After several hours of downtime, Apple’s Online Store is slowly coming back up and the iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7-inch are both now available for pre-order. The iPhone SE starts at $399 off-contract, while the iPad Pro starts at $599. Deliveries will begin in one week on March 31st.
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Apple Online Store goes down ahead of iPhone SE & iPad Pro 9.7-inch pre-orders
Apple’s latest iOS devices are set to go on sale in just a few hours at 12AM PT/3AM ET and as usual the company has taken its online store offline to prepare for the release. The store will stay down until pre-orders open later tonight.
Many Mac users unable to log in to iMessage & FaceTime after updating to OS X 10.11.4
Apple earlier this week released the public stable version of OS X 10.11.4, but for a number of users the update process has been less than pleasant. A plethora of users are voicing issues on Apple’s support forums centered around logging in to iMessage and FaceTime following the update to OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan.
Nielsen to start tracking by-device statistics for set-top boxes like the Apple TV
Many have long wondered just how many users are actively watching content on the Apple, and starting soon we’ll get a deeper look into those numbers. Nielsen, the company behind tracking statistics related to all sorts of entertainment, has announced today that it soon plans to start breaking out metrics for connected devices, including the Apple TV (via Variety).
Report: Apple to bring Apple Pay checkout to mobile websites later this year
According to a new report from Re/code, Apple is set to expand its Apple Pay mobile payments solution to the web before this coming holiday shopping season. According to the report, Apple has been telling potential partners that with this expansion, users will be able to use Apple Pay instead of entering their card information on the retailer websites.
Hands-on: Apple’s new Woven Nylon band for Apple Watch [Gallery]
On Monday at its special event, Apple introduced a new set of nylon Apple Watch bands that we first reported earlier this year. The new straps come in both 38mm and 42mm versions with seven color options available. Officially called Woven Nylon, these bands which are paired with either aluminum and stainless steel models or sold separately mark the first time Apple has introduced new entry level strap options. Check out our hands-on below for our early impressions and more photos.
You can now watch Apple’s iPhone SE/iPad Pro March event on YouTube
If you haven’t caught up on Apple’s special event from Monday, you can now catch it in its entirety on Apple’s YouTube channel or down below. Apple introduced a new 4-inch iPhone SE, updated 9.7-inch iPad Pro, new Apple Watch models, and much more.
References to ‘early 2016 12-inch MacBook’ seen in latest OS X Server version
Update: Pike’s Universum has done some more digging and discovered which processors Apple plans to use in its 12-inch MacBooks this year:
- Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.20 GHz)
- Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54 Processor (4M Cache, up to 2.70 GHz)
- Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75 Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)
Earlier this week Apple introduced a new 4-inch iPhone SE, a smaller iPad Pro, and all new Apple Watch bands at its ‘Let us loop you in’ March event. Just as we expected, news about any update in the MacBook line wasn’t announced. But thanks to a tipster, we’re now discovering references to an ‘early 2016’ 12-inch MacBook with Retina display, which is presumably a follow up to the first generation hardware released last April.
Opinion: iPhone 7 should be imaginative, not status quo, or risk spectacular fail
Walt Mossberg, “Friend of Apple” and Personal Technology Columnist at The Verge, is out today with his take on the iPhone SE announcement from Monday. His not terribly hot take?
Ouch. That’s not a great sign. Neither is the fact that Apple’s Chief Design Officer Jony Ive didn’t make the 2-building over commute to see the show.
We, however, thought the iPhone SE $399 price was a big deal. Its incredible power in small size was unprecedented and frankly lustworthy.
But Mossberg glossed over any meaningful discussion of the SE and instead ultimatum-ed a wishlist for the iPhone 7…
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Latest CarPlay vehicles from Hyundai, Subaru, Honda, VW, & others unveiled at NY Auto Show
With the New York International Auto Show taking place this week, car makers are showing off the latest vehicles featuring Apple’s CarPlay platform including new 2017 models from Hyundai, Honda, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Subaru, Kia, and others.
9.7-inch LTE iPad Pros include an embedded Apple SIM, but you can still swap out carrier SIM cards
During their March event this week, Apple announced a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro. While on the surface it looks like a miniaturization of it’s larger predecessor, the new iPad includes some newer features as well. One of these features that didn’t get any time on stage was the inclusion of an embedded Apple SIM in this new iPad Pro.
How-To: Jailbreak the Apple TV 4 using Pangu 1.0 for free
As we noted earlier, the Pangu team has released a jailbreak for the Apple TV 4. This jailbreak allows Apple TV 4 owners running tvOS 9.0 and 9.0.1 to jailbreak their devices.
Although it is possible to jailbreak the Apple TV with a paid developer account, it’s also possible to do so with a free account as well. In this tutorial, we’ll show you step by step how to jailbreak the Apple TV 4. Watch our video walkthrough inside to see how.
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Happy Hour Podcast 059 | Apple event unpacked: 4-inch iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad, and more
This week, Zac and Benjamin discuss the recent Apple event and all of the announcements that came from it. There’s a new 4-inch iPhone SE and a 9.7-inch iPad Pro, but what’s all the hype about? The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed.
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9to5Toys Last Call: AirPort Express (refurb) $49, iTunes $10 movie sale, Adobe CC subscription $8, more
Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.
TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Last Call Updates:
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (newest version): $790 shipped (Reg. $999)
- Sceptre 43-inch 4K 60Hz LED UHDTV w/ 4 HDMI inputs: $230 shipped (Reg. $350)
- The Tovala iOS-connected oven scans and automatically prepares your dinner
- Enhance your HDTV’s audio w/ this VIZIO sound stand (refurb) for $70 shipped (Orig. $150)
- Free Magazine subscriptions: Maxim 1-yr Digital, Good Housekeeping 2-yrs Print
- Sports/Fitness: Gaiam Yoga Mat Carrier $10 (Reg. $15), more
- Home: 2-Pack Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrushes $110 ($200 value), more
[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/712708061698396162 align=’center’]
Buy a refurbished Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi router w/ 1-yr warranty for $49 shipped (Orig. $99)
iTunes $10 HD movie downloads: Sicario, Spotlight, Creed, The LEGO Movie and many more
Save 75% on any movie rental including new releases: The Big Short, Sisters, Revenant, more
Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (Photoshop CC + Lightroom): $8/month (save $24/yr)
Adobe Photoshop + Premiere Elements 14 for Mac/PC: $70 downloaded/shipped (Reg. $100)
Best Buy 2-Day Sale: Beats Solo2 headphones $100 (Orig. $200) or Studios for $150 (Orig. $300), more
Don’t jump on Apple’s $50 Watch price drop, you can do better! Deals from $249 shipped
Apple iPad mini 4 prices trimmed by $100, 16GB Wi-Fi models now start at just $300 shipped
Travel light w/ Apple’s 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB for $710 shipped (Reg. $899)
Save big on Apple’s newest laptops: Retina MacBook Pro $1,000 (Reg. $1,299)
App Store Free App of the Week: Sputnik Eyes puzzler goes free for the first time ($2 value)
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
AcuRite Indoor/outdoor Color Weather Station w/ Barometer/Forecast/Temperature: $35 Prime shipped
- Gift Cards up to 20% off: Toys R Us, Lowe’s, GameStop, Petco, StubHub, many more
- Smartphone Accessories: Aukey 3600mAh Power bank $8, Bluetooth headphones $14, more
- Daily Deals: Samsung Gear S2 Smartwatch (Refurb) $139, more
- Games/Apps: LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack (all platforms) $45, iOS freebies, more
- Green Deals: WORX AeroCart Wheelbarrow (cert. refurb) $100 (Orig. $200), more
- Amazon Gold Box – ROBO 3D R1 Fully Assembled 3D Printer: $620 shipped (Reg. $800)
- Nordstrom Rack Clearance Event – extra 25% off: Lucky Brand Jeans from $21, much more
- Dirt Devil Vacs up to 65% off from $14 Prime shipped: Handheld $25, more
MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:
iPhone 6/s/Plus and Galaxy S7/Edge cases in a variety of styles/colors: $6 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)
HoverDock is a minimal upright charging stand for your iPhone or Apple Watch: $28 (Orig. $35, CA Tax only)
Dock and charge your iPhone + Apple Watch in one place for $8 Prime shipped
Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $27 Prime shipped (Reg. $34)
- MFi Apple-Certified Lightning cables: iOrange-E 6-ft w/ aluminum conector $5, more
- Smartphone Accessories: Lumsing Bluetooth FM Transmitter $17, more
- Add Logitech’s Z333 2.1-channel speaker system to your setup for $48 shipped (Reg. $65+)
- Add remote control to five of your outlets w/ Etekcity’s best-selling kit: $21 (Reg. $30)
- Green Deals: Ohuhu 8-pack Garden Solar LED Lights $19 (Reg. $25+), more
- Harman Kardon: AKG K618 Pro DJ headphones $40, more
- LeapFrog LeapTV Educational Active Video Gaming System $30 in-store pickup (Reg. $60)
- Boost your mood with this Light and Ion Therapy Lamp for $40 (Reg. $80+)
- Go hands-free w/ iOttie’s popular iPhone 6/Plus car mounts, now just $11 Prime shipped
- Smart 4K 3D 120Hz UHDTVs: Sony 55-inch $949 (Reg. $1,100), many more
- Mackie 5-inch studio monitor speakers w/ Bluetooth streaming (pair) $200 (Reg. $250), more
- Muffin Knight action platformer for iOS goes free for the first time in over a year (Reg. $1)
- Google OnHub Wireless AC1900 Router w/ hand gesture control $160 shipped (Orig. $220)
- Buy select $3 Android apps & get a $5 Amazon credit: Kingdom Rush Origins, more
- 2016 All-Star Mac Bundle brings together 11 high-quality apps: $20 (Orig. $263)
- Buy or upgrade Parallels ($49-$79) & get 7 Mac apps free: 1Password, Parallels Access, & more
- Affinity Photo is now matching its lowest price ever: $40 (Reg. $50)
- Treat yourself to a free order of chips & guacamole during your next Chipotle visit
- Get a one-year Sam’s Club membership + $20 gift card, free food and more for $45
- Green Deals: ALLPOWERS 8W Solar USB Charger $18 Prime shipped (Reg. $27), more
- Full 1080p 55-inch 120Hz HDTVs: LG $450 (Reg. $599), Insignia w/ Roku built-in $430
- Headphones: Sennheiser HD7 DJ Closed Over-Ears $119 (Reg. $150+), more
- LifeStraw’s drinking bottle w/ filter makes puddle water safe to consume: $21 (Reg. $35)
- LEGO Technic Remote-Controlled 2-in-1 VOLVO Wheel Loader/Hauler $200 (Reg. $250)
Apple TV Deals: 4th Gen 64GB $175 (Reg. $200), 3rd Gen $49 (Reg. $69), more
NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:
VIZIO’s new $999 P-Series 4K Ultra HDTV w/ Google Cast and HDR may be this year’s top release
- SpotCam’s latest IP surveillance camera offers records 24-hours of footage in the cloud for free
- You can now mow your lawn via Apple Watch w/ Husqvarna’s new Automower app
- Nike’s self-lacing prophecy finally comes true with the HyperAdapt 1.0
- This NES-inspired backpack is the perfect carryall for any gamer
- Sony’s PS4 Virtual Reality kit is finally ready for primetime this fall + exclusive titles announced
- Turn your paper airplane into a first person virtual reality experience with PowerUP’s FPV kit
- Philips introduces new ambient Hue Lights that automatically simulates the sun
- WD’s new internal hard drive for Raspberry Pi brings 314GB of additional storage
- LG releases a new line of 4K Super UHDTVs with HDR capabilities and big price tags
How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator
Report: Apple developing at least 6 cloud infrastructure projects incl. servers to prevent snooping
Following two reports earlier this month detailing Apple’s deal to move iCloud partly to Google’s Cloud Platform, as well as the company’s efforts at building out its own cloud infrastructure, The Information today offers new details on the projects.
Adding to a report from VentureBeat earlier this week, today’s report offers more details on what Apple is doing with“Project McQueen” that could see the company replacing third-party vendors with more of its own cloud infrastructure. The Information reports that Project McQueen is actually just one of at least six internal efforts at Apple including building its own servers, networking equipment, and “systems that could one day help developers to power their apps.”
Apple Music extends partnership with Vice to release new docu-series on local music scenes
Apple continues to expand its video content line-up by extending its partnership with Vice today as the duo have released the first episode in a new documentary series. Apple Music and Vice’s series, The Score, take a focus on various music scenes around the world. Episode one looks into the life of Minnesota’s Native American hip-hop scene and artists.
iPhone SE diary: Why I’m seriously considering my first ever iDevice downgrade
Apple deserves a great deal of credit for the iPhone SE. I outlined yesterday why I believe the product makes long-term strategic sense, and the vast majority of you agree. But Apple has also managed to tempt not just one but two 9to5Mac writers to do something almost unthinkable for tech junkies: downgrade our iPhones! Like Zac, I too am seriously considering selling my iPhone 6s and replacing it with the SE.
I’ve long been a fan of small-screened phones. I actually sat out both the iPhone 5 and 5s because neither seemed to me at the time to offer enough reason to upgrade. But there’s only so long I can be without the latest tech, so eventually I had to bite the bullet and buy first the iPhone 6 and then the 6s.
However, the iPhone SE comes very close to offering the best of both worlds: the latest tech and a smaller form-factor …
Pangu releases Apple TV 4 jailbreak for units running tvOS 9.0 and 9.0.1
As promised, Pangu has released a jailbreak for the 4th generation Apple TV. This jailbreak, a first for the Apple TV 4, is capable of jailbreaking units running tvOS 9.0 and tvOS 9.0.1.
If you have an Apple TV that’s running a later version of tvOS, there is unfortunately no way to downgrade back to jailbreak-eligible versions. Instead, you can use our handy guide in order to find an eligible Apple TV at your local brick and mortar retail store. We’ll be sure to follow up with a full guide that shows you how to jailbreak the Apple TV 4.
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How-To: Set up and use Night Shift mode on iPhone and iPad [Video]
iOS 9.3’s headlining new feature is called Night Shift mode. By adjusting the color temperature of your iPhone or iPad’s display, Night Shift mode makes using your iOS device at night and in dark settings easier on your eyes.
Research has shown that by reducing the blue light emitted from a backlit display, it can become easier to fall asleep at night. Apple was very careful in its wording during yesterday’s iPhone SE event, letting us know that not everyone would enjoy similar results. That said, I’ve personally had good experience with like-minded utilities. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to get started with Night Shift on iOS 9.3.
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Digitimes estimates Apple will sell 4M 9.7-inch iPad Pros in first half of the year
There’s never long between Apple launching a new product and the first sales forecasts. Digitimes has a somewhat mixed track record, but for whatever it may be worth its research wing is estimating that Apple will sell four million 9.7-inch iPad Pros in the first half of this year.
It’ll be interesting to compare this number with others that we’re likely to hear in the coming days.
The company is almost certainly right, though, that the newly-reduced $399 starting price of the iPad Air 2 is likely to see that as the biggest seller in the iPad range despite the launch of the new model – though to be fair, Air 2s have been selling for $100-$125 off on 9to5toys since before Christmas.
If the company’s forecast is correct, that could see Apple finally ending the two-year decline in iPad sales.
Israel’s Cellebrite reportedly the security company helping FBI unlock San Bernardino iPhone
Israeili YNetNews reports that the so-far unnamed “third party” which has offered to help the FBI try to break into the San Bernardino iPhone is Cellebrite, a mobile forensics company based in Israel.
The FBI has been reportedly using the services of the Israeli-based company Cellebrite in its effort to break the protection on a terrorist’s locked iPhone, according to experts in the field familiar with the case. Cellebrite has not responded to the report. But if it is indeed the “third party” in question, and it is able to break into the terrorist’s iPhone, it would bring the high-stakes legal showdown between the government and Apple to an abrupt end. Cellebrite, considered one of the leading companies in the world in the field of digital forensics, has been working with the world’s biggest intelligence, defense and law enforcement authorities for many years. The company provides the FBI with decryption technology as part of a contract signed with the bureau in 2013.
Cellebrite declined to comment officially, and no information was given as to the method the company plans to use. One unlikely source claims to know …
Scattered reports of iOS 9.3 update bricking iPad 2
We’ve been seeing a few reports of the iOS 9.3 upgrade bricking the iPad 2, with the devices failing to activate at the end of the update.
The specifics reported in an Apple Support Communities thread, tweets to @applesupport and via email suggests that it may be nothing more than Apple’s activation servers struggling under the load, but some are reporting that their devices have still failed to activate 24+ hours later.
A couple of solutions have worked for some …
Apple posts three exclusive ‘environmental’ iPhone and iPad wallpapers on its website
As part of Apple’s Renew program, where the company is encouraging people to recycle their old devices to help the environment, Apple has posted some exclusive environmental wallpaper to download on its website. The URL (apple.com/thanks) is given out on cards in Apple Stores to people who recycle their old device in store, as a small gesture of appreciation.
However, the URL is open to anyone to visit and download some cute, exclusive, iOS 9 wallpaper that isn’t included in the default list of iOS wallpaper …