This MacBook apparently survived a 1000ft and still boots up. Although there is no mention how or if the MacBook…
MacBook survives 1000ft fall and still boots up
Author
Dir. Partnerships
9to5Mac / 9to5Google / 9to5Toys / Electrek.co / DroneDJ / SpaceExplored
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:
American Express touts Apple Pay as ‘Next Evolution of Membership’ [video]
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMw_rr3OYYw]
It’s no surprise that the three major card companies in the US have been taking advantage of being the first with Apple Pay out the door and that the majority of their latest ads and promotions have centered around the new payment service. The latest comes from American Express with a just released ad focusing on highlighting Apple Pay as “The Next Evolution of Membership.”
Apple’s new Photos app means big future changes for free photo storage
Apple yesterday released a preview of its upcoming all-new Photos app for Mac, which replaces iPhoto and Aperture with a simpler all-in-one photo editor and library manager. Most of the discussion of Photos focused on the huge number of changes from iPhoto and Aperture, burying one very important detail: Apple is changing the way it handles cloud-based photo storage.
Before Photos, Apple offered free storage of photos with limitations in a feature called Photo Stream, which didn’t count against iCloud storage. But the new Photos app uses Apple’s beta iCloud Photo Library feature, which was recently added in iOS 8.1. iCloud Photo Library promises to let you synchronize your entire photo collection including edits and albums across all of your devices… but you have to share your iCloud storage with photos, and album syncing and edits don’t apply to the free 1,000 – 25,000 image storage of Photo Stream.
As most long-time iOS users know, the free 5GB of iCloud storage Apple offers is often not enough to store much more than a single device backup, and for many that will mean no spare room for a photo collection. Consequently, Apple is suggesting that users should buy additional iCloud storage, paying monthly fees to store and sync their photos. As the Photos app is rolling out, Apple is allowing users to stick with the old Photo Stream feature and continue using the new Photos app without turning on the iCloud Photo Library. But it remains to be seen if that will be an option long-term once Photos is released publicly and how users will respond when they find out their free 5GB iCloud storage isn’t cutting it for their photo collection…
KGI: iPad shipments will see steepest decline ever in 2015 & a 12.9-inch model won’t help
A new report from KGI out today predicts iPad sales this year will drop by around 30% marking the biggest decline in the history of the device. That 30% decline year over year compared to 2014 means KGI predicts Apple will sell 44-45 million units during 2015.
The decline in iPad sales has already started, according to estimates from KGI, with the firm predicting shipments in Q1 and Q2 of this year will drop by over 50%. More specifically, KGI says iPads will see a 52.7% QoQ in Q1 2015 with sales of 10.1 million iPads and a another 30-40% drop in Q2 2015 with 7.8 million units. Compare those numbers with the 21.4 million iPads Apple sold just last quarter alone during the holiday season.
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Cleveland Cavaliers now sending iBeacon push notifications to iPhone users at games
Like several other professional sports teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers will now be sending out location-aware notifications to iPhone users at its games using Apple’s Bluetooth beacon iBeacon tech. The team will send out the usual reminders, video content, and promos available to those at the game.
The team announced today that the notifications (pictured above) will be sent to fans through the official Cleveland Cavaliers app. YinzCam, Inc develops the app and is using Gimbal Bluetooth beacon hardware at the Cav’s Quicken Loans Arena to get the job done.
The opt-in notifications will include the following:
- Welcome messages and exclusive video content for fans as they enter and explore different areas of the arena
- Exclusive content delivered by points of interest, such as the 1976 Miracle of Richfield video highlights, viewable when fans pass the display of the original hardwood classic court from the Richfield Coliseum
- Promotional incentives and giveaways to fans who attend games
- Reminders about game times and to pick up 50/50 raffles tickets when volunteers are close by
- Fan-controlled privacy with up-front opt-in, so engagement is only on the terms the fan wants
The MLB was one of the first professional sports team to adopt the tech for beaming location sensitive notifications to attendees at games, while the Golden State Warriors became the first NBA team to take advantage last year followed by several others.
The Cleveland Cavaliers app is available on the App Store now.
Typo ordered to pay BlackBerry $860k for selling its knockoff iPhone keyboard case
Typo, the Ryan Seacrest-backed company selling an iPhone case with an integrated hardware keyboard, has been ordered to pay BlackBerry around $860,600 in the ongoing case between the two companies, Reuters reports.
If you’re unfamiliar, BlackBerry didn’t particularly like the Typo keyboard’s resemblance to its own iconic, albeit obsolete, keyboard included on its dwindling smartphone lineup and covered by its patents. After the court handed down an injunction following an original suit filed in January of 2014, a US District Judge in San Francisco ruled this week that Typo will have to pay the £567,303, or approximately $860,600, fine for violating the injunction and continuing to sell the product.
Despite little interest from anyone and generally poor reviews, Typo plans to keep making its keyboard cases and noted to Reuters that the fines do not relate to its latest generation of Typo 2 products unveiled at CES last month.
Reuters TV app for iPhone launches w/ on-demand & live video content
Reuters is today releasing a new app for iPhone called Reuters TV that offers access to on-demand video content and live feeds of Reuters’ live coverage of certain events.
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Don’t cancel your ski plans, Apple’s not having an event in Feb.
Contrary to a report from the often-reliable French blog iGen.fr, Apple is apparently not planning a media event late this month to introduce the Apple Watch or other new products, sources tell 9to5Mac.
Several media reports picked up the rumor today, repeating claims that Apple has planned an event for the last week of February, perhaps February 24. The blog speculated that the event could also include the introduction of the in development 12-inch MacBook we revealed earlier this year.
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Apple again said to be going back to Samsung for A9 chip in future iOS devices
After moving to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to produce chips for its latest mobile devices and reduce reliance on competitor Samsung, Recode reports that Apple is tapping Samsung for its next-gen A9 chips.
While Apple had hoped to rely more heavily on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to fabricate the Ax family of processors used in its iOS devices, the company has turned to Samsung for its next-generation A9 chip, according to people with knowledge of the situation…. Though Samsung refuses to identify chip customers, sources say the company is working to ensure an adequate supply of application processors for the next-generation iPhone.
The report mirrors much of what we’ve already heard in recent reports from others adding that “Samsung holds a technological edge over TSMC when it comes to the latest manufacturing process.”
More specifically, Recode cites the fact that “Samsung has managed to shrink the size of the transistors on its chips to 14 nanometers — effectively packing more processing power into a smaller space and consuming less power. TSMC is still at 20 nanometers.” The upper hand with Samsung’s tech was also noted as a reason behind Apple’s decision in earlier reports.
Samsung was said to be handling around 30% of Apple’s latest A8 chips in current gen iOS devices with TSMC producing the majority. Prior to the current-gen A8 chip, Samsung was previously producing the majority of Apple’s mobile chips alongside many other components for Apple products.
How to watch the Grammy Awards live stream on your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV
The 57th annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place this weekend on Sunday, February 8th, and CBS just sent over details on the only official live stream of the event accessible through iPhone, iPad, Mac, or on the big screen via Apple TV.
Head below for all the details on how to watch official streams for the event on your computer and all of your mobile devices.
iPhone/iPad: CBS mobile app
CBS has broadcasting of the event locked down this year, and so for mobile users the only official live stream available of the actual awards show will be the CBS app (US only).
It will require a CBS All Access subscription, however, and is also only available in 14 major markets, including: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Miami, Denver, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. It’s clear CBS is trying to push its All Access service, which offers next day access to TV shows, live TV in some markets, and on-demand content, but you can watch using a free trial and cancel before it expires…
Normally $6 month, you can take advantage of a free week trial of CBS All Access to watch the show.
The live stream kicks off at 8p.m. – 11:30p.m. live ET/ delayed PT.
The official GRAMMYs and CBS apps will have a live stream of the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony and red carpet festivities starting at noon PT/3 p.m. ET, and the app will offer a second screen experience of sorts for those viewing the awards on TV at home.
Stream the 2015 GRAMMYs LIVE with CBS All Access on February 8th at 8/7c! Get ready to tune in to the GRAMMYs live stream now by starting your free CBS All Access trial.
Mac/Apple TV: CBS.com
Again, CBS will be the only source of a live stream online through its CBS All Access service. The good news is you can grab a free week trial of CBS All Access, which will give you access on mobile devices as well. This will probably also be your best bet for AirPlay streaming or mirroring to the big screen via Apple TV.
Like on mobile devices, GRAMMY.com and CBS will have a live stream of the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony and red carpet festivities starting at noon PT/3 p.m. ET online, and also offer a second screen experience of sorts for those viewing the awards on TV at home. The main event takes place 8 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. live ET/ delayed PT.
Seagate zaps Thunderbolt drives, LaCie to continue lineup
Seagate will discontinue its lineup of Thunderbolt storage products in favor of pushing Thunderbolt under its premium LaCie brand, 9to5Mac has learned.
A company spokesperson confirmed the move noting that the product life cycles for the company’s USM technology, which allowed integration of interfaces like Thunderbolt through adapters, is “coming to a conclusion.”
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Apple builds national enterprise sales team for IBM partnership, targets industrial, healthcare, financial customers
Apple is looking to hire individuals across the US for a team of IBM Business Development Executives that “will be accountable for all aspects of the Apple and IBM partnership for a defined geographic and account set territory.” That means Apple is hiring a team of individuals that will act as company liaisons to help roll out and oversee sales teams pushing the new Apple/IBM iOS solutions to enterprise customers. The positions, which are industry and region-specific, also show Apple’s plan for the upcoming expansion of its enterprise solutions for new industries including manufacturing and healthcare.
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HTC hits Apple and Samsung with cringeworthy rap battle, Dr. Dre and Jay Z not impressed
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvjDtaCkacQ]
I’m a bit speechless on this one. It makes Samsung’s sustainability report rap seem…still horrible. Huge tech companies, can we please not do this anymore?
It’s also probably not the smartest idea in the world to start a rap battle with the two companies affiliated with two biggest names in rap: Jay-Z (Samsung) and Dr. Dre (Apple). But we’re guessing Dre won’t be releasing a response any time soon. HTC also continues the cringeworthy in a full sit-down interview with the broke rapper from the 80’s that it hired for the video (below).
Lyrics provided via Engadget below:
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Apple’s Campus 2 gets off the ground w/ erection of main structures in new drone flyover (4K Video)
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZTRTv56k58]
Following the latest drone flyover video of Apple’s under construction “Campus 2” last month, today we get an up-to-date look at progress over the last several weeks with another 4K video courtesy of Myithz.
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IDC: Apple stays atop worldwide tablet sales as leaders lose share to “other” brands
IDC is out today with its numbers on tablet shipments for Q4 2014 showing Apple remained on top of the market both last quarter and throughout 2014 despite a slight drop in overall market share.
Apple sold 21.4 million iPads during the holiday quarter last year, which gave the company around 28% market share compared to 33% with 26 million units sold during the same quarter last year. Apple beats out number two Samsung, according to IDC, which grabbed 14.5% of the market in Q4 with 11 million units shipped. Samsung also dipped in overall market share from 17.2% with 13.5 million units shipped in the year ago quarter.
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Steve Jobs biopic filming at Flint Center for key Macintosh unveiling scene (Pictures)
Filming for the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic written by Aaron Sorkin has been spotted at the Flint Center at De Anza college, the venue where Steve Jobs unveiled the original Mac in 1984.
A reader sent in the images above showing the outside of the Flint Center being decorated by the film crew with retro Apple signage for the Macintosh unveiling scene expected to be a key focus of the film.
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Yahoo app for iPhone gets a new look with focus on magazine content
The Yahoo app for iPhone is getting a new look today that the company says puts a bigger focus on magazine content with “beautiful images and engaging features that make content from our ten digital magazines even more fun.”
New features included in the redesigned app to make the magazine experience more interactive include the ability to vote on Yahoo Style, swipe to see Yahoo Movies info including reviews and analysis, and content from Yahoo Food.
You’ll notice the new features mentioned above in all the magazine categories in the app and Yahoo also notes that it now has “Yahoo Weather and Yahoo News Digest content above the stream for your two favorite categories, All Stories and News.”
The updated Yahoo app for iPhone is arriving on the App Store today for users in the United States.
First gameplay footage of ‘Sid Meier’s Starships’ for Mac and iPad (Video)
[youtube=http://youtu.be/eukhuMsIg3s]
2K and developer Firaxis recently announced Sid Meier’s Starships, an intriguing new interstellar strategy game coming early this year on Mac, iPad and PC. Today we get the first gameplay footage from the upcoming title as part of the Firaxis Games Megapanel at PAX South.
The hour-long video above includes the entire panel discussion with Sid Meier and other involved with the game, but there’s a quick link to jump to the lengthy gameplay demo (30:00) in the video above.
The session features legendary game designer Sid Meier alongside the lead designers from the award-winning strategy title, Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth. In case you weren’t able to attend, the panel reveals the first public gameplay footage of Sid Meier’s Starships, as well as addresses the thematic tie-ins, connectivity and differences of the two games.
The game extends the sci-fi universe introduced last year in Civilization: Beyond Earth, the latest title in Sid Meier’s Civilization series. The game is also expected to include integration between the two that 2K says “will enhance and expand the depth of both game experiences.” The panel discussed the integration more in-depth during the gameplay demo at PAX South today.
The original announcement trailer for Starships is here.
SoundCloud releases redesigned iPad app with new features, removes audio recording
SoundCloud today released a brand new iPad app that has been completely redesigned to offer a better experience for users uploading, sharing, and listening to music through the service.
You’ll have access to just about all the SoundCloud features available on desktop including the ability to build a Collection, explore genres, edit and view profiles, create playlists, and share tracks and artists with other users.
One feature you won’t find is audio recording, however, as SoundCloud warns users to “Please upload any locally stored sounds before upgrading your iPad app, as audio recording has been removed from this version.” As an alternative, SoundCloud said it recommends downloading one of the many audio recording apps that offer SoundCloud uploads.
You also won’t be able to add or view comments, track info, and follower/following lists, but unlike the audio recording feature SoundCloud said these features will be returning in a later version.
The new SoundCloud app for iPad, version 3.7.1, is available on the App Store now.
What’s New in Version 3.7.1
The beautifully redesigned SoundCloud iPad app gives you a simplified, more intuitive and more visual experience. Discover and hear fresh/new music & audio, and log in to build your Collection, create playlists, and be the first to share your favorite tracks & artists with friends and followers.
Please upload any locally stored sounds before upgrading your iPad app, as audio recording has been removed from this version. For future recording, we recommend downloading one of the many apps that allow you to record and post directly to SoundCloud. For your activity feed, track info and user comments, please go to www.soundcloud.com.
And for both iPhone & iPad users we made some performance improvements which give you a smoother scrolling experience!
Watch Super Bowl XLIX live streams on your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV
Super Bowl XLIX with the Seahawks vs. the Patriots kicks off this weekend on February 1st and we’re already getting prepared with a handy list of links for watching on all your Apple devices.
Head below for details on how to watch the game from iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
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Apple’s Q1 stats: iPhone now makes up 69% of total revenue, 1B iOS devices shipped, Apple Pay & China growth
Apple announced a lot of numbers during its fiscal Q1 2015 earnings call today in addition to confirming the Apple Watch will ship in April. Some of Apple’s highlights include numbers on Apple Pay since its launch in October, the 1 billionth iOS device shipping in November, and big growth in China as Apple sells a record 74.4 million iPhones during the quarter.
Head below for a roundup of stats and milestones that Apple announced during the call:
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Tim Cook: Apple Pay accounts for $2 out of every $3 spent with contactless payments, & other stats
Apple CEO Tim Cook shared some stats on Apple Pay during the company’s fiscal Q1 2015 earnings call today. Among them: Cook said that around $2 out of every $3 spent using contactless payments across Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are being made with Apple Pay since the service launched in October.
Also of note: Apple has now signed on around 750 banks and credit unions that will roll out support for the service. That’s up from the 500 banks Apple initially announced it had signed on to support the service. Currently Apple has rolled out support for cards from a 45+ banks and credit unions in the US.
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Apple announces 1 billion iOS devices sold
Today during Apple’s Q1 earnings call with investors, CEO Tim Cook announced that the company sold its billionth iOS device back in November.
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Apple grew 157% in China to over $16B in revenue last quarter
Ahead of Apple’s fiscal Q1 2015 earnings report today, there were signs that Apple had enjoyed significant growth in China and a record number of smartphone sales in the region during the holidays. Today, we get some more insight into that growth, as Apple reported a 157% increase from the previous quarter: revenue of $16.144 billion in Greater China compared to $6.292 billion in Q3.
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