Jordan manages the internal Partner Program for sponsorships and partnerships across the 9to5 network’s media brands including 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, Electrek.co, SpaceExplored and DroneDJ.com.
Jordan also writes about all things Apple as a Senior Editor of 9to5Mac. He covers Google for 9to5Google.com, the best gadgets and deals on 9to5Toys.com, and EV and solar news on Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series and makes music sometimes.
Contact Jordan with partnership inquiries and long-winded complaints:
[UPDATE: CNBC says more of Cramer’s interview with Tim Cook will air tonight at 6PM ET. Today’s discussion will focus on iPhone encryption, Steve Jobs, and what Cook is most proud of at the company.]
Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to appear on CNBC’s Mad Money program tonight following Apple’s Q2 earnings earlier this month where the company reported declines across the board.
In the latest drone flyover video of Apple’s under-construction Campus 2, this one sent in by Matthew Roberts, we get a close-up look at progress made in recent weeks on the new Apple headquarters set to open early next year.
There was lots of news for Apple this week with the company’s Q2 2016 earnings representing some notable declines across the board despite reporting $50.6 billion in revenue and $10.5 billion in profit. But readers were more interested in the latest rumors and expectations for the upcoming iPhone 7 and Apple Watch 2, as well as some new “exclusive” Apple Music and iTunes releases and this week’s new apps and updates.
Head below for all the handy links to this week’s top stories and more.
As someone that often carries around a portable battery or two when on-the-go for extended periods of time (because I don’t particularly like the added bulk of using a battery case), this new MagicMount product from Scosche looks very interesting.
A super slim magnetic pad goes on your iPhone, and the battery pack then magnetically attaches to it when needed and connects to your device over a built-in Lightning connector. That gives you the benefits of a battery case by having the portable battery attached to the device, but also allows you to easily remove it once you’ve added enough juice to your device.
Apple has officially announced that its new retail store in Marseille, France will open May 14 with the usual announcement on its website (via MacGeneration).
The new retail store, located at the Les Terrasses du Port shopping mall, is Apple’s 20th location in France. That’s if including the shop within Galeries Lafayette that it opened last year as one of several boutique locations for sales of the Apple Watch. Apple is also planning other retail stores for the country including a high-profile flagship location on Champs-Élysées in Paris.
SanDisk’s new iXpand Lightning to USB drive introduces a new design, faster USB 3.0, and a brand new app, making it one of the most attractive offerings as far as thumb drives for your iPhone or iPad go. I’ve been testing it out to see if it’s worth a recommendation over the many competitors.
With drops in revenue and iOS device sales in what CEO Tim Cook called a “challenging quarter,” highlights from Apple’s Q2 2016 earnings today include an increase in Apple Music subscribers, more cash for Apple’s capital return and share repurchasing programs, and a “huge number of Android switchers and new to Mac customers.” Cook said the company had record switchers from Android and others platforms in the quarter and also noted an increase of 56% for iPhone sales in India despite an overall decline for iOS device sales.
Cook said the company hit record App Store revenue up 35% and updated us on Apple Pay noting the payments service has grown around 5X compared to a year ago and is adding approximately 1 million new users a week.
After reporting its Q2 2016 earnings earlier today, the company is now hosting its conference call where we’ll likely get some more insight and comments on the numbers from Apple execs. Head below for a roundup of all the numbers Apple announced today, and check back for more as we listen in on Apple’s call.
Nokia announced today plans to purchase Withings, maker of many popular healthcare related accessories and companion apps for iPhones and other mobile devices.
The company said the 170 million Euro purchase would see Withings become part of its Nokia Technologies business and help jump-start its new efforts at Digital Health products.
Best Buy is offering the 16GB iPhone 6s on Sprint for just $1 this week, a $199 savings on the device’s normal price on the usual two-year carrier contract.
The Wall Street Journal reports Facebook is working on a new camera app separate from its main offerings that the company hopes will encourage increased sharing of photos and videos. The still in-development app in its current form opens immediately to a camera mode and there are plans to offer live streaming video functionality as well, according to the report:
In honor of the passing of musician Prince, Apple is featuring a collection of albums, songs, movies and more on iTunes.
Our friends over at iFixit are doing their ritual teardown of Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook, and while the new device is essentially the same as the previous generation save for some refreshed components, the repair guide site also noticed some tweaks as far as repairability goes.
Most notably, Apple replaced a tri-wing screw with a much more common Phillips screw, which is always a plus for allowing easier repairs, although it continues to use its proprietary Pentalobe screws on the exterior of the case. That might be the only new positive for the updated MacBook, however, as iFixit also notes that it discovered hinge screws for the device which are “filled with some sort of substance that disintegrates when you insert a screwdriver.” The site speculates that it appears to be an Apple effort at “tamper-evident screws,” which in theory could allow the company to know if a third-party or DIY repair attempt has been made voiding warranty. Or as iFixit put it, “make you feel like a hoodlum for repairing your own machine.”
In this week’s top stories, the iPhone rumor mill was in full effect as reports surfaced claiming Apple could introduce an new all glass design for a next-generation device. That news was accompanied by Apple’s 12-inch MacBook refresh, an official announcement for WWDC, and the latest Apple Car news. Head below for the quick links to all of this week’s top stories and much more:
Apple is continuing its recent hiring spree from the automotive industry for its not-so-secretive car project, this time hinting at the company’s work prototyping car parts.
Bloomberg reports that Qualcomm shares have dropped after the company’s CEO hinted that its biggest customer could switch to a rival supplier for future orders. Reading between the lines, the speculation is that its biggest customer is Apple (Samsung is the only other company close to holding that title) and that a switch to Qualcomm’s rival means Apple’s is considering Intel for LTE modem chips in the iPhone 7:
Apple CEO Tim Cook has once again made TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People List today after appearances last year and back in 2012 when he first took over the CEO job.
Siri for Mac with OS X 10.12, iTunes and App Store redesigns, improved iCloud encryption, and original programming for the Apple TV. These are just a few of the projects Apple has reportedly been working on and they are also likely candidates for stage time at its upcoming WWDC press event and developer conference. Add in the last of the Macs that are due for updates and the usual dose of new developer tools, and we already have a lot to look forward to at WWDC slated for June 13-17.
Below we take a look at the latest rumors and reports for all of the expected product updates and new features in the cards for the event.
Yesterday Apple updated its 12-inch MacBook with some refreshed internal components and new a rose gold color. We already heard you loud and clear when we asked if Apple should bring new color options with the iPhone 7, but should it also give its other products and accessories the rose gold, gold, space gray treatment?
After bringing his new album to Apple Music and Spotify, fans are suing Kanye West claiming they purchased subscriptions to West-backed music app Tidal on the promise the album would be exclusive to the service.
[UPDATE April 19: New models unveiled including rose gold.]
Is Apple planning to refresh its 12-inch MacBook? Best Buy is currently listing all models of the device as unavailable on its website leading some to speculate that Apple could be planning a refresh.
GoPro is today launching a new GoPro VR mobile app where anyone will be able to view 360-degree and virtual reality content uploaded using its new Omni and Odyssey camera rigs also announced today.
In this week’s top stories, attention turned from the iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7 to what’s coming next from Apple, as stories surrounding the iPhone 7 and the future of Apple’s MacBook lineup rounded out the most shared articles of the week. But not far behind was Zac’s review of the iPhone SE followed by analysis of the new iPad Pro’s 9.7-inch display showing record mobile display performance and possible hints at what’s to come from iPhone 7 this fall.
As always, we have the easy links to those stories and the rest of this week’s most shared news and videos below:
Following Apple’s iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro launch last month, the MacBook lineup is next up for major product updates from Apple. What needs upgrading? All MacBooks are approaching or passing the one year mark since last being updated — MacBook Airs in March of last year, the new 12-inch MacBook in April, and the Retina MacBook Pros in March and May. But where might the new machines leave the rest of the lineup?
The new Ghostbusters movie reboot is set for release in theatres this July, and alongside the film Activision and Sony announced today they will release Ghostbusters: Slime City for mobile devices, including iOS. The companies just sent over a first look at the game including a trailer with brief gameplay shots and some screenshots below.
The storyline in the game will take place after the events that unfold in the new movie, and the characters will not be clones of the film’s cast but rather a new selection of heroes. The new Ghostbusters movie is a reboot of the original film and features an all female cast in the main roles, including: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones.
The rundown on gameplay in Ghostbusters: Slime City from the press release: