Revamped Apple TV Debut Likely Delayed Until 2015 Due to Negotiation Difficulties
For several months now, rumors have continually suggested Apple is working on a revamped Apple TV, which may include capabilities like support for games and apps and expanded access to television content.
Every rumored release date has come and gone thus far, and according to a new report from The Information, an updated Apple TV is not likely to appear until 2015.
A source that spoke to The Information has suggested that Apple engineers who are working on the device have been informed that the product will not launch in 2014, largely due to ongoing contractual issues with cable companies and Comcast’s pending purchase of Time Warner Cable.
Apple engineers who are working on aspects of the device have been told by their bosses not to expect a launch this year and are working off timelines that assume a launch next year, according to a person familiar with the plans. Apple employees have cited cable companies “dragging their heels” and the pending Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger as reasons the device and accompanying TV service haven’t launched.
Conversely, sources in the television industry have denied that cable companies are behind the delay, suggesting Apple has “bit off more than it can chew,” and needs permission from many different rights holders to “create the service it wants to offer.”
Over the years, various rumors have pointed towards very ambitious plans for the Apple TV, suggesting Apple once aimed to create a subscription television service that would potentially replace cable packages. Due to a continual inability to negotiate a deal with cable companies, Apple is said to have scaled back on its television ambitions, aiming to work with cable companies rather than against them.
The most recent content rumors from February of 2014 have suggested Apple is working to wedge itself between cable companies and consumers, potentially providing content from cable companies through its set-top box, overlaid with an Apple TV-style interface. Apple is also seeking to add DVR capabilities to the service.
In 2013, Apple was said to be close to completing a deal with Time Warner Cable over a possible TWC Apple TV app, allowing Time Warner subscribers to watch live television through the Apple TV, but the negotiations may have stalled due to the pending Time Warner-Comcast merger.
Earlier this year, a product roadmap from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo pointed towards a Q3 2014 launch date for the redesigned Apple TV, but based on The Information‘s new data, it seems any potential launch plans have now been pushed back.
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‘Modbook Pro X’ Tablet Based on 15-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Debuts on Kickstarter
Modbook, the company with a history of offering pen-based Mac tablets using the internals of Apple’s notebooks, is announcing a new Kickstarter campaign today to support the launch of a new Modbook Pro X based on the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro. The $150,000 campaign will allow users to send in their own machines for conversion at $1999 or reserve complete systems directly from Modbook starting at $3999.
An innovative computer modification product, the Modbook Pro X incorporates the original hardware of a Retina-display Apple MacBook Pro 15.4-inch base system running the OS X 10.10 Yosemite operating system. The expansive drawing and writing surface of the Modbook Pro X has a scratch-resistant ForceGlass screen with paper-emulating texture that covers a crisp, clear 15.4-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2,880 by 1,800 pixels. Users get highly sensitive pen input with 2,048 pen pressure levels and pen tilt and rotate functionality for producing pro-quality creative deliverables.
Various configurations of the Modbook Pro X are available, including processor options ranging up to the top-of-the-line 2.8 GHz chip launched in the Retina MacBook Pro just yesterday, up to 32 GB of RAM, and up to 2 TB of flash storage.
Additional options for Modbook Pro X customers include integrated Keybars on the rear of the device providing eyes-free programmable access to key combinations for commands and shortcuts, as well as a Keyboard Stand that serves as a keyboard, adjustable easel stand, and protective cover for the Modbook Pro X.
Given its price, the Modbook Pro X is obviously targeted at a niche market interested in a tablet running full OS X such as creative professionals, but for those people the device may be an appealing option. For others, particularly those who would appreciate an OS X-based iPad, it’s at least an interesting example of what can be done.
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Modbook will let you convert your Retina MacBook Pro to a tablet for $1,999
Modbook, the company behind those aftermarket Apple tablets, just launched a Kickstarter campaign for its latest product, the Modbook Pro X. After paying a pre-order price of $1,999 today, backers will be able to convert their own Retina MacBook Pros into a tablet beginning early next year. The conversion incorporates the laptop’s original hardware, with components shifted from the lower half of the computer to just behind the 15.4-inch 2,880 x 1,800-pixel LCD.
The Modbook Pro X supports pen input with 2,048 pressure levels, along with tilt and rotate functionality. You can also interact with the device using the rear-mounted shortcut keys or the detachable keyboard stand, both of which will be available for an additional cost. And, since your Apple warranty won’t be valid, you can purchase a three-year warranty through Modbook, which provides complete coverage for the first year free of charge. If you’d prefer to avoid supplying your own MacBook, you’ll also be able to pre-order a complete device from $3,999 and up, depending on the model.
Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Apple
Source: Modbook (Kickstarter)
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‘Mid 2014’ 27-Inch iMac Also Referenced on Apple Support Page
Following yesterday’s spotting of an unreleased “Mac mini (Mid 2014)” on an Apple support page, French site MacPlus noticed [Google Translate] another entry on the same page mentioning a Mid 2014 27-inch iMac model. Both the Mac mini and iMac entries have since been removed from the page, although they are still visible on a cached version of the page from yesterday.
Apple did release a new low-end Mid 2014 21.5-inch iMac last month, but the remainder of the iMac lineup remained untouched and those machines are still considered Late 2013 models.
While the Mac mini entry has been taken as a hint that an upgrade may be imminent, especially since the machine has not been updated since October 2012, the iMac entry may point more towards the inclusions being an error. With the new low-end iMac having been added just last month, it seems unlikely that further iMac updates will occur in the near future.
It is possible Apple may have planned for a broader iMac update in the middle of the year with the low-end model appearing as part of that refresh, but the company may have changed plans due to a lack of chip availability or other factors. Alternatively, it may simply be an error unrelated to Apple’s product launch plans.
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Apple Reminding Shoppers of Upcoming ‘Sales Tax Holiday’ Discounts [Mac Blog]
As spotted by iClarified, Apple is now reminding customers of upcoming “sales tax holidays” that allow residents in several US states to purchase select Apple gear without paying an additional sales tax charge. Customers potentially could save hundreds of dollars by purchasing high-priced items like MacBooks during this annual discount opportunity.
If your state offers a tax holiday this summer, you can buy select Apple products without paying sales tax.* When shopping online, sales tax will appear during checkout, but you’ll see the correct tax amount on your email order confirmation.
The states that offer these summertime tax holidays that extend to Apple products include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, South Carolina and Tennessee. You can find a list of dates and qualifying items here. In most states, the tax-free holiday begins August 1st and lasts only a few days.
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Samsung’s phone market share takes a bruising as Chinese rivals surge
Samsung warned that its smartphone sales weren’t that great this spring, and now we have the numbers to show just what the company meant. IDC estimates that Samsung’s smartphone shipments saw a rare year-over-year drop in the second quarter, taking it from a lofty 32.3 percent market share down to 25.2 percent. That’s still enough to give it a comfortable lead, but a shock for a company which is used to growth. The cause, analysts say, is the rapid rise of Chinese brands that cut directly into Samsung’s low-end business. Huawei claimed 6.9 percent of the smartphone space after doubling its shipments, thanks in part to heavy discounts on phones like the Ascend P7; Lenovo jumped to 5.4 percent on the back of both budget phones at home as well as rapid expansion abroad.
Both Apple (11.9 percent) and LG (4.9 percent) lost share, although IDC notes that their shipments were up. Also, neither firm was expected to have a stellar season. LG only just launched its hot-selling G3 flagship at the tail end of the spring, while many expect Apple to jumpstart sales with at least one new iPhone in September. It may be trickier for Samsung to bounce back, however. The spring was supposed to represent a big spike in sales as the Galaxy S5 arrived, but that didn’t materialize. The company is pinning its hopes on both a new Galaxy Note and a mountain of budget phones. However, historically, neither has sold as well as the Galaxy S series.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, LG, Lenovo
Via: AppleInsider
Source: IDC
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Engadget Daily: EA Access, upgrading your dumb home on a budget and more!
Today, we review LG’s Heart Rate Monitor earphones, learn how to upgrade your dumb home on a budget, check out Apple’s new Retina Macbook Pros and learn about a new Xbox game-streaming service called EA Access. Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last 24 hours.
How to make your dumb home smarter without spending a fortune
Want to make your home smarter, but can’t afford premium services like ADT Smart Home or Vivint? Don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of the best (and more importantly, affordable) gadgets that can upgrade you abode.
‘EA Access’ subscription on Xbox One brings all-you-can-eat gaming for $5 per month
Look out PlayStation Now. Earlier today, Microsoft and EA announced their own game subscription service called EA Access. For only $5 per month, users get unlimited access to a vault of games, including Peggle 2 and Battlefield 4.
Apple gives Retina MacBook Pros a speed boost ahead of Yosemite rollout
OS X Yosemite is reportedly due sometime this October, but Apple’s not waiting around to revamp its line of Retina Macbook Pros. As of today, both the 15- and 13-inch models received a few upgrades in preparation for the upcoming OS.
LG Heart Rate Monitor Earphone review: good fitness gadget, poor earphones
LG’s Heart Rate Monitor Earphones (which do exactly what you’d expect) mean you need one less gadget to track your workout. The only problem? These Bluetooth buds sound pretty bad.
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Filed under: Misc
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Xiaomi leapfrogs Apple for number 2 spot in China, Samsung next in Sights
Xiaomi is a name that is still very foreign in the Western smartphone market, though they have recently been on the radar courtesy of their bold “Hunger Marketing” campaigns which generally result in thousands of devices being sold in not much time at all. While that in itself may not be impressive news to you, you may need to start paying a bit more attention to to the Chinese manufacturer as Xiaomi leapfrogs Apple for the number two spot in the Chinese smartphone market. From January, 2014 to May, 2014, a Kantar WorldPanel report says that Xiaomi has comfortably overtaken Apple, capturing a 21% market share compared to Apple’s 16% in the rapidly expanding market. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, Samsung‘s share in China sits at 23% which may eventually start getting eaten into by Xiaomi.
There is a small amount of irony in Xiaomi leapfrogging Apple when the Chinese manufacturer was often referred to as the “Apple of China”. Though where Apple aims for the premium market, Xiaomi’s products offer flagship performance for ridiculously low prices; case in point, Xiaomi’s latest flagship, the Mi4, costs only $320 USD for a device powered by a Snapdragon 801. In fact, so impressive are Xiaomi’s products that Kantar is reporting that 70% of its buyers are switching from a device made by a different manufacturer (mostly Samsung), with another 20% upgrading from an older Xiaomi device.
What do you think about Xiaomi’s success in China? Do you think they could do well in the Western markets? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
Source: Kantar via Phone Arena
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OWC Shares Mid-2014 Retina MacBook Pro Unboxing, SSD Tests [Mac Blog]
Following this morning’s release of Retina MacBook Pros with improved Haswell processors, OWC has procured both the entry-level 13-inch and and the entry-level 15-inch 2014 Retina MacBook Pro and provided a gallery of unboxing photos featuring the new devices.
As expected, the packaging on the updated versions is the same as previous-generation Retina MacBook Pros. The site did a quick teardown as well, revealing the internals of the new machines, which also appear unchanged.
Internal view of the mid-2014 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro
OWC also conducted some speed tests on the solid state drives of the two machines, testing the 128 GB drive of the entry-level 13-inch version and the 256 GB drive of the entry-level 15-inch model using QuickBench 4.0.
The 15-inch machine (equipped with a Samsung SSD) saw random read/write speeds much higher than that of the 13-inch version, averaging in at 194 MB/s for random reads and 322 MB/s for random writes and 262/245 MB/s for sequential read/writes.
The 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, meanwhile, saw average random read/write speeds of 165/131 MB/s and average sequential read/write speeds of 263/244 MB/s with its Marvell-controlled SanDisk SSD.
Launched earlier today, the new Retina MacBook Pros feature upgraded Haswell processors, more standard RAM for entry-level machines (8 GB for the 13-inch model, 16 GB for the 15-inch model) and a $100 price cut for the high-end 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro. The refreshed Retina MacBook Pros are available at Apple retail stores and in its online store.
For the full array of unboxing and teardown images, make sure to check out OWC’s blog post.
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‘Signal’ for iOS Lets Users Make Encrypted Voice Calls for Free [iOS Blog]
Open source software group Open Whisper Systems today released a new encrypted phone app called Signal, which is designed to allow its users to make secure calls on the iPhone at no cost.
Using end-to-end encryption, Signal secures iPhone conversations so third-parties cannot listen in. Signal uses a caller’s standard phone number to make and receive calls, and all Signal calls function like a normal phone call using WiFi or data connections.
According to a blog post on the Open Whisper Systems site, Signal uses ZRTP, a widely-used secure voice communication protocol and sends push notifications when phone calls are received to save battery life. It’s open source software, which allows anyone to improve the code and contribute to app improvements.
Setting up Signal is simple, and users only need to enter a phone number and confirm it by entering a six-digit confirmation code (sent by SMS or phone call) to begin using the app. Contacts are automatically imported after a phone number is entered, but only contacts that have the Signal app will be listed. Placing a call to a user who does not have Signal installed will prompt users to send an invite via SMS.
When initiating a phone call using Signal, the two people communicating can be assured that their phone calls are secure through a pair of words shown on the screen of the caller and the person being called. The two exchange their on-screen words to verify that the words match, signaling that a secure connection has been implemented. Were someone listening into a phone call, the two words would not match up.
In an interview with Wired, Open Whisper Systems founder Moxie Marlinspike said the team’s goal was to make secure phone calls as easy to place as regular phone calls. Encrypted text messages will also be added to the app in the future.
“We’re trying to make private communications as available and accessible as any normal phone call,” says Moxie Marlinspike, the hacker security researcher who founded the nonprofit software group. Later this summer, he adds, encrypted text messaging will be integrated into Signal, too, to create what he describes as a “single, unified app for free, easy, open source, private voice and text messaging.”
Wired tested the app during the development phase and aside from a few early bugs, determined calls were “indistinguishable from any other phone call,” and MacRumors had the same results when testing the app. Signal also works Open Whisper Systems’ RedPhone app for Android, allowing both iOS and Android users to make secure calls with one another.
Signal can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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AIVAnet 