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.
Mark is regarded as one of the go-to reporters for all Apple-related matters, one of Wired‘s top 16 people to follow in technology, and one of TIME Magazine‘s top 25 bloggers of 2013. Mark has also been profiled by CNN Fortune multiple times, NPR, the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, the Huffington Post, Business Insider, Columbia Journalism Review, Marketplace, Haaretz, and USA Today. Mark was also recently named to the 2015 Forbes 30 under 30 List.
In 2012, Mark published the first photos of the iPhone 5, broke the news about Apple’s switch to an in-house Maps application, revealed the first 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro, forecasted that Apple would update the iPad’s software with Siri support, and accurately revealed the iPad mini’s higher-than expected price point.
In 2013, Mark published the first photos of the original iPad Air, provided the first details about Jony Ive’s end-to-end iPhone and iPad software update called iOS 7, provided information about OS X Mavericks, and detailed Apple’s early work on the Apple Watch.
In 2014, Mark revealed Apple’s work on a new Health application for iOS 8 and the Apple Watch, Ive’s redesign of OS X called Yosemite, and details about the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Mark started out 2015 with a significant scoop detailing Apple’s yet-to-be-released 12-inch MacBook with a Retina display, thinner design, and more advanced trackpad and keyboard. He has continued the year by reporting on several details about iOS 9, including the new Proactive Assistant, redesigned Siri, upgraded Maps with transit functionality, new system font, split-screen iPad apps, Swift 2.0, as well as predicting a performance focus for both that software upgrade and OS X El Capitan. Mark finished the year by reporting the majority of the details about the new Apple TV, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, Apple Watch updates, the iPad Pro, the iPad mini 4, and iMacs.
Mark started out 2016 with exclusive reports on Apple’s work on a pair of completely wireless Beats headphones for the iPhone 7, details on the iPhone SE, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, Apple Watch updates, Apple’s March product event, new Apple retail initiatives, and Tim Cook’s Town Hall meeting with Apple employees.
Mark has also written long-form features on “Apple Anonymous,” a group of retail employees who discuss work over Twitter and the fascination of watches by Apple executives. Most significantly, in fall 2014, Mark published an extensive profile of Apple’s PR and Communications department that was compiled over two months into nine chapters. Mark also provides analysis on relevant technology industry topics, such as Apple’s recent executive shakeup. Mark kicked off his writing career at the end of 2009, and he had his first significant break in 2011 with a story detailing Siri and the iPhone 4S.
You can follow him on Twitter.
To augment the March Flipboard update that allows users to create and curate their own digital magazines, Flipboard has now launched a feature that allows these custom magazines to be read in a web browser. Additionally, a new “Big Ideas” Flipboard section is live, focusing on important world issues.
In a move to close out the fiscal quarter strong, Best Buy will re-launch its iPad trade-in program tomorrow, July 23rd. The program, which offers a $200+ gift card toward the purchase of a fourth-generation iPad with Retina display, will run until August 3rd.
Update: Now live.
Best Buy piloted an iPad trade-in-program earlier this month for two days due to the success of the iPhone version.
For this new trade-in-program, iPad 2 and third-generation iPad models without water damage or a cracked display are eligible. While Best Buy will formally announce the special tomorrow, a Best Buy employee provided the above memo to employees detailing the deal.
Full memo below:
On its Podcasts page in the iTunes Store, Apple has announced that there have been one billion iTunes podcasts subscriptions since since the company launched its Podcasts section in 2005 as an alternative to radio shows. Podcasts allows anyone from individuals to companies to create their own shows and offer them for download/streaming to Apple’s iTunes customers. Apple has also made the announcement via Twitter:
Analyst Ming-Chi-Kuo, who has a fairly strong track record in predicting future Apple products (timing not withstanding), has issued a new report with claims for some of Apple’s new products for the rest of 2013. The following is a breakdown of Kuo’s claims by product:
Two weeks after seeding OS X Mavericks Developer Preview 3 to developers, Apple has made Preview 4 available via Software Update on the Mac App Store. If you find anything new, you can let us know at tips@9to5mac.com. We’ll update this post with a running list of changes. Changes below:
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Apple and its suppliers are testing versions of the iPad and iPhone with larger displays.
Apple and its Asian component makers are testing larger screens for iPhones and tablets, officials at the company’s suppliers say.
Due to mounting competition from hardware competitors like Samsung, a larger-screened iPhone has long been expected and rumored. However, this is one of the first specific claims for a larger sized iPad. In March of this year, an unverified claim emerged for a 12.9-inch iPad model being in the works with a rather unlikely name. WSJ‘s report points to a display “measuring slightly less than 13 inches diagonally.”
Next week, Apple will debut a new element of Tim Cook’s plan to sell more iPhones direct from Apple Retail. The company, on Tuesday, July 23rd, will release an 
updated version of its Apple Store application for iPhone and iPod touch, according to a source with knowledge of the app. The new app has been redesigned to fit more in line with the user-interface of the App Store, iTunes Store, and iBookstore in iOS 6.
This slight interface change comes for a good reason: one of the main new features of the app is downloadable content. As you can see in the photo of the upcoming app update (to the right), the app will promote content from the three Apple content stores. This content normally costs money, but it will be available free for a limited time via this new app.
Apple, internally, positions this as a way to boost content sales as this new feature is designed to raise awareness about Apps, iTunes, and iBooks content.
Sources say that the new app update is also designed to go hand-in-hand with a new initiative in Apple Stores. When a new iOS Device is sold, Apple employees will be encouraged to install the new Apple Store app on the newly purchased device. According to comments from Tim Cook at last month’s secretive summit for Retail Leadership, only 20% of Apple customers are aware of the Apple Store app’s existence. This new plan will certainly increase that percentage.
The Wall Street Journal summarizes information from court documents and various sources that points to Apple and Samsung being back at the bargaining table after the two companies spent much of 2012 in court proceedings regarding patent infringement claims. During the summer of 2012, Apple won a major lawsuit in California court against Samsung due to design patent infringement claims regarding the iPad and iPhone.
Today’s report shares that since that time, the Cupertino and South Korean tech firms have met multiple times in private to come to some sort of settlement. Since last summer, the two companies have still been filing lawsuits against each other. Notably, today’s report claims that a settlement was near this past February, but the talks dissolved. Even with the cool-down, the talks are reportedly still on-going. Samsung reportedly has made proposals for the potential settlement:
Apple’s Tim Cook, Bob Mansfield, Kevin Lynch
Apple has begun assembling a team of hardware and software engineering, medical sensor, manufacturing, and fitness experts, indicating the company is moving forward with a project to build a fitness-oriented, sensor-laden wearable computer, according to our sources.
Over the past half-decade-or-so, Apple has experimented with and shelved numerous wearable computer designs. Internal prototypes have included designs that could clip onto different pieces of clothing (like an iPod shuffle/nano) in addition to devices that could wrap around a wrist.
Based on comments from Apple CEO Tim Cook and numerous reports, the wrist is the part of the body in which top Apple executives are currently targeting…
Exactly one week after the last build, Apple has released Build 12F23 of OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 to developers. The new build is only three builds newer than the last, and this could mean that Apple is winding down on the development cycle for 10.8.5. This could mean a public release in the next couple of weeks (based on past development history). Apple continues to say that 10.8.5 includes no known issues, and asks developers to focus on WiFi, Graphics, Wake from Sleep, PDF viewing and Accessibility, and Mobile Device Management during testing. Thanks, D!
In line with last week’s expectations of an updated Google Maps app, Google has begun rolling out version 2.0 of Google Maps for iOS today. Most notably, the new application includes support for the large touch screens found on the iPad and iPad mini.
Additionally, like with the recent update to the Android version, enhanced navigation with incident reports and live traffic updates are included.
Also new is an Explore function to browse popular places such as restaurants, shopping, playing, and sleeping. This feature is integrated with Zagat ratings and deals via Google Offers.
The 2.0 update also includes indoor mapping functionality for malls, transit stations, and airports, according to Google. The new update has begun rolling out to some countries in Asia, but is not yet available in the United States. In fact, Google Maps is currently unavailable to download in the App Store for many countries until this update is released.
Some users have had success downloading the new version of Google Maps by deleting their current version and downloading it from iCloud. (Thanks @ITSFEST)
Update: Now available on the U.S store.
<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2013/06/21/apple-patent-application-describes-fingerprint-sensor-tech-rumored-for-iphone-5s/">Apple fingerprint sensor patent</a>
Digitimes, which is notorious for its mixed track record, is out with a new report claiming that initial shipments of Apple’s next-generation iPhone will be in tight supply. The reason being low yield rates for the production of the sensor for the device’s rumored fingerprint scanning technology. That’s in addition to some chips required to power the new iPhone’s LCD.
Poor yields of fingerprint-recognition chips and LCD driver ICs will likely force Apple to reduce first-quarter shipments of the rumored iPhone 5S, which is slated for launch in September 2013, according to industry sources. Volume production of fingerprint-recognition and LCD driver chips for the iPhone 5S should have started at the end of June or early in July, but issues related to yield rates will delay commercial production of the two chips to the end of July, therefore affecting the initial supply of the iPhone 5S, the sources explained.
Furthermore, the site says that production of said device’s sensors should have begun late last month or earlier this month, but production won’t actually begin until later this month. This in turn will affect initial shipments of the new iPhone come September. Digitimes says this will result in 3 million delayed units…
AT&T <a href="http://www.wap.org/journal/iphoneeverywhere/">Line</a>
Following major announcements from T-Mobile and Sprint (and rumors about big device upgrade changes at Verizon Wireless), AT&T has made its “network related” announcement that it teased last week. The company has introduced a new program named “AT&T Next.” Similar to T-Mobile’s new “Un-carrier” offering, AT&T Next allows users to upgrade their smartphone or tablet device each year (T-Mobile, though, allows this to happen twice a year).
“With AT&T Next, customers can get the newest smartphone or tablet every year with no down payment. That’s hard to beat, and it’s an incredible value for customers who want the latest and greatest every year,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility.
In a change from the typical ways of purchasing a phone upfront with no contract or at a subsidy with a contract, AT&T Next allows a customer to purchase a smartphone or tablet with $0 down payment and pay for the device with a monthly cost. For example, according to AT&T, a customer who wants a Samsung Galaxy S4 can purchase the device with no down payment and pay an extra $32 per month (on top of their standard monthly service bill). More details below:
In a move that follow’s T-Mobile’s recently launched “un-carrier” initiatives, Verizon Wireless plans to debut a new “VZ Edge” program aimed at retaining its customer base, according to a leaked presentation slide posted by Droid-Life.
Specific details on the new approach are currently slim, but, based on the slide, it seems that the essence of Verizon’s plan is to merge T-Mobile’s new JUMP and pay-for-a-device-overtime programs. T-Mobile’s JUMP program, with a $10 monthly fee, allows users to upgrade to a new handset twice a year.
Marketed as a plan to “stay on the leaning edge of technology,” this new Edge program seems to be similar. T-Mobile also allows customers to put a down payment on a phone and then pay the cost overtime, and Edge seems to provide a similar solution.
Edge will also allow customers to upgrade to a new phone once the device if 50% paid off, and this seems to be similar to T-Mobile requiring users of the JUMP plan to have already paid 6 months of service for their current device.
In its on-going quest to re-create the way that people think about viewing television, Apple has proposed a TV ad skipping system for an upcoming service, according to reporter Jessica Lessin. As reported several times over the past couple of years, Apple has been seeking to bring a live (or on-demand) TV service to an upcoming product. However, it is unclear if this will be an entirely new display set or just an enhanced box.
In order to accomplish its TV goals, Apple has been talking with media companies about providing content for its upcoming TV-focused service. Over the years, Apple has discussed voice features, new interfaces, and more, but today’s report gives some insight into how Apple will work around ads. According to the report, Apple will allow users to skip ads, and Apple will reimburse these losses to the media companies:
A day following a minor OS X Mavericks Preview 3 update to correct an issue involving OS X’s Recovery Mode, Apple has pushed out an update to Mavericks users to resolve an issue for Macs that randomly reboot. Apple calls this update “Mavericks Preview 3 Graphics Update 1.0,” and it is available via the Mac App Store. Thanks, D!
AT&T has announced that it has come to agreement to acquire U.S. carrier Leap Wireless (which operates the Cricket brand) for $15 per share. The acquisition will cover all of Leap Wireless’s assets, expanding AT&T’s coverage to Leap’s 5 million subscribers.
Leap, notably, runs a pre-paid deal for iPhones in the U.S.
This move enhances AT&T’s spectrum, retail store count, employee number, and more, so it is likely a positive move for its wireless customers. It’s possible that this announcement is related to the upcoming press event AT&T has scheduled for July 16th.
Press release below:
This upcoming Friday and Saturday, Best Buy will hold an iPad trade-in-program, the company told AllThingsD. The promotion will give at least a $200 gift card in exchange for iPad 2s and third-generation iPads. The iPad-focused promotion is reportedly in response to the successful iPhone version that occurred last month.
Update: the Best Buy iPad Trade-in Sale has gone live, below:
Note: Your best trade-in bet might be at other locations like Amazon which starts iPad 2s at $210 or Gazelle where 9to5Mac readers get $10 off with this link.
Following T-Mobile’s new “Jump” plan announcement, and preceding AT&T’s forthcoming network-related announcement, U.S. carrier Sprint has announced new versions of its unlimited plans. The new service goes into effect tomorrow.
The first element of the new offering is a lifetime guarantee (for the life of your service line) to receive unlimited calling, texting, and data. Sprint has also introduced a new My Way plan, that starts at as little as $80 for unlimited usage, that allows flexibility and additional savings when it comes to multiple lines begin attached to the plan:
Apple has issued a minor bug fix update to both AirPort Utility on OS X and on iOS. The OS X Update is available via Software Update on the Mac App Store, while the iOS version is in the App Store on iOS and iTunes.
The update, on both platforms, is to squash a bug for AirPort Base Stations not begin recognized by the app. Apple, last month, pushed out AirPort Utility updates to add compatibility for the new 802.11ac AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsules.
In OS X Mavericks-specific news, Apple has pushed out an update to testers for the OS X Recovery function. Thanks, D!
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Gartner is today out with a report detailing its estimates for Q2 2013 global and U.S. PC shipments. Globally, the industry average for shipments is down 10.9%. This is the fifth consecutive decline for this specific metric.
“We are seeing the PC market reduction directly tied to the shrinking installed base of PCs, as inexpensive tablets displace the low-end machines used primarily for consumption in mature and developed markets,” said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner. “In emerging markets, inexpensive tablets have become the first computing device for many people, who at best are deferring the purchase of a PC. This is also accounting for the collapse of the mini notebook market.”
A week following the previous build, Apple has seeded build 12F20 of the upcoming OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 release to developers.
As with previous builds, Apple says there are no known issues, and the company asks developers to focus on WiFi, Graphics, Wake from Sleep, PDF viewing and accessibility, and Mobile Device Management.
The update is available for developers with older builds of 10.8.5 installed via Software Update in the Mac App Store. It is also available via the Developer Center.
Thanks, D!
Over the past few years, several reports have claimed that Apple is in talks with display makers like Sharp to implement IGZO screens inside of iOS Devices like iPads and iPhones. As thin and light devices, it makes sense that Apple would want to implement the ultra-thin and power efficient IGZO panels. At IFA Berlin last year, we had some hands-on time with an IGZO display, and we explained the benefits for small devices:
They can be built with under a 2 mm bezel. That means companies like Apple will be able to increase the size of displays on mobile devices while keeping the overall size of the device as compact as possible.
We also discussed the pluses in terms of power efficiency:
Sharp was showing off the benefits of low-power consumption with its IGZO displays by demoing the technology’s ability to consume one-fifth to one-tenth of the power consumed by a-Si displays. IGZO consumes less power for both backlight and driving the panel itself, allowing for longer lasting and smaller batteries in mobile devices.
Today, Korea IT News reports that talks between Apple and display manufactures for iPads based on IGZO displays are continuing. More surprising for the imminent product roadmap, however, are claims that Apple will also extend the technology to MacBook displays in the first half of 2014. Over the past few years, with the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, Apple has touted its ability to ship ultra-thin, high-resolution panels in its notebooks. IGZO displays, for the reasons explained above, could take this to the next level.
Also interesting in today’s report is that LG is apparently readying IGZO panels for Apple. This would seemingly be the first evidence of LG’s foray into IGZO display production.
Accordingly, Sharp is sinking its teeth into raising the production of IGZO panels; LG Display is upgrading its AM OLED and LCD production lines to ones capable of rolling out IGZO panels.
Sharp, who is currently a leader in IGZO display production, is also (unsurprisingly) still involved with Apple. Apple tends to want multiple part suppliers involved when it is building new products, so perhaps Apple has pushed its partner to help out on the IGZO end.