• Tech Industry
• Motorola
• Bluetooth Headphones
• Moto pulse
• Moto surround

Motorola announces iOS-compatible Bluetooth headphones: on-ear, and sports-oriented in-ear

As part of a launch event for its new Android smartphones, Motorola has announced two new Bluetooth headphones it’s hoping might also appeal to iPhone users.

The $59.99 Moto pulse are stylish-looking on-ear headphones with beefy 40mm drivers, fold-flat ear cups for portability and a claimed 18-hour battery life. The $69.99 Moto surround earbuds are aimed at sports and fitness use, being both waterproof and sweatproof and equipped with a collar band designed to be light yet remain in place during exercise.

A companion iOS app provides easy pairing, battery notifications and ‘Find my iPhone’ type functionality to reunite you with either pair of headphones if you lose them.

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• iOS
• update
• app
• Periscope

Periscope for iOS adds Handoff support, ability to mute notifications, more

The popular live streaming app Periscope today announced a much-welcomed update to its iOS app. The update, which bumps the app to version 1.1.3, includes a couple of new features and tweaks. For one, users now have the ability to mute notifications on a user-by-user basis. For instance, if you follow someone, you can now go to their Periscope account and turn off notifications for when they initiate a new broadcast.

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• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• Apple Watch
• iOS Devices
• battery
• battery life

Power for Apple Watch, the iPhone battery monitor, adds charging and low power alerts

We told you last month about a neat Apple Watch utility app called Power, and today it’s learning a handy new trick and becoming even more useful. Power, created in part by jailbreak developer Surenix, lets you check how much battery power your iPhone has remotely from your Apple Watch. As I mentioned before, this is a practical utility as it’s not uncommon to use the Apple Watch to stay on top of notifications while the iPhone charges in another room.

Starting with version 1.1, Power is adding support for notifications. This means you can charge your phone and know when it hits certain percentages in case you’re waiting for that level to take it off the charger and head out the door.
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• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• eBay
• Fashion
• Auction
• Commerce

eBay discontinuing several mobile apps including Fashion and Motors for iOS

Commerce company eBay announced today that it will soon retire several of its mobile apps including ones on iPhone and iPad. eBay’s primary iOS app will not be going anyway, however, and several of the discontinued apps will eventually see their features appear in the main eBay app.

In an effort to simply the shopping experience, eBay says it will be shutting down its Valet, Fashion, and Motors apps soon and later integrate their features into eBay’s primary app.
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• Apps & Updates
• AAPL Company
• Apps
• iOS
• iPad
• iPhone

Apple bringing its Maps vehicles to France, Sweden & more US/UK cities

Apple has announced an expansion of its Apple Maps vehicle program, a fleet of vans equipped with advanced sensors collecting data for an improved Maps experience. Among the new locations, Apple will be bringing the vehicles to France and Sweden for the first time, while it also plans to survey a long list of new cities in the US and UK where it’s already started surveying.

We first reported on the project back in May, noting that Apple was gathering data to reduce its reliance on third-parties, including getting Google Street View-type images of storefronts and other 3D imagery.

For France, Apple lists the following areas already scheduled for surveying: Hauts-de-Seine, Paris (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th), Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne.

For Sweden, the areas the company plans to visit include: Malmö in Skåne County, and Stockholm (Bromma, Enskede-Årsta-Vantör, Farsta, Hägersten-Liljeholmen, Hässelby-Vällingby, Kungsholmen, Norrmalm, Rinkeby-Kista, Skarpnäck, Skärholmen, Spånga-Tensta, Södermalm, Älvsjö, Östermalm).

Apple has also added a number of new areas in the UK and US that it plans to survey from August 17th to August 30th next month. The full list is on its website here along with other dates scheduled for data collection in various locations.

• Apps
• Amazon
• AirPlay
• iPad Air 2
• 9to5Toys

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air 16GB $300, Samsung EVO 1TB SSD $310, Sony 4K AirPlay Receiver $299, 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″ MacBook Pro w/ Retina Display: 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB $1,100 (Reg. $1,299)

• Inatech 2.5″ HDD Enclosure Case w/ three USB 3.0 ports: $22 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)
• Plantronics new BackBeat Sense Bluetooth headphones are loaded with sensors
• Hori’s new Tactical Assault Commander 4 brings PC style controls to the PS4
• Make your own miniature 3D printed, Raspberry Pi-powered Game Boy emulator
• 2K announces Terminator as a playable character for WWE 2K16
• Cook your food perfectly with the Range Smart Thermometer: $60 shipped (Orig. $70)
• Home: Dyson refurbs – upright vac $180/handheld $75, more

65-inch Vizio 120Hz 1080P HDTV (refurb) $497 shipped/site to store (recommended) at Walmart http://t.co/jo0TeS6Oll pic.twitter.com/AuISUGybIh

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 27, 2015

iPad Air in Silver or Space Gray: 16GB $300 (Reg. $399), 32GB $350 (Reg. $449)

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 16GB in all colors for $400 shipped (Reg. $499) http://t.co/6m0iOdNOIA pic.twitter.com/gqknmZ9WtM

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 27, 2015

Samsung 850 EVO 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $310 shipped (Reg. $350)

Sony 7.2-ch. 4K AV Receiver w/ AirPlay and Bluetooth for $299 shipped (Reg. $400), more

QuickRes – the app that changes your resolution in a click: 50% off

Apple’s massive iOS sale w/ 100 apps for $0.99 ea: Rayman, Angry Birds, Pixelmator, Spider-Man, many more

App Store Free App of the Week: SpongeBob Moves In ($4 value)

Disney’s award-winning Animated iPad app hits a new all-time low price of $3 (Reg. $10)

Save 50% on the brand new Screenium 3 high-res, high-speed screen capture app for Mac

More new gear from today:

Motorola Refurb DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modems: SB6121 $45 (Orig. $100), SB6141 $55 (Orig. $100)

• New! Daily Deals: Lumsing 10400mAh Power Bank $12, LifeCHARGE case $40, more
• New! Games/Apps: Zelda Majora’s Mask 3DS $33, 1 yr. PS Plus $40, more
• New! Etekcity 8GB Voice recorder and USB Stick: $13 shipped
• New! LED light bulbs up to 40% off: 4-pack $17 shipped (Reg. $23+), more
• New! Shoot cinematic masterpieces w/ iStabilizer: $39 (Orig. $60)
• New! Free McGraw-Hill iOS apps for kids: Monster Squeeze, more (Reg. $2 ea.)
• New! Designs for Mail for $9.99 (50% off)
• New! Themes for iBooks Author for $9.99 (50% off)

65-inch Vizio 120Hz 1080P HDTV (refurb) $497 shipped/site to store (recommended) at Walmart http://t.co/jo0TeS6Oll pic.twitter.com/AuISUGybIh

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 27, 2015

 

More deals still alive:

iPhone 6/Plus $100 off w/ VZW or Sprint 2-yr contract: 16GB $100, 64GB $200, 128GB $300

iOttie Easy One Touch 2 iPhone car mount: $17 Prime shipped (Reg. $25)

• Anker Bluetooth iPad Keyboards from $20: Folio Case $30 (Reg. $40), more
• VIZIO 43-inch 4K 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV: $500 shipped (Reg. $600)
• Tweetbot for Mac hits its lowest price ever: $10 (Reg. $13)
• Sennheiser Urbanite on-ears for $75 or XL over-ears for $130 (Orig. up to $250), more
• Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount Holder for iPhone 6/Plus $6 Prime shipped (Orig. $11)
• Timbuk2 Iris Gym Duffel Bag (Black) for $30 shipped (Reg. $54)
• Apple-Certified MFi Lightning Cables: 1-ft braided nylon $12, 10-ft $10, 3-ft $5, more
• Canon PIXMA Inkjet Photo All-in-One Printer + software $20 shipped (Reg. $40+)
• Jabra SOLEMATE Portable Bluetooth Speaker $60 shipped (Reg. $90+), more
• Urge Soundbrick $18 shipped, waterproof shower speaker $10 shipped, more
• Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Wireless On-Ear Headphones in Titanium: $209 shipped (Orig. $380)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II is now available for Mac: $7 (Reg. $10)
• Save 30% on fashion at Amazon: Herschel Supply Co., Lacoste, PUMA, more
• Learn to build 11 apps with this exclusive iOS 9 Swift coding course: $59 (Orig. $299)
• Blinkist Premium 1-yr Subscription: 1000+ Grasp Nonfiction Books: $30 (Orig. $80)
• Spigen’s latest Apple Watch dock is made for watchOS 2, pre-order now for $12
• Pay what you want for the 7-course Web Hacker Bundle ($1,043 value, currently $6)
• Complete this Chipotle trivia game & receive a buy one, get one free coupon
• Sennheiser HD650 + Apogee Groove portable DAC/amp $550 shipped ($755 value)
• Bose SoundTouch Portable Series II Wireless Music System from $269 (Reg. $325)
• Aukey USB Chargers: 5-Port USB Desktop Charging Station $22, more
• JBL Control One 4″ Indoor/Outdoor Speakers: $80 or 2-pairs for $150 shipped (Orig. $180)
• Kmashi 10,000mAh Dual-USB Power Bank: $9.39 Prime shipped (Orig. $50)
• American Express rolls out PayPal competitor, offers $10 statement credit for trying it
• Free PS Plus Games for July: Styx Master of Shadows, Rocket League, more
• Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more

New products & more:

This Lightning cable cleverly solves an annoyance every iPhone user deals with

JBL details new Flip3 & Xtreme portable Bluetooth speakers w/ fresh designs & features

• Converse upgrades its Chuck Taylors with new technology for the first time in 98 years
• Dad makes a custom Mario Kart 8-inspired nursery and becomes instant internet sensation
• The Panono panoramic camera is filled with 36 lenses that total 108MP, available today
• Stary Board cuts the weight to become the “world’s lightest” electric vehicle
• Cusby adapters work like LEGO to let you build a custom USB-C hub
• ZNAPS gives any Lightning or microUSB charging cable a MagSafe-like connector
• Jet.com is ready to battle Amazon and Walmart for your online shopping needs
• A-Bike Electric has powered assistance in the “lightest” package in the world
• Hot Toys is partnering with Disney to create an 18-foot long Millennium Falcon model
• Acer’s $100 Liquid Leap+ Fitness Watch for iOS/Android with a 20% discount
• The Remix Mini is a low-cost Android-based PC alternative

Review: Bang & Olufsen Beolit 15 Bluetooth speaker

Review: DODOcase Apple Watch Charging Stand

Review: SanDisk Connect Wireless Stic

• AAPL Company
• Apple TV
• iOS Devices
• Tech Industry
• ESPN

ESPN could be offered as standalone channel on Apple TV, says Disney CEO – but don’t hold your breath

Disney could respond to the increase trend toward cord-cutting by offering direct consumer access to ESPN, says Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. This could potentially make it available as a standalone channel on Apple TV, rather than something you can only get if you subscribe to a cable package that includes it.

But don’t rush out to cancel your cable subscription just yet – Iger, who is also on Apple’s board, said in a CNBC interview that the move won’t happen in the next five years. He was responding to questions about the future of the channel in an increasingly difficult market for cable. Enterprise recently reported that the channel lost more than three million viewers in the last year.

Sports network ESPN, meanwhile, reportedly lost 3.2 million viewers over the last year as a growing number of pay-TV customers either cut the cord or sought so-called skinny packages that didn’t include the industry’s most expensive channel. ESPN accounts for about $6 of most cable bills.

Iger said that the company viewed technology as friend rather than foe, and would adapt as the industry changed.

“While the business model may face challenges over the next few years, long term for ESPN … they’ll be fine. They have pricing leverage, too,” Iger said. “Disney [Channel] is another … brand and product that could be sold directly to the customer.”

But with that five year caveat, don’t expect to find ESPN offered as a standalone service like HBO or Showtime, and possibly not even as part of the streaming TV service Apple is expected to launch in the fall.

• AAPL Company
• iPad
• iOS Devices
• iPhone
• Apple Retail

Apple’s retail expansion in India underway, 100+ of 500 resellers reportedly selected

Apple’s plan to establish 500 mobile-focused reseller stores in India is reportedly well underway, with NDTV Gadgets reporting that more than 100 of the partners for its Authorised Mobility Resellers (AMR) program have already been signed-up.

Apple seems to have already identified the cities, and indeed the areas within these cities where it wants to open the new stores, as a job listing on Apple’s website says the responsibility of Program Manager – AMR is to select store locations “within identified micro markets within a city” (emphasis ours).

An Apple-appointed contractor is building the stores’ interiors to ensure that they conform to Apple’s design and size requirements, before handing them back to the third-party resellers to operate. The partners are reportedly being selected by Apple on the basis of their track-record in selling Apple products.

Apple is said to be focusing on building market share in the company, and will, unusually, allow AMRs to discount iPhones below the official retail price.

• AAPL Company
• iPad
• Mac
• MacBook Pro
• iPhone

Apple ‘Back to School’ promo expected to go international on August 6/7

Apple recently kicked off its ‘Back to School’ promo in the US and Canada, offering customers a free pair of Beats headphones for buying a Mac. The same deal will be rolling out internationally in various countries on either August 6th or 7th (exact date depends on country). Like those in the US and Canada, European customers will be able snag a free pair of Beats Solo2 headphones with a qualifying Mac purchase, or get €200 discount on the Beats Wireless Solo2.

According to French Mac blog Consomac, Angela Ahrendts, the company’s retail chief told employees of its wider rollout plans in a short video:

“In the US and in Canada, in our stores and online, it is the season for Back to School. Kids go back to school in these countries earlier than a lot of other countries. It Will Be launching August 6 and August 7 in additional countries, again aligned to When Your kids and your students Actually go back to school.”

It’s expected that European customers will be subject to the same purchase rules as in the States and Canada. They’ll need to buy an iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or Mac Pro with education pricing to get the free Beats. Build-to-order configurations are eligible, but Mac Mini is excluded from the deal.

This is first year Apple has given away Beats products with its Macs for ‘Back to School’ students. Last year, a Mac purchase got you a $100 gift card, and an iPhone or iPad purchase got you a $50 gift card.

Once the deal goes live in Europe, we’ll be sure to update you. As things stand, we’re expecting the roll out to begin in just under two weeks’ time.