Mark is an award-winning journalist who worked at 9to5Mac for over six years. He covers Apple and other topics related to the consumer technology industry.
This update is recommended for all Mac Pro (Late 2013) models. This update improves system reliability during reboot, resolves an issue with memory self-test, and improves graphics power management when using Boot Camp.
The new Mac Pro is an awesome machine for those with several thousand dollars to spend on a computer and a need for all the power that comes with that thermal core, but managing to get one is going to be difficult for the next few months even if you have the credit card ready. Yesterday, Apple announced that the Mac Pro would go on sale today, December 19th. The store went live last night with the Mac Pro shipping the very last non-holi-day of 2013, December 30th.
As we noted earlier today, Apple’s customers in its home state of California awoke to Mac Pros being quoted to ship in February. But it gets worse…
Just like in 2011 and 2012, 2013 was an exciting year for 9to5Mac in terms of leaks, exclusive stories, and breaking news. This year was interesting however because there was considerable doubt cast at many of the stories we’d broke which added some entertainment into the mix. Below, we break down our biggest stories of the year by product type:
Instagram now has direct messaging, an iOS 7-friendly design (save for the app icon), and video sharing, but it’s still without an iPad app. For the past couple of years, a number of third-party developers have posted iPad Instagram apps to the App Store, and today, Flow has arrived. I’ve been testing it for a couple of days, and it seems good enough to be almost official. Due to certain restrictions, the app can’t upload photos to the media-sharing service, but it does do a great job giving users a clean, large interface for viewing photos and user profiles.
Smooth browsing experience
Super fast loading of photos and videos
Carefully crafted interactions: scroll, tap, like, swipe, peek & more
Search and bookmark #tags @users & places
Discover top ranked Instagram accounts and #tags
Shopping & fashion feeds for every country!
Video playback with fullscreen & airplay
Share to Facebook & Twitter or save on your camera roll
Mailbox, the popular email application owned by Dropbox, has finally received one of its most requested features: support for email accounts using Apple’s iCloud email service. Also in the mix with today’s update is support for Yahoo Mail. The app is yet to hit the App Store, but the company tells us that the app is propagating out to users today via the App Store. (Update: it’s live)
Google has just increased compatibility between its Google Glass wearable computer and iOS: the company has released its MyGlass companion app for the iPhone. The application allows users to setup their Glass, connect to WiFi networks, install Glassware apps, integrate with contacts, and mirror content from Glass to the iPhone’s display. The app is free, but it (obviously) requires the $1,500 computerized shades. Update: Looks like the app has been pulled. Google offered a mention of the app on a help document discussing the XE12 update to Glass:
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who is not known for many video recorded public appearances outside of Apple events, spoke at length regarding equality at an Auburn University event. At the event, Cook accepted Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences Lifetime Achievement award. AllThingsD first wrote about Cook’s appearance and notes Cook’s discussion of two of his inspirations: Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy:
“They sacrificed everything, including their lives, as champions of human rights and of human dignity,” Cook said. “Their images inspire me. They serve as a reminder to me every day that regardless of the path that one chooses, there are fundamental commitments that should be a part of one’s journey.”
Cook also quotes the late Nelson Mandela (who Apple is currently honoring on its homepage). Interestingly, Cook’s quote from Martin Luther King is the same one that he sent via video to Apple employees late in November. “The time is always right to do what’s right,” the quote reads. The video (above) of Cook is well worth a watch for the life lessons it provides. Cook also provides insight into Apple’s approach to making its technologies accessible for everyone.
Nearly one month following the initial iOS 7.1 beta, Apple has released a second beta to developers. The beta is available via the online developer center portal, and has also just begun hitting devices over-the-air. New versions of Xcode 5.1 beta and software for Apple TV are also available. The previous iOS 7.1 beta brought various, minor interface tweaks and new accessibility options. If you find anything new, you can let us know at tips@9to5mac.com.
Today, Microsoft has released a new iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch application for IT administrators to manage their firm’s Office 365 servers. The application features Microsoft’s new flatter design language with large text. It allows administrators to manage the health and features of their Office 365 implementations.
The Office 365 Admin mobile app empowers IT service administrators to connect to their organizations’ Office 365 service status on the go. The Office 365 Admin mobile app enables administrators to view service health information and maintenance status updates. In addition, administrators can filter information by service subscriptions and configure app data refresh interval.
The application is free, and users obviously need to have Office 365 administrator rights and be apart of a firm with a subscription. Earlier this year, Microsoft released its Office 365 application for consumers. That app allows the viewing/accessing and minor editing of PowerPoint, Office, and Excel documents.
Apple has completely removed all product promotion from its www.apple.com homepage this evening and replaced it with a touching tribute to the life of Nelson Mandela, who passed away earlier this week. The New York Times has an interactive timeline of Mandela’s life.
Apple has previously replaced its homepage to mark the passing of only a few other individuals: Gregory Hines, George Harrison, Rosa Parks, board member Jerry York, and Steve Jobs. Apple executives Tim Cook and Phil Schiller shared their thoughts about Mandela’s life via Twitter:
With its 32-inch class (31.5-inch diagonal) screen size, 3840 x 2160 high definition resolution and energy efficient edge-lit LED backlight, the Sharp PN-K321 monitor is ideal for professional applications where it’s essential to view detailed information displayed with precision. This super-high resolution display allows you to view the content of four full HD screens on a single seamless display. It also features IGZO* technology, which supports increased pixel transparency and reduced current leakage, thereby making the monitor more energy efficient.
The recent MacBook Pro with Retina display models can drive a single 4K display, while the upcoming Mac Pro can support up to three 4K monitors. Sources say that Apple Stores in the United States will have these monitors available for order in the coming months.
It’s likely that Apple is selling this Sharp unit just to give new Mac Pro users something to use until its own 4K display, which is floating around the Cupertino labs, is ready to ship…
AT&T has launched a new initiative called Mobile Share Value Plans that is designed to save customers money on their monthly AT&T mobile phone service bills. The following changes are specifically for the Mobile Share program, which allows devices to work under the same AT&T account and share data, talk, and text plans. Similar to T-Mobile’s “un-carrier” approach, the new AT&T plans separate the cost of the device hardware completely from the monthly service charges:
While he and many of his staff members use Apple’s iPads, United States President Barack Obama has revealed why he does not use an iPhone: “I’m not allowed for security reasons to have an iPhone,” the President said earlier today. Nonetheless, he says that his daughters both use iPhones. President Obama has stuck to his BlackBerry over the past few years because of its messaging and encryption capabilities. No word on if the iPhone will ever be suitable for a President, but Apple has been beefing up its smartphone’s security via hardware, software, and sensors in recent years.
Earlier this year, Apple announced that it would be relocating its flagship Downtown San Francisco to the Union Square District. The new store, with a fully glass front, would be larger, and it would be able to serve more customers and employee more workers. Since then, the new store design came under scrutiny from San Francisco officials because it would remove a famous fountain designed by Ruth Asawa.
In late August, Apple submitted redesigned renderings of the upcoming store that retain the historical fountain. The new renderings also showed a tweaked front glass panel that would relocate the iconic Apple logo to the brushed metal, street-facing side of the store. Now, we’ve learned that Apple has presented a 3D model of the upcoming store’s design to the City of San Francisco’s Historic Preservation Commission…
In early November, we reported that Apple had begun seeding versions of OS X Mavericks 10.9.1 and 10.9.2 to employees within the its Software Engineering division. Since then, Apple provided two OS X 10.9.1 seeds to registered developers. These builds focus on improvements to Mail, Voice Over, and general system stability. The update will serve as the first point-update to the recently released OS X Mavericks.
Now, we’ve learned that Apple has provided build 13B40 of 10.9.1 to AppleCare employees. This internal release indicates that the public release of OS X 10.9.1 is near as Apple’s support staff will become familiar with the software in order to seemingly assist customers in the near-future. That particular build is the same version provided to developers last night. OS X 10.9.2 will likely follow with additional fixes in the following weeks.
Approximately two weeks following the initial OS X 10.9.1 beta, Apple has provided a new build to developers. The build is labeled 13B40, and that’s five seeds newer than the previous 13B35 version. As with the previous version, Apple says fixes for Mail, VoiceOver, and Shared Links. Thanks, D!
There are, however, two crucial differences between the iPhone 5C version of the case that was meant for the iPhone 5/5S and the actual, official iPhone 5C case that was released to the public:
Instead of the seven-by-five grid of holes that is on the back of the released iPhone 5C case, the case for the iPhone 5/5S sports a subtly different six-by-five grid of holes.
Unlike on the iPhone 5C case, the top and bottom of the iPhone 5/5S is not protected by the silicon case.
We can’t verify that these photos represent an actual Apple prototype, but they, nonetheless, show what the 5c case would look like if designed for the 5s’s body. Another photo is below:
The 3.7.1 update is recommended for all Apple Remote Desktop clients and addresses several issues related to overall reliability, usability and compatibility.
The Apple Remote Desktop Dashboard widget* gives you an instant, at-a-glance view of the remote computers in your network.
It’s fully integrated with the Apple Remote Desktop administrative application, so a click on a particular computer will allow you to select and start working with any computer in the system.
The widget requires a user to have the administrative app installed.
Weeks after launch, a number of Apple Stores in the United States have begun price-matching both the iPad Air and iPhone 5c. Sources say that the ability to price-match those new devices began earlier this week.
The price-matching will vary region-to-region, with some markets choosing to not conduct any price-matching at this time.
The stores that do support matching, however, will only match up to 10% off. So if your local carrier is offering the iPhone 5c free on-contract, don’t expect to get a free iPhone 5c at an Apple Store. Apple has not began price-matching the more expensive iPhone 5s nor the harder-to-find iPad mini with Retina display.
WhatsApp, one of the most popular cross-platform messaging services, has received an anticipated iPhone overhaul for the iOS 7 design aesthetic. The free app update includes a redesigned, less glossy icon as well as an entirely new interface throughout the application. The app also gains a series of new features and enhancements:
– broadcast lists: communicate with your classmates, work colleagues or just friends by messaging many people at once.
