Live Coverage of Apple's October 2014 iPad and Mac Event Posted: 16 Oct 2014 08:19 AM PDT Just over a month after it introduced the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch, Apple is back with another media event where it is expected to show off new iPads, new iMacs including high-resolution Retina displays on some models, and likely a final look at OS X Yosemite before its imminent public launch.
Today's event is being held at the Town Hall auditorium on Apple's Cupertino headquarters campus and begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time. Apple will be providing a live video stream on its website for Mac and iOS users and via Apple TV. Live Video Stream of Apple's October 2014 iPad and Mac Media Event In addition, we will be updating this article with summary coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the event unfolds. Highlights and separate news stories regarding the event announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account. Apple's online stores around the world are currently down in advance of the event. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple Providing Live Video of Today's iPad and Mac Event on Apple TV Posted: 16 Oct 2014 02:45 AM PDT Ahead of today's special iPad and Mac event, Apple has made its "Apple Events" channel available on the Apple TV.
In addition to live streaming on the Apple TV, Apple will also be streaming the event live on its website. In order to watch the stream, users will need to be running Safari on Mac or iOS. Apple is expected to introduce a number of new products at the event, including the iPad Air 2, the next-generation Retina iPad mini, and new iMacs with at least the 27-inch model sporting a high-resolution Retina display. An update published in error to the company's iPad User Guide for iOS 8 revealed some details about the new iPads which will feature a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Apple is also expected to preview OS X Yosemite one final time before its official launch, and some rumors have even claimed that the company may announce updated Mac Minis. Apple's keynote kicks off at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, and MacRumors will also be providing a live blog and live tweets via the MacRumorsLive Twitter account. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Google Debuts Nexus 6 Phone, Nexus 9 Tablet, and Nexus Media Player Posted: 15 Oct 2014 05:16 PM PDT Just a day ahead of Apple's own iPad event that will see it introducing a range of new products including new iPads and a Retina iMac, Google has unveiled its next version of Android and three new Nexus devices, including the 5.9-inch Nexus 6 smartphone, the 8.9-inch Nexus 9 tablet, and the Nexus Player, an Apple TV-style set-top box that comes equipped with a gamepad (sold separately). Google's new Nexus 6 will be one of the biggest "phablets" on the market, and at 5.96-inches, it's even larger than Apple's recently introduced iPhone 6 Plus, which measures in at 5.5-inches. The phone features a 493 ppi AMOLED Quad HD display and a 13-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, a feature Apple offers with its larger iPhone 6 Plus. It also includes a Quad-Core 2.7Ghz Snapdragon 805 processor, a 2-megapixel front facing camera, dual front facing speakers, and a 3220 mAh battery. The Nexus 6's battery can be recharged using Motorola's Turbo Charge technology, which provides up to six hours of battery life from a 15 minute charge. Available in midnight blue or cloud white for $649 unlocked, the phone comes equipped with 32 or 64GB of internal storage. The Nexus 9 tablet, designed in collaboration with HTC, is Google's answer to the iPad Air and the Retina iPad mini. Coming in at 8.9-inches, it is sized between Apple's two tablets and features a thin bezel, brushed aluminum sides, and a nine hour battery life. Like Apple's iPhones, it comes in black, gold, and white, and it features a 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 2.3Ghz processor.
Both the Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet will ship with Android 5.0, aka Lollipop. Lollipop includes 5,000 new APIs and features "Material Design," to provide a consistent experience across a range of different devices. Lollipop lets users mute incoming calls and notifications with a new feature similar to Apple's built-in "Do Not Disturb" function, and there's a battery saver feature that can extend battery life by up to 90 minutes. Lollipop also supports multiple user accounts, a popular feature iOS users have hoped that Apple would implement. Along with the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9, Google has unveiled a new set-top box, the Nexus Player, which is the first device that runs Android TV. Designed in collaboration with ASUS, the round hockey puck-style Nexus Player is designed to compete with the Apple TV, serving as a streaming media player for movies, music, and videos.
Google's Nexus 6 smartphone will be available for preorder beginning on October 29, while the Nexus 9 tablet and the Nexus Player will be available for preorder beginning on October 17. Android 5.0 Lollipop will be available on all three devices and on the Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10, and Google Play edition devices "in the coming weeks." Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Retailer and Credit Card Internal Training Info Suggests October 20 Apple Pay Launch Date Posted: 15 Oct 2014 03:39 PM PDT Apple's new mobile payments service, Apple Pay, may be enabled shortly after its Thursday iPad-centric media event, according to internal information leaked from various retailers and credit card companies. Employees that work for one of Apple's major Apple Pay credit card partners have already finished their Apple Pay training and have been told that the payments service will be released on Monday, October 20, according to an employee who shared the information with MacRumors.
Panera, like many other Apple retail partners, is currently training its employees on how to accept Apple Pay payments through the company's Verifone point-of-sale-systems. Panera has provided a short training video for managers and cashiers, along with an FAQ and talking points. Last week, an internal memo addressed to Walgreens employees suggested that Apple was planning to launch Apple Pay on October 18, so it is a bit unclear when Apple Pay will actually go live for consumers. A weekend debut is an odd choice for Apple, lending credence to the Monday, October 20 date. USAA, one of Apple's bank partners, has said that it plans to begin supporting Apple Pay on November 7, suggesting that retailers and banks will begin rolling out support for the service at different times. Whether planned for October 18 or October 20, the launch of Apple Pay appears to be imminent, and as Apple Pay will be enabled via an update to iOS 8, the launch of iOS 8.1 is also coming in the next few days. First seeded to developers in late September, iOS 8.1 contains hidden references to Apple Pay. Apple Pay's exact debut date will likely be revealed during Apple's October 16 media event, which will see the company introducing a new iPad Air, a new Retina iPad mini and a Retina iMac. Both of Apple's new iPads include support for Touch ID and will allow users to make purchases within apps using Apple Pay. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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HBO to Introduce Standalone Web-Only Subscriptions in 2015 Posted: 15 Oct 2014 03:08 PM PDT Popular premium cable channel HBO has announced plans to introduce a web-only subscription service designed for cable cutters in the coming months. According to HBO CEO Richard Plepler, who spoke at an investor presentation (via Re/code ), the company will begin offering standalone HBO service that does not require a cable subscription in 2015.
HBO's decision to offer a standalone subscription is a major victory for cord cutters and the first major shift away from cable-only access to premium content. Cable companies like Time Warner and Comcast have been highly resistant to piecemeal pricing and companies like HBO have been reluctant to shift away from traditional cable delivery models in order to avoid upsetting existing revenue streams.
Early rumors suggested Apple was aiming for an a la carte subscription television service that would replace existing cable packages, but the company eventually scaled back on its TV ambitions and is now said to be working with cable companies on a deal that would see it providing cable content overlaid with an Apple TV-style interface. According to Plepler, HBO will work with "current partners" on its upcoming standalone service, which possibly suggests that the web-only version may allow Apple TV users to access HBO content on their set-top boxes without a cable subscription, but details on the product are scarce at this time. It is not clear if the standalone service will be the same as the service provided to cable subscribers who opt for HBO, but presumably, the deal will give those who purchase the web-only subscription access to the company's most popular shows like "Game of Thrones" and "True Detective." Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Posted: 15 Oct 2014 02:33 PM PDT Tomorrow's iPad-centric event may see Apple divulging more details on its upcoming payment service, including a release date. Ahead of the event, we've updated our Apple Pay roundup with an in-depth explanation of how Apple Pay works, the security behind the technology, Apple's partners, a prospective release date, and more. If you've got questions on Apple Pay, make sure to take a look at the roundup. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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AT&T No Longer Offering Beats Music Subscriptions to Customers Posted: 15 Oct 2014 01:18 PM PDT AT&T is no longer offering Beats Music subscriptions to its subscribers as an add-on service, according to an AT&T employee who spoke to MacRumors. The cellular company has ceased giving customers the option to sign up for Beats Music when purchasing a new phone plan and the Beats Music website has been updated to remove its "Subscribe with AT&T" options. AT&T employees have also been instructed to stop selling Beats Music subscriptions to customers, suggesting the partnership between Beats Music and AT&T has come to an end following Apple's Beats acquisition.
AT&T subscription options formerly offered on the Beats Music Pricing page Beats Music and AT&T first struck an exclusive deal shortly before the service's initial debut, with AT&T offering multiple Beats Music subscription options, including a family pack that allowed users to share Beats Music with up to five family members. AT&T also offered extended trial periods of up to 90 days and promoted the music service to customers both online and in-store. It's likely the deal between Beats Music and AT&T has ended due to Apple's $3 billion purchase of both Beats Music and Beats Electronics in May, but it is unclear why AT&T has been able to continue to offer Beats Music subscriptions up until October. Rumors have suggested that Apple has plans to rebrand Beats Music, and its upcoming retooling may also be the reason behind the dissolution of the AT&T partnership. Along with changing the Beats Music name, Apple is said to be planning to introduce new features and it is also hoping to offer the service at a lower cost, asking music labels to cut their rates. It is unknown when Apple plans to reveal its revamped music service, but rumors have hinted that its debut could come alongside the 2015 Grammy Awards in February, which means that Apple engineers and designers are likely already hard at work on the rebranding. Update: Reached for comment, an AT&T spokesman gave the following statement:
Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Posted: 15 Oct 2014 12:41 PM PDT Apple is holding a media event tomorrow where it is expected to introduce a new 27-inch Retina iMac. Details are scarce, but find out what we know in our updated iMac roundup. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Mac Apps With OS X Yosemite-Specific Features Begin Hitting the App Store Posted: 15 Oct 2014 12:16 PM PDT Ahead of tomorrow's media event that will likely see Apple previewing OS X Yosemite one last time ahead of the software's public release, apps that contain support for Yosemite-only features have begun hitting the Mac App Store. PCalc , a popular calculator app for Mac, for example, has been updated with full support for OS X Yosemite, offering a Notification Center Widget and Handoff capabilities.
OS X Yosemite introduces a system-wide redesign that brings a flatter, more modern look to OS X, with a heavy emphasis on translucency. The update includes a redesigned dock, a new look for windows, and a new "Dark Mode" option. Along with a redesign, Yosemite also offers a range of new features, such as improved integration with iOS 8 through Continuity, a new "Today" view in the Notification Center that offers integration with third-party apps, a retooled Spotlight search with new data sources, and several new features for key apps like Mail, Safari, and Messages. Like OS X Mavericks, OS X Yosemite will be available to all Mac users as a free download. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Christian Bale in Talks to Star in Sony's Steve Jobs Film Posted: 15 Oct 2014 12:02 PM PDT Actor Christian Bale is in talks to play the leading role in the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic being produced by Sony, reports Variety . Leonardo DiCaprio was originally in talks to play Jobs, but withdrew from negotiations earlier this month. Penned by Aaron Sorkin, the Steve Jobs biopic was originally set to be directed by "The Social Network" director David Fincher, who was said to be in talks with Sony earlier this year, but the director title went to Danny Boyle instead, who also directed the hit movie "Slumdog Millionaire."
Ashton Kutcher famously starred as Steve Jobs in the "JOBS" movie that focused on the former Apple CEO's younger years, but the Sony film will be quite different, using material from Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography. The film, which has yet to receive a release date, will focus on three separate 30-minute scenes depicting three of Apple's product launches. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple's iPad User Guide for iOS Confirms iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3 With Touch ID [Updated] Posted: 15 Oct 2014 10:09 AM PDT Apple appears to have mistakenly updated its iPad User Guide for iOS 8 [Direct Link] with screenshots that divulge details on the company's upcoming iPad updates. The screenshots, designed for Apple's iOS 8.1 update to the User Guide, suggest new iPads referred to as the "iPad mini 3" and the "iPad Air 2" are coming tomorrow.
The iPad Air 2 has also been rumored to include a design that does away with the mute switch, but a rear-facing screenshot is not available to confirm that particular design change. The new mini will, however, continue to have a mute switch. Information included within the guide suggests the iPad Air 2 will be receiving an improved camera with support for Burst Mode images.
Update 11:45 AM: Apple has reverted the screenshots on the listing to match the currently available iOS 8 version of the guide. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Apple to Cease Selling Fitbit Activity Tracking Devices in Stores Posted: 15 Oct 2014 09:36 AM PDT Apple has plans to stop selling Fitbit's line of activity tracking devices in its stores as it prepares to launch its own Apple Watch in the coming months, reports Re/code . While it is not known why Apple plans to cease selling Fitbit products, its decision comes shortly after Fitbit told its users that it had no plans to integrate with Apple's HealthKit at the current time, as it was "working on other exciting projects" for its users.
Apple sells many other types of fitness tracking devices both in its online store and in retail locations, including the UP from Jawbone and the Nike Fuelband, and it is unclear whether Apple will continue to sell these devices or if the ban is limited to Fitbit. Fitbit's activity trackers won't be the first products Apple has stopped selling in recent weeks. Just last week, news surfaced that Apple was preparing to remove Bose audio products from its stores. While the reason for that removal was unclear, it was likely related to Apple's recent Beats Electronics acquisition. Apple has indeed gone ahead and started removing the headphones from its retail stores according to both Twitter users and tips received by MacRumors. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Thursday, 16 October 2014
MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors
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