and recently found one of his old business cards in pristine condition when it fell out of a book. Realizing it may be a desirable memento, Sung is now auctioning the card with “no major folds, dents or scratches” on eBay. The card comes in an autographed frame with Sung’s blue Apple retail T-shirt and lanyard.

I came across one of my old business cards the other day when it fell out of a book.

So, with a view to raising money for a very deserving charity, I’m auctioning the only “Apple Sam Sung” business card I have left and I’m going to donate ALL of the proceeds [minus eBay fees] to Children’s Wish, BC & Yukon – a not-for-profit that grants wishes to sick children.

The auction has received over 50 bids already and currently stands at US$510. Bidding runs until the evening of August 15.

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China Said to Ban Government Purchases of Apple Hardware Amid Heightened Security Concerns [Mac Blog]

According to Bloomberg, China’s National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance have prohibited government purchases of Apple hardware, citing security concerns as the reason for the ban.

Ten Apple products were not included on a recent government procurement list from June that governs the spending of public funds, according to anonymous government officials who provided the information to Bloomberg. Products include the iPad, iPad Mini, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

Earlier procurement lists also banned antivirus software from Symantec and energy-efficient computers from Microsoft. Tension between China and companies in the US has been heightened following accusations of hacking and spying.

“When the government stops the procurement of products, it sends a signal to corporates and semi-government bodies,” said Mark Po, an analyst with UOB Kay Hian Ltd. in Hong Kong. “The Chinese government wants to make sure that overseas companies shouldn’t have too much influence in China.”

The reason for Apple’s omission from the list of approved hardware is apparently being debated, however, with Caixin reporting [Google Translate] stating that Apple simplify failed to qualify for a semi-annual update to the list of approved vendors of energy-efficient devices. The report speculates that a miscommunication may have resulted in Apple failing to submit the required information for inclusion on the list.

Apple has a growing presence in China, with 26 percent revenue growth reported in Q3 2014 due to increases in iPhone, iPad and Mac sales. Apple recently opened its eleventh retail store in China and has made a concerted push to attract Chinese developers to the iOS App Store. Apple currently is the fifth largest smartphone vendor in the country, accounting for 7% of market share.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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ABC News’ New Apple TV Channel Showing Strong Live Video Usage

Roughly six weeks ago, ABC News launched a new Apple TV channel offering a wide range of live and on-demand content from both national and select local feeds. Based on the first 30 days of availability, ABC News has now put together an infographic that offers a look at how the channel is being used. Among the interesting observations:

– Live video usage on Apple TV, which accounts for 20 percent of channel views, is 50 percent higher than on mobile and desktop combined.

– Apple TV viewers spend 65 percent more time per visit than desktop users.

– Peak usage for the ABC News Apple TV channel falls at 9 PM Eastern Time, likely due to that time period encompassing evening viewing hours for most of the United States.

Click for full infographic
Alongside today’s usage data release, ABC News is also announcing the addition of three new local stations to the channel: Albuquerque (KOAT), Boston (WCVB), and Honolulu (KITV). The new additions join the original nine local stations made available on the channel at launch.

Apple has been adding new channels to the Apple TV at a fairly rapid pace, at least in the United States, although many of them require authentication through an existing cable service provider. The company has long been rumored to be working on a more powerful set-top box, but the latest rumors have suggested the device is unlikely to arrive until 2015.

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Apple Touts European Job Creation Numbers, Including 500K Related to App Store

Several years ago, Apple rolled out a new page on its site touting job growth associated with its businesses in the United States, calculating that included over 300,000 workers directly tied to the company and its business partners, as well as over 200,000 more workers that were part of the App Store economy. The total number is now approaching 600,000 workers, driven largely by increases in the App Store segment over the past two years.

Now, Apple is bringing the same public relations effort to Europe, with a series of pages touting Apple’s job creation numbers in Europe, as noted by The Wall Street Journal.

Throughout our history, we have created entirely new products – and entirely new industries – by focusing on innovation. This has resulted in nearly 630,000 European jobs at Apple and at developers and businesses supported by Apple. In addition, the App Store has created hundreds of thousands of jobs that previously did not exist in the European economy, enabling developers to launch new companies and earn $6.5 billion from App Store sales worldwide.

Out of the 630,000 European jobs cited by Apple, the company includes nearly 500,000 related to the App Store economy, with Apple highlighting the $6.5 billion in developer payments the represents over 30 percent of the total $20 billion paid out by Apple worldwide. The remaining 132,000 European jobs cited by Apple are related to the company itself, including its own employees and those at suppliers and resellers.

Country-specific versions of the pages, such as for France and Italy, share largely the same information, although each has a unique “Spotlight on Developers” section sharing quotes from and links to select developers from those countries.

Apple also puts a special spotlight on its European headquarters in Cork, Ireland, where the company now employs 4,000 workers. Apple notes that it is the city’s largest private employer, housing roughly 10% of Apple’s corporate employees and supporting an additional 2,500 jobs at other companies providing services to Apple in Cork.

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