VLC Player App Is Coming To Apple TV 4

Apps for the Apple TV have become a reality and developers are jumping on the idea. All the media streaming apps that we all love to use on iOS are starting to announce that their apps will be making the jump to Apple TV and your big screen too. We have already heard that Plex will get its very own Apple TV app, and today we are delighted to report that VLC is also going to be made available on the new Apple TV 4.

The news was announced via a blog post, but VLC for Apple TV 4 doesn’t have a release date yet. We are also aware that the VLC development cycle is still in its early days, but the team behind the app have confirmed that it is already capable of playback. With the core functionality already there, and the Apple TV not yet available to buy, we can only hope that development of this app will speed up in order to have the VLC available on the TV OS App Store when the new Apple TV releases.

VLC is created by VideoLAN and is a free media player and streamer that has been around for a long time. It is available on all platforms and is often touted as the best media player available. It’s also free which makes it one of the first apps that people think of when looking for a media player. The personal media player Plex has already confirmed they will be on the TV OS App Store and with VLC in development, the Apple TV will be set to compete on a level playing field with the likes of the Amazon Fire Stick and the Roku.

The Apple TV 4 box will be available next month and the base costs for this new TV box will start at $149 for a 32GB model, increasing to $199 for a 64GB model. The new device features a newly designed OS, TV OS, with a dedicated App Store and Siri integration. It also comes with 2GB of RAM, improved WiFi, a new remote with a trackpad and motion tracking, and support for third-party Bluetooth game controllers. All in all, it sounds very exciting and we can’t wait to get our hands on it and test it out. What about you, what are you most looking forward to with the new Apple TV 4?

Apple Event Roundup: iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, iPad Pro, Apple TV and more

Apple held their annual event yesterday and put an end the rumors and speculations surrounding new product. Products that were introduced included the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Pro, iPad mini 4, a new Apple TV, and several new accessories. This turned out to be one of Apple’s more prolific events yet and below we have a roundup of everything that was announced plus a video of the entire event for those who missed it.

With so much new hardware and software announced yesterday there is so much excitement about what product to buy first. The iPad Pro was a big feature as was the new iPhone models. There was so much to take it that it was easy to lose track so below you will find a run-down of the new hardware and software.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

We already knew that two new iPhones were going to be introduced yesterday as this is something that we have become accustomed to. That being said the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s plus came with some great new features including 3D touch which is sure to be a massive selling point. You can see this demonstrated nicely in some amazing videos over on 9to5Mac.

Apple TV 4 with tvOS

Once again the rumors have been shown to be true and Apple finally announced a new Apple TV, complete with a redesigned interface, new remote, and more importantly, new apps. As part of this redesign a new operating system, dubbed tvOS was introducted. You can expect to see tvOS starting to receive updates along the same lines of iOS and WatchOS, with new functionality being added over time. The release date is set for October with prices starting at $149. Again check out the video at the end to see this new box in action as well as Siri being used to search for TV programs and more.

iPad Pro and iPad mini 4

So we finally have. Apple’s large 12.9 inch iPad Pro has been announced and it will ship in November. Some great accessories such as a Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil are being made available. This is something that a lot of people have been waiting for and we love it. Apple also announced the iPad mini 4 which is very similar in spec to the iPad Air 2. Check out the video and see the fabulous iPad Pro in action.

iOS 9, Watch OS 2, El Capitan Golden Masters and iOS 9.1 Beta

We were expecting iOS 9 to be announced as well as WatchOS 2. Both of these have entered the Golden Master Phase which means they are done and ready to be rolled out on September 16th. Also released was OSX El Capitan GM though no public release date was announced. For those with developer accounts, iOS 9.1 beta 1 is available to download now and this is expected to release in November when the iPad Pro starts shipping.

Apple Watch and More

New accessories for the Apple Watch were also announced and these included new Sport band colors, new leather bands and new Gold and Rose finishes for the Sport Model. Also announced was new storage prices for iCloud along with a brand new iPhone upgrade Program. This new upgrade program allows you to purchase an unlocked iPhone 6s or 6s Plus including Apple Care from as little as $30 per month over 24 months.

Out of the announcement yesterday we loved the iPad Pro. The new 3D Touch feature added to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus is really great too. We can’t wait for release dates to get our hands on these great new products. Which is your favorite? Be sure to check out the full keynote speech below and be sure to comment and let us know what you think.

This is What a Smaller iPhone 6c Might Look Like [Images]

It's been rumored that Apple is working on a smaller 4-inch iPhone 6c. Designer Martin Hajek has created renders that show what that device might look like.

Size does matter, but a smaller iPhone 6s…now that would be interesting! Based on my highly detailed 3D model of the iPhone 6 (you can download it here) I have had a closer look at a possible, smaller iPhone 6c.

Take a look at the images below and let us know what you think in the comments!

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iPad Pro Specs: What You Need To Know

Tomorrow is the big day and alongside the new iPhones, new Apple TV, new Apple Watch bands, and a gold version of the Apple Watch Sport, Apple also plans to debut a pair of new iPads. The larger of these will be the iPad Pro and the smaller is the new iPad mini. Since we mentioned the iPad Pro last week, we have been able to gather some more details about this device and we are happy to detail them below.

Unlike the early model iPads, which started at 16GB and were designed to appeal in both pricing and size, the iPad Pro looks to take things further. Even this model is going to have features that are befitting of such a name.

From reports that we have read it seems that the production of this new tablet is running slightly behind schedule. While Apple still plans to announce the device tomorrow, open up pre-orders in October, and begin shipping in November, we understands that the shipping may not begin until the end of November. Even then, we might find that there may be initial supply constraints.

We have also learned that the base model of the iPad Pro will most likely ship with 64GB of storage, which is a hell of a lot more than the mere 16GB that the base models of the iPad Air and iPad mini come with. Apple is also set to make a larger 128GB model available tool. The device will run on iOS 9.1. New iPhones will be made available in Rose Gold colors but the iPad Pro is likely to come only in Gold, Silver, and Space Grey to start off with.

Just like the iPad Air and iPad mini devices, the iPad Pro will be available with built-in LTE capabilities. We have been told that the pricing for the highest end iPad Pro with LTE chips will be similar to that of Apple’s latest MacBooks. As the iPad Pro will support a new Apple-designed Bluetooth keyboard, customer may have a tough choice in the $1,000+ price range when looking for either a large-sized iPad or a small-sized MacBook.

The larger screen of the iPad Pro will be a 12.9-inch display and to give it true “Pro” capabilities, the iPad Pro’s landscape split-screen mode will allow two full-sized portrait iPad apps to be displayed. This is unlike the split-screen mode on the iPad Air 2 and the upcoming iPad mini 4 that condenses the portrait iPad apps to fit side-by-side in landscape mode. The iPad Pro will come with an A9X chip and it will also have four stereo speakers, but a single lightning port on the bottom.

Finally, we have been told that Apple has decided not to bundle the iPad Pro with either the new Force Touch-integrated iPad stylus or keyboard. These accessories will be sold separately. We have been told that Apple has developed two different version of an iPad Pro keyboard attachment. One of these will double as a case while the other is similar to the existing Apple Wireless keyboard.

It still remains to be seen whether or not Apple will announce one or both of the new iPad models tomorrow but we will be waiting patiently to see what transpires and will be sure to bring you all the headlines and details as soon as they have been aired.

iPhone 6s to Feature Enhanced '3D Touch' Version of Force Touch

Apple will equip the upcoming iPhone 6s with next generation Force Touch capabilities, reports 9to5Mac. The new smartphone screen will likely be called a '3D Touch Display' and will detect three levels of touch.

While the MacBook trackpads and Apple Watch sense two levels of pressure, the differentiation between a tap and a press, the new iPhones will actually sense three levels of pressure: a tap, a press, and a deeper press, according to sources. The 3D Touch name is therefore derived from the new Force Touch sensor’s ability to sense three dimensions of pressure, rather than two.

The new display will allow for even more functionality and shortcuts than previously expected. It could even allow for new interactions in gaming. 

Apple is also expected to bring the new 3D Touch display to the rumored iPad Pro where it could be used by a stylus accessory. It's likely that a taptic engine will provide feedback to users when a press or deep press is

Apple Banners Going Up Ahead of iPhone Event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium [Photos]

Apple has started putting up flags and banners at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium ahead of its media event onSeptember 9th.

It's widely expected the company will unveil a new iPhone 6s, a new Apple TV, updated iPads, and more at the press event.

Take a look at the photos below

[via @Jamesco]

[via @Jamesco]

[via @ellenich]

Apple to Launch 'Revamped iPad Keyboard', New Metal Finishes for Apple Watch?

Apple is working on a 'revamped iPad keyboard' and new metal finishes for the Apple Watch, reports the New York Times. The information comes via a recap article on what to expect from Apple in the near future.

As previously reported, the paper says Apple plans to unveil updated iPads at its September event

Apple will also showcase updated iPads, according to a person briefed on the product. And the company is putting the finishing touches on a revamped iPad keyboard that may be available by the end of the year.

Notably, the FCC leaked a new Apple Magic Mouse 2 and Wireless Keyboard featuring Bluetooth LE 4.2 support last month.

Reiterating previous reports, the paper also corroborated rumors of new finishes for the Apple Watch.

Other products that may surface include new metal finishes for the Apple Watch, including a less expensive gold version, people close to the product said.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted new gold and rose colored versions of the Apple Watch Sport.