Following today’s keynote address, during which Apple’s executive team provided more details on the availabilty of the Apple Watch, journalists were given the chance to take the company’s first wearable device for a test drive. We’ve rounded up many of the hands-on videos from those who attended the event below…
Apple today announced the latest addition to its MacBook lineup, the 12-inch Retina MacBook, and many members of the press were able to go hands-on with the new machine after the event. We’ve collected some of the best videos below to give you a better look at the new machine.
The iOS 8.2 update released today introduced support for the Apple Watch to the iPhone and iPad. The app reveals some details about the device unmentioned at the keynote event today. For example, the app reveals how users will pair their watches with their phones using the iPhone’s camera…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibklpzKai-o&ab_channel=Apple]
After debuting two new videos about the aluminum and stainless steel Apple Watches during today’s keynote event, the Cupertino electronics maker published both videos to its website and YouTube channel, along with a third that was skipped during the presentation which explains the process behind the gold Apple Watch Edition.
The Apple Online Store is back online after going down for Apple’s Spring Forward event today. The upcoming Apple Watch is now listed on the store, allowing users to create their own look and see how much it will cost them ahead of the pre-orders and live in-store previews start next month. Watch bands and accessories are also listed, though they won’t be available until April.
The new MacBook is also on the store, though custom configuration options don’t seem to be showing up just yet.
Apple announced today during its Spring Forward event that the Apple Watch will get “all-day battery.” To be more exact, CEO Tim Cook specified that the wearable device will get 18 hours on a single charge, confirming reports from 9to5Mac’s own sources last week.
You can keep up with 9to5Mac’s Spring Forward news hub for all the latest details on today’s event.
Eddy Cue took some time today to show off Apple Pay at Oracle Arena in Oakland and oversee the rollout of the payment system at the stadium. Cue showed up to the event wearing a stainless steel model of the Apple Watch and provided some more details on how Apple Pay will work with it.
The executive explained that transactions made using the wearable device won’t require Touch ID or PIN code authorization, as long as the watch is unlocked and near its paired iPhone. The phone unlocks the watch, so there’s no need to confirm your identity again. To trigger the Apple Pay transaction, you just needs to double tap the button on the side of the device.
Image via ZDNet
Windows users are likely already familiar with the adware that’s usually bundled with Oracle’s Java software, but for Mac users that annoyance has been mostly avoided. Unfortunately, ZDNet reports that today Oracle has updated its Java installer to include the Ask toolbar on OS X.
The installation process automatically changes users’ browser homepage to the nearly useless Ask.com, which is populated by ads and mostly irrelevant results. The software also installs an Ask browser toolbar. Since these changes are made by default during Java installation, those who don’t want these “useful” changes made to their computers will need to manually deselect the option during Java installation.
The changes seem to affect both Safari and Google’s Chrome browser. It may also impact some other third-party browsers. Even if you do install the adware, it should be fairly simple to remove the toolbar through your browser’s extension manager and change your home page back.
Last month 9to5Mac reported that Apple had invited high-profile developers to its Cupertino campus to participate in a workshop focused on finishing Apple Watch apps in time for the device’s debut in April. Today Bloomberg has published a report corroborating that claim.
Bloomberg has also provided some additional details about how the program works. Developers from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and more have been given a chance to take part in these workshops to perfect their software ahead of the official Apple Watch launch.
When Apple launched its iPhone 5 battery replacement program last year, the company said that it would accept devices for replacement up to two years after purchase. Because the devices with the faulty batteries were sold between September 2012 and January 2013, two years from that date range would have given buyers until January 2015 (or March 1st, 2015, according to the page) to get their devices swapped.
However, as spotted by iPhone in Canada, Apple today updated the copy on the page to state that replacements would be accepted for an additional year. The page now says that users may return their defective units until three years after the date of purchase, pushing the end date for the program back to January 2016 for those who bought their phones near the end of the time when affected models were sold.
Since only certain phones were impacted by this problem, users will need to plug their iPhone’s serial number into Apple’s support page to find out if they qualify for a replacement.
Following up on today’s report that the 12.9-inch iPad has been pushed back to September, the Wall Street Journal claims tonight that the hardware features for the device are still in flux. According to this latest rumor, Apple is considering adding USB 3.0 ports to the tablet to allow users to connect external devices.
We’ve already heard that the company may be planning to build its first external input device for the “iPad Pro,” but this is the first time we’ve heard that there may be plans in the works to support the connection of additional peripherals.
As unbelievable as it seems, the report even suggests that Apple will allow the connection of mice and keyboards.
The 12.9-inch “iPad Pro” that was expected to make its first public appearance around April before being pushed back to Q2 has been postponed yet again, a new Bloomberg report says. The new release date is reportedly some time in September, right around the next-gen iPhone launch.
This delay is said to be the result of display panel supply problems…
Last month a developer managed to hack together a solution that enabled iPhone users to see their notifications on Google’s Android-powered wearable operating system, but at the moment there is no official way to use the two competing platforms together. That could change at Google’s annual I/O conference later this year, if new rumors are to be believed.
According to French tech blog 01Net, Google is developing an update to Android Wear that would enable it work with Apple’s iOS devices…
Electric car battery manufacturer A123 Systems is currently locked in a lawsuit with Apple over whether the latter poached employees from the former while building out its Project Titan team. Today Reuters reports that Apple is considering a settlement in the case.
Apple has asked for an extension on the time required to respond to the suit, telling the court that it is currently “exploring a potential resolution.” Of course, it’s hardly unexpected that the company should try to settle out of a potentially costly legal battle.
Apple reportedly wants to launc its electric car by the year 2020, and has been seen driving minivans equipped with cameras and computer equipment around in a few major cities, though that may or may not be related to the project. The electric car project has reportedly been in the works for about a year, with Apple offering big bonuses to Tesla employees who will jump ship and join the project that some say has Apple planning to “give Tesla a run for its money”.
The Apple Watch hasn’t shipped yet, but it’s already showing up on fashion magazine covers, and now it’s even winning design awards. The wearable device picked up the iF Design Gold award from the iF International Forum Design. The organization declared that the Cupertino-designed smartwatch is “already an icon.”
The idea of combining classic materials such as leather and metal with state-of-the-art technology to create a very individual fashion accessory has resulted in a delightful product offering a holistic user experience. The Apple Watch scores highly for each design detail and is an altogether extraordinary piece of design. For us, it is already an icon.
It’s not a big surprise that the Apple Watch won this specific award, however. Nearly every Apple product (we couldn’t find the iPhone 4 Bumper on the list) has won one, including most of the iPhone and iPad case the company has produced.
The Apple Watch ships in April in multiple (currently undisclosed) countries. Earlier today the company’s retail plans for pitching the watch to shoppers was revealed exclusively by 9to5Mac.
Accessory maker LunaTik today teased a new protective product for the upcoming Apple Watch. Not many features of the Epik Apple Watch Kit have been revealed, but the case is said to provide a level of water resistance that should allow you to use it while swimming, showering, or engaging in many other water-related activities.
Of course, Tim Cook recently said that the Apple Watch will be showerproof, which means the device may already have a similar level of water resistance. All will be revealed when all of the watch’s details are revealed on March 9th. The Apple Watch will go on sale in April, but no date has been given for the Epik kit.
Former Apple retail chief Ron Johnson is getting back into the fashion game. The man who helped shape the Cupertino company’s retail arm made the jump to become CEO of JCPenney after exiting Apple in 2011, but was eventually removed from his position there as well.
The undeterred Johnson announced today that he would be leading a $16 million round of funding in online women’s retailer Nasty Gal. Johnson has also been appointed to the retailer’s board of directors. Nasty Gal is currently in the process of launching its own physical stores, though it currently only has one location in Los Angeles.
Apple’s ex-exec recently helped raise $30 in funding for online shopping startup Enjoy, and was reported in late 2014 to be working on a gadget delivery service.
If you’re looking for a wallpaper based on Apple’s smartwatch event invitations (seen above), look no further. Reddit user astulz…
The Chinese government has removed several prominent US tech companies, including Apple, from its list of approved vendors for state purchases, Reuters reported today. The change is hardly unexpected following the government’s response to accusations several years ago that the US National Security Administration had been using backdoors in Apple products to spy on users.
Apple CEO Tim Cook will give the commencement address at George Washington University’s graduation ceremony this May, the school announced today. Cook, who will receive an honorary degree during the event, was selected after being suggested by GWU students.
The commencement will take place on May 17th on the National Mall. The full GWU press release is included below.
Last week it was announced that an upcoming episode of the ABC sitcom Modern Family had been filmed using only iOS devices, and the entire story would play out on the screen of a MacBook. Today the producers of the show provided BuzzFeed with a look at how the episode was shot.
In order to make it look like the actors were actually holding the devices—without actually handing them iPhones, which they would then misplace—the crew decided to have a cameraman manage the phone, while cast members kept one hand on the cameraman’s at all times to create the illusion that the phone was actually in their own hands.
Executive producer Steve Levitan also revealed in the segment that the show has previously worked iPhone footage into its episodes, usually in the absence of an actual TV camera. It seem the best camera really is the one you have with you.
Modern Family’s all-Apple episode will air Wednesday night.
A Texas jury has ordered Apple to pay out just under $533 million in a patent infringement case brought by Smartflash LLC regarding technology that the company said iTunes used without permission. Apple had attempted to argue that the patents were invalid. The court ruled in Smartflash’s favor, but chose not to award the entire $852 million the software maker was seeking.
The patents in question were related to “data storage and managing access through payment systems,” according to Bloomberg. Several game developers who took advantage of the tech settled out of court last year, leaving Apple to stand against Smartflash alone.
During a conference call with JPMorgan Chase investors today, executives announced that Chase Bank has activated over one million Apple Pay accounts since the service launched last year (via AppleInsider). The bank revealed some statistics about who’s using Apple Pay with their Chase cards, and how they’re using it.
Chase found that the average Apple Pay user is nine years younger and makes 21% more money than its average customers. Apple Pay users also used their credit cards more often, and were more likely to add a credit card than a debit card to their account.
Earlier this month Apple added support for 19 new banks, bringing the total number of financial institutions supporting Apple Pay to over eighty. Just a few weeks before that 15 additional banks were added to the lineup.
Audio software developer Camel Audio announced in January that it would be shutting down for good and removing its software from sale, but no one knew quite why. However, it now appears that the company has been acquired by Apple.
Today Camel Audio updated some of its corporate information, including its address and directors, as listed on the UK government’s Companies House website. The new address is 100 New Bridge Street in London, which also happens to be the address of Apple’s UK offices.