[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYbSkAsYEME&channel=TechRax] You may have seen those images and videos (like the one above) floating around the web in the past…
PSA: Don’t microwave your iPhone
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How much does it cost to charge the iPhone 6 for a year? Less than you might think
via Opower
Some new numbers from the Opower blog have revealed how much you can expect to spend when charging your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. At average U.S. energy prices, the cost comes in at a mere $.47 per year for the smaller 4.7-inch device. The 5.5-inch model will run a little extra due to its larger battery, coming in at just over half a dollar for a total of $.52 per year on average. As you might expect, this year’s larger devices will cost a little more than the smaller iPhone 5, which cost only $.41 per year.
According to the blog, adding up the energy used by each of the 10 million units sold over opening weekend would come out to less power than the entire state of Nebraska uses in 12 hours. By comparison, a typical desktop computer uses about 41x the power of an iPhone 6, while Microsoft’s Xbox One console uses has much as 61x as much energy.
As was pointed out last week, while charging your device may be fairly inexpensive, it can cost you a lot of unnecessary time if you’re using the charger that ships with it.
You can find more facts and figures about the new iPhone’s power consumption over at the Opower blog.
Apple releases iOS 8.0.2 to address cellular and Touch ID issues in previous update
Apple has finally released iOS 8.0.2 to address the issues discovered in yesterday’s 8.0.2 update on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The new release includes all of the HealthKit and keyboard fixes, among others, as well as the ability to actually make phone calls and connect to a cellular data network.
Apple said yesterday that the update was coming “in a few days” and instructed users to downgrade to version 8.0 while awaiting the fix. The new update is rolling out now and can be found in the over-the-air software updater built into iOS.
Apple told CNBC that “less than 40,000 devices” were affected by the buggy release. The change log is below:
The quality assurance manager responsible for iOS 8.0.1 also oversaw—you guessed it—Apple Maps
Bloomberg has uncovered details of what went wrong at Apple and who is to blame for the botched release of the iOS 8.0.1 update yesterday, citing sources who point to a quality assurance manager in charge of overseeing iOS updates who also managed QA for the Apple Maps project before its launch. To quote Bloomberg:
The same person at Apple was in charge of catching problems before both products were released. [redacted], the mid-level manager overseeing quality assurance for Apple’s iOS mobile-software group, was also in charge of quality control for maps, according to people familiar with Apple’s management structure.
According to the report, this was also the individual responsible for hunting down any crucial bugs in the iOS 6 Maps software, which debuted to a chorus of negative reviews and bad press.
Apple provides a look inside its iPhone stress-testing facility following ‘bendgate’ controversy
via The Verge
After a few YouTube videos hit the web claiming that the iPhone 6 Plus could be easily bent out shape in a user’s pocket, Apple addressed the issue by stating that the device was designed to meet its quality requirements and that only a handful of owners had complained about any issues. To further prove its commitment to building solid devices, Apple gave journalists access to the lab where it tests the build quality of its iPhones.
In a tour of the facility guided by SVP of Hardware Engineering Dan Riccio, reporters were given an in-depth look at how each new generation of the iPhone is tested to ensure that it can endure all of the rigors of daily life. Each device the company makes—including its notebook computers—is put through thousands of rounds of testing that simulates everything from twisting the device to flexing the screen, or sitting on a bench with the phone in the back pocket of your skinny jeans.
Video and more photos below:
Apple publishes new support article with instructions on downgrading from iOS 8.0.1, says update coming soon
Earlier today Apple released what would quickly be revealed to be an extremely broken update for iOS 8 that resulted in a complete loss of cellular connectivity and Touch ID support on its newest line of iPhones. Now, nearly twelve hours after the update went live, the company has published a new help document for users stranded on the faulty operating system.
The document lists the steps for restoring a device back to iOS 8.0 with links to download the appropriate IPSW file. Interestingly, the page notes that the Health application will stop working, likely due to changes that were made in 8.0.1 and cannot be reverted to work on the older firmware. The notice also points out that it is crucial to back up your device in the iTunes app for Mac or PC rather than to iCloud, as iCloud-based backups will not restore to the older version.
Video of Rex Chapman’s Apple Store thefts surface as the former NBA player heads to court
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vzCrL4iRl0]
Last week we brought you the story of former NBA player Rex Chapman’s arrest on charges of stealing $14,000 in merchandise from several Apple Retail Stores in Scottsdale, Arizona. Today Chapman appeared in court (via Engadget), facing multiple felony charges for trafficking in stolen property and organized retail theft.
The video of Chapman’s court appearance is above, but below you’ll find video of several instances in which Chapman stole products from the Apple Store after pretending he had checked out through the store’s EasyPay system.
Chapman will return to court on Friday.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykhtDHGW-gc]
Apple invites AppleSeed users to participate in AirDrop ‘test fest’ in preparation for Yosemite release next month
Apple has invited a number of non-developer users to participate in what it’s calling an “AirDrop Test Fest” to help fix bugs in the over-the-air file sharing system, according to users who have gotten the invite. Users who have been invited will find a notice inside the Feedback Assistant application included with the public beta of the upcoming OS X Yosemite.
Users who have been invited to participate are provided with a set of guidelines for testing the feature. According to the notice, users will need two Macs capable of running Yosemite and AirDrop, or one Mac running Yosemite and one running Mavericks to test the “legacy” feature. An iOS device isn’t required to participate, indicating that the focus will be on Mac-to-Mac transfers rather than cross-platform ones.
iPhone 6 (and 5s) found less bendy than iPhone 6 Plus
Earlier this week it was revealed that if you bend your iPhone 6 Plus, it will bend. This shocking news took the world by storm, but left some people wondering if other phones would also flex under pressure. To answer the question, YouTuber Unbox Therapy attempted to repeat his earlier experiment with iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, HTC One M8, newest Moto X, and Nokia Lumia.
After applying roughly the same force to each of these handsets, he discovered that the iPhone 6 Plus was in fact more flexible than the rest. The Moto X ended up coming out top of the pack, with next to no flexibility at all. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 was also found to be much less “bendy” than the larger model, though it did get a very small curve with enough force.
You can check out the video of all five phones being tested below:
Adobe announces Photoshop and Premiere Elements 13 with ‘Guided Edits’ and more
Image via Engadget
Adobe has announced its next major upgrades to its popular Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements applications, with each being bumped up to version 13.
Both apps add new editing features, such as “photomerge compose” for lifting subjects from one photo and quickly moving them into another with proper lighting and other effects. New cropping tools allow you to automatically compose perfectly cropped by detecting faces and other details and determining how to best frame them in the shot.
Apple debuts new iPhone 6 print ads featuring actual-size images of the phones
via The Mac Observer
Apple is continuing the new round of advertising it kicked off with last night’s new iPhone 6 TV spots, this time making the jump to print media. The new ad was first detailed by The Mac Observer and features full-size images of both the iPhone 6 and its 5.5-inch “Plus” counterpart.
Though the two new handsets sold over 10 million units in the first weekend of availability, there are certainly still customers out there wondering which device will fit them better. The ad is a clever way to let people go “hands on” with the phones without even having to drive to an Apple Store.
Apple airs new iPhone 6 ads “Huge” and “Cameras” featuring Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3uAoeQBpcQ]
Apple has started airing two new iPhone 6 ads starring the duo of Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake. Tim Cook unveiled two ads starring the pair during the iPhone 6 announcement earlier this month with ads that focused on the Health application and size of the phone.
The new ads, dubbed “Huge” (above) and “Cameras” (below) started hitting airwaves tonight and focus once again on the size of the display and the upgraded cameras with enhanced image stabilization, slow-motion and time-lapse capabilities.
New two-factor authentication app Lockdown launches with iCloud syncing, recovery code storage, and more
A new iOS app for managing two-factor authentication keys called Lockdown launched this weekend with a set of unique features like the ability to sync your keys over iCloud with other devices (including an upcoming Mac counterpart). Accounts in the app will also be backed up along with your phone’s data so that you can restore the keys back to a new device, which isn’t possible with other two-factor apps.
Of course, while backing up the keys and syncing them with iCloud provide an increased level of convenience, it’s important to remember that those can also lead to a reduced level of security in some cases. It’s important to balance security with convenience when dealing with something like two-factor authentication, and thankfully Lockdown’s developer recognizes this. All data on the device or backed up to iCloud is encrypted whether it’s in transit or stored on the device or server.
Sites that use two-factor authentication typically also use backup codes for logging into your account in case you lose access to your device. Lockdown offers the ability to store these backup codes right in the app. While that’s an excellent convenience feature, it does somewhat defeat the purpose of the codes. If you’ve stored them only in Lockdown and then lose your phone, you won’t have access to those codes, and thus won’t be able to log into your account. So while this is a handy feature, it’s critical that you store these codes in a secondary location that isn’t on your phone as well.
The developer has told 9to5Mac that an update has been submitted to Apple which includes new features such as support for using Touch ID to protect the application. A Safari extension is planned for a later release to make logging into sites through the phone’s built-in browser even easier.
You can grab Lockdown on the iOS App Store for $3.99.
In line with previous rumors, Apple said to be preparing iPad Air 2 for October launch
As has been previously rumored, Apple is said to be preparing for an October event to introduce an updated model of the iPad Air, according to the Commercial Times. Though earlier rumors of an event on October 21st have been shot down, there are still plenty of other days in October that Apple could hold the event.
In fact, the company is already expected to announce and release OS X Yosemite next month, as indicated by notes on the iOS 8 website stating that the “SMS Relay” feature (which requires OS X 10.10) will be available at that time.
This jailbreak tweak will make your iPhone scream when you drop it
A new jailbreak tweak called Freefall monitors your phone’s accelerometer and plays the infamous Wilhelm Scream when you drop it….
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus support faster charging, but ship with slower power adapter
Update: We’ve rounded up some nice 2.1A AC/Car charger and battery upgrade options for the iPhone 6/Plus
Apple has apparently enabled much faster battery charging in the newest iPhone models, but you’d never know it if you only use the included power adapter. According to a change in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus discovered by iLounge, both of the new smartphones are equipped with the hardware to support 2.1A charging.
The problem? Apple only includes a 1A charger in the box. If you’ve been using that AC power adapter to recharge your phone, there’s a much faster way to do it. Since the iPad has long supported 2.1A charging, you can grab a charger for the Apple tablet and use that to achieve a much quicker charge.
Another way to benefit from this new capability is to plug your iPhone directly into a newer-model Mac, which will charge it at the appropriate speed. iLounge noted that the Macs tested for this feature were running Yosemite with no mention of OS X Mavericks, so it’s possible that the change may require the upcoming OS, which is currently is public beta.
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Former NBA player stole $14,000 in Apple Store merchandise by pretending to checkout with EasyPay
Image via <a href="https://twitter.com/azfamily/status/513110136039043072/" target="_blank">KTVK</a>
Former NBA player Rex Chapman was arrested today on nine counts of organized retail theft and five counts of trafficking stolen property after police discovered that he had stolen over $14,000 worth of merchandise from a Scottsdale, Arizona Apple Store, according to CBS Sports.
According to police, Chapman managed to get away with so much loot by pretending he was using the iPhone-based EasyPay system, which allows customers to check themselves out through the Apple Store application without the assistance of an employee. Except Chapman wasn’t actually scanning or paying for anything. He was just going through the motions.
After leaving the store, Chapman would then hit up a local pawn shop to offload the pilfered products at a profit.
During his 12-year NBA career, Chapman became the first player to ever sign to the Charlotte Hornets, then played for Washington, Miami, and Phoenix before retiring in 2000.
Analytics data shows Apple is delivering far more iPhone 6 units than 6 Plus
New data released by mobile analytics firm MixPanel (via TechCrunch) has revealed a trend in adoption rates of the 4.7-inch iPhone versus the 5.5-inch model. According to the report, the smaller model appears to be outperforming the larger one is deliveries today, and by no small margin. While the larger model has claimed about .30% of hits in MixPanel’s survey, the smaller version has achieved an impressive 2.46%.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the 4.7-inch version is outselling its counterpart by such a large gap, if at all. It’s entirely possible (though unlikely) that more of the larger version have been sold or ordered overall, but weren’t available for delivery or in retail stores today. Of course, this makes a lot of sense given the ongoing reports of extremely limited iPhone 6 Plus supplies both in retail stores and online, even during the pre-order phase.
Out-of-warranty iPhone 6 and 6 Plus repair prices now available on Apple.com
Now that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are available to the public, Apple has released pricing information for any repairs you might need (though hopefully you won’t need any so soon). As usual, the prices are broken up into two categories.
The first is the price for repairing or replacing a broken display. This price is the same for almost every model from the original iPhone forward: $129. However, there’s one exception to this pricing, and that’s the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, which can get fixed up for only $109.
The other price is the cost for general repairs. For these cases, you’ll need to pay $299 for an iPhone 6 or $329 for an iPhone 6 Plus.
Of course, each iPhone comes with a one-year limited warranty, so you shouldn’t need to rely on these prices anytime soon. Customers who have AppleCare are also covered for up to two repair incidents with a fee of $79 for each. Once those options are exhausted you’ll be charged the regular out-of-warranty pricing.
iFixit begins live teardown of iPhone 6 Plus, revealing 2915 mAh battery
In keeping with tradition, iFixit has started its live teardown of the latest iPhone hardware (an iPhone 6 Plus in this case), revealing all of the device’s internal components for the first time. So far we’ve already seen a 2915 mAh battery, which provides the increased battery life in the much larger of the two models.
The company will likely teardown the smaller iPhone 6 once the Plus model has been fully disected. You can follow along as the company discovers what makes the new handsets tick over on iFixit.com. We’ll keep this post updated as they add new information.
Customers start lining up around the world as the iPhone 6 goes on sale (Photos and videos)
iPhone buyers have already started lining up around the world to wait for the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which just went on sale in Australian stores. From Perth, Australia to Fort Worth, Texas, hundreds of customers have already appeared outside Apple Stores and other retailers eager to get their hands on the new device.
Most Apple retail stores wll be opening at 8 AM local time. If you’re hoping to grab an iPhone 6 Plus, you may already be out of luck at many locations, as reports of very, very limited stock have been coming in.
Check out the photos and tweets from customers already in line. You can also send photos of the line at your local Apple Store to tips@9to5mac.com.
Tim Cook reiterates commitment to user privacy and security in letter on Apple website, launches new security page
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook has published a letter (below) on the company’s website expressing his commitment to the privacy and security of iOS and Mac users. Cook says that he will now issue annual updates on how user data is being handled, and the company will become even more transparent how its data collection tactics.
The executive also reiterated previous claims that neither he nor any part of the company has collaborated with governments to provide access to user information, noting again that Apple does not read users’ email, iMessages, and other communications. He also pointed out that there is no “profile” being created about user browsing habits or other data points that often interest advertisers.
Apple releases OS X Mavericks 10.9.5, includes reliability fixes for VPN connections and SMB servers
Apple has finally released OS X 10.9.5 for users on OS X Mavericks. While many of today’s software updates from the company are iOS 8 compatibility updates, 10.9.5 features only a handful of fixes and updates, including more reliable VPN connections when using a USB smart card and improved SMB server support.
Safari 7.0.6 is also listed in the change notes, but that update was released to the public last month.
You can grab this release from the Updates tab in the Mac App Store. It’s a free download for all users.
iMovie for iOS updated with iOS 8 support, video filters, clip speed settings, and more
Update: Apple seems to have temporarily pulled this update in order to fix widely-reported crashes. It will likely be available again soon.
Update 2: It’s back now.
Apple has pushed out an updated version of iMovie for iOS (version 2.1) today that features support for the newly-released iOS 8 software and several other new features. The update includes 10 new Apple-designed filters that can be applied to your clips, speed settings for projects on newer iOS devices (iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and Retina iPad mini), as well as iCloud Drive support.
You can also now export your videos to other apps using iOS 8’s inter-app connectivity features. An iMovie extension for the Photos application allows you to enhance the videos in your camera roll without leaving the app. Titles can now be created with bi-directional text, and support for five languages has been added.