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Google Pulls Access to YouTube on Amazon's Echo Show Smart Speaker

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Google pulled access to YouTube through Amazon's display-based Echo Show smart speaker on Tuesday, a move that appears to have angered Amazon and led to conflicting public statements by both companies over the sudden move.

"Currently, Google is not supporting Youtube on Echo Show." That's the message Alexa started giving Echo Show owners yesterday afternoon when they tried to access the video service. An Amazon spokesperson later confirmed to The Verge that YouTube was no longer available on Echo Show devices, and offered a statement implying that Google's decision had been an unwelcome surprise.

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Google made a change today around 3 pm. YouTube used to be available to our shared customers on Echo Show. As of this afternoon, Google has chosen to no longer make YouTube available on Echo Show, without explanation and without notification to customers. There is no technical reason for that decision, which is disappointing and hurts both of our customers.

Google issued its own statement to The Verge shorty afterwards, contradicting Amazon's assertion that the move had been made without fair warning.

We've been in negotiations with Amazon for a long time, working towards an agreement that provides great experiences for customers on both platforms. Amazon's implementation of YouTube on the Echo Show violates our terms of service, creating a broken user experience. We hope to be able to reach an agreement and resolve these issues soon.

The move comes as a blow to Amazon's hopes for its Echo Show smart speaker, given that it has been marketed with a heavy emphasis on the device's display, which lets users see details related to their Alexa queries and watch online video – food recipes for instance, which are often hosted on YouTube.

Google's decision to pull access reflects similar moves by the company to protect its vision of how the YouTube service should function and appear to users. Earlier this month, Google forced popular iOS app ProTube off the App Store after serving the developer multiple takedown requests because it said the app violated YouTube's terms of service.

Tags: Amazon, Amazon Echo, Google, YouTube
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Kuo: Reports of iPhone 8 Sales Woes 'Overdone' and 'Excessively Negative'

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Reports of lower than expected first weekend iPhone 8 sales are "overdone," KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told investors in a new note sent out this evening. Kuo says that based on estimates of iPhone 8 production and research data from Localytics, the market is "excessively negative" on iPhone 8 sales.

According to Kuo, first weekend sales of the iPhone 8 were not weak, but stable. He believes Apple is expecting a 50/50 demand split between iPhone X and iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and sales of the latter two devices are on target when taking that into consideration.

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We previously estimated the production weighting of new 2017 iPhone models at roughly 50% iPhone X and 50% iPhone 8/ 8 Plus. This matches what we believe is Apple's (US) estimate for demand. At first glance, the combined first-week adoption rate for the iPhone 8/ 8 Plus might appear low (about half that of iPhone 6s/ 6s Plus and 7/ 7 Plus). However, this is due to the fact that the iPhone X is not included, not because iPhone 8/ 8 Plus first weekend sales have been weak.

Recent data from Localytics found that the iPhone 8 Plus is more popular than the iPhone 8, which Kuo says aligns with KGI's production-side observations. While sales were lower overall, the iPhone 8 Plus saw the strongest first weekend adoption rate of any Plus-sized iPhone to date.

We note that production of the iPhone 8 versus 8 Plus in 3Q17F is roughly split down the middle of a total of 16-18mn units. This reflects Apple's thinking that demand for these two models will be similar, at least in the early stages. In reality, according to Localytics, iPhone 8 Plus sales fared slightly better than those of the iPhone 8 during the first weekend, while the former's shipping time was longer, according to Apple's online store.

Kuo believes the market is negative on first weekend iPhone 8 sales because market analysts rely overmuch on observed sales momentum in unlocked/SIM-free channels such as the Apple Store, while overlooking sales momentum within carrier channels.

iPhone 8 lines outside of Apple retail stores were indeed shorter this year than in past years, says Kuo, but there was stable first weekend demand within carrier channels. Most people who camp outside of Apple Stores to purchase devices are "presumably hardcore Apple fans and heavy users" who are waiting for the iPhone X, which he says explains the perceived lack of demand.

Though Kuo believes first weekend sales of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are on track, he warns that iPhone 8 and 8 Plus shipment momentum may not be stable and needs to be closely monitored as the launch of the iPhone X approaches.

Tag: Ming-Chi Kuo
Related Forum: iPhone
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macOS Sierra and Later Not Listed in Mac App Store Purchased Tab, Updates Not Tied to Apple ID

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Following the release of macOS High Sierra, Mac users have discovered that Apple is no longer listing previous operating system updates in a user's Purchased tab in the Mac App Store.

Neither macOS Sierra nor macOS High Sierra show up in the Purchased list, suggesting the updates are no longer tied to an Apple ID account. Previous Mac software updates were linked to an Apple ID account and updating required an Apple ID and password, something that could be a hassle when a Mac changed ownership.

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An Apple support document on reinstalling apps confirms that the change to remove macOS Sierra and High Sierra from the Purchased tab was intentional.

"macOS Sierra or later doesn't appear in the Purchased tab," reads the document.

In the case of macOS Sierra, the change means that there's no way for Mac users to download macOS Sierra should they want to downgrade from High Sierra for some reason.

OS X El Capitan, OS X Yosemite, OS X Mavericks, and earlier updates are all tied to a user account and listed in the Mac App Store. Apple has also made a link to the OS X El Capitan update available through a support document, but no similar support document is available for macOS Sierra.

Related Forum: macOS High Sierra
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Video Comparison: iPhone 8 and 8 Plus vs. iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

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With two of Apple's newest iPhones in hand, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus, we thought we'd compare them to the previous-generation iPhones, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, to give our readers a clear picture of the differences between the devices and an idea of whether the new phones are worth the upgrade.

We checked out a 64GB iPhone 8 Plus in the new rosier Gold shade and a 64GB iPhone 8 in the new dark Space Gray color. Design wise, there's a noticeable difference between the iPhone 8 models and the iPhone 7 models just due to the new glass body.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

It's sleeker, heavier, easier to hold, and it looks great with the seven-layer color process Apple used to create the colors for this generation. The display looks pretty much the same as the display in the iPhone 7, but with True Tone, it's able to adjust to the ambient lighting conditions in a room for a more natural paper-like viewing experience.

Other than that, the bezels are the same, there's still the same old Touch ID home button for people who prefer Touch ID, all of the buttons and components are in the same places, and it's IP67 water resistant. One notable difference -- the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have more powerful speakers.

There is, of course, also the wireless charging component. The iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus both charge wirelessly on Qi-certified charging mats, and this charging functionality works through a case. The smartphones also include a new A11 processor that brings serious speed gains, but these improvements aren't always noticeable in every day use over the iPhone 7's A10 chip.

So, should you upgrade? Most people who are coming from an iPhone 7 or an iPhone 7 Plus aren't going to notice a world of difference aside from the implementation of wireless charging and some camera improvements, so it may not be worth the cost to buy one of the new devices. Those coming from an iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, or earlier iPhone will see notable speed, camera, and performance improvements, making a purchase more worthwhile.

Lots of people are still holding out for the iPhone X with its radical redesign, despite the fact that it's a good deal more expensive than the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus at its $999 starting point. That device offers up an edge-to-edge screen and facial recognition, but it's going to be hard to get and some people may prefer the Touch ID and more standard design of the 8 and the 8 Plus.

Related Forum: iPhone
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Apple Named World's Most Valuable Brand for Fifth Consecutive Year

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Apple was named the world's most valuable brand in Interbrand's 2017 Best Global Brands ranking this week, marking Apple's fifth consecutive year in the position.

Apple's Interbrand valuation was up three percent, coming in at $184.15 billion to beat out Google ($141.7B), Microsoft ($80B), Coca-Cola ($69.7B), Amazon ($64.8B), and Samsung ($59.3B). Apple and Google together have held the top two positions for several years, but Microsoft's #3 position is new and comes thanks to double-digit percent growth.

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Though Apple struggled with its first year-over-year revenue decline in 2016 due to flagging iPhone sales, the company rebounded during the first quarter of 2017 to set new revenue records and has maintained its sales pace throughout the year.

Apple was not included in the top five Growing Brands category, with Facebook (48 percent growth), Amazon (29 percent), Adobe (19 percent), Adidas (17 percent), and Starbucks (16 percent) leading that list.

To determine a brand's cumulative value, Interbrand considers the financial performance of branded products products and services, the role the brand plays in influencing customer choice, and the strength the brand has to command a premium price.

Along with Interbrand, several other companies offer brand rankings, like Forbes, and Apple often tops those lists as well.

Tag: Interbrand
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Shazam Debuts Redesigned Apple Watch App That Identifies Songs Faster

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Shazam, the service designed to listen to music and identify lyrics, today updated its iOS app with support for iOS 11 and watchOS 4.

The update includes an entirely revamped version of the Shazam Apple Watch app, with a new look and feel and some impressive speed improvements.

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Shazam for Apple Watch is able to identify songs much more quickly, and there's a new more convenient feature that lets users set Shazam to listen and then lower their wrists. When the song is identified, Shazam offers up a little haptic tap.

As MacStories points out, on one of the new Apple Watch Series 3 models, Shazam was able to identify music that was playing in just a few seconds. Shazam is also able to operate entirely over LTE on the new devices when an iPhone isn't available.

The new app also supports listening to previews of song matches directly on the Apple Watch, with the interface displaying list of the last handful of songs that were identified.

Shazam can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Shazam
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Apple Confirms a Fix is Coming for Static Noise Problem Affecting iPhone 8 Earpiece

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Apple is working on a fix for an issue causing some iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus owners to hear intermittent crackling noises when using the device for phone calls, the company told The Verge in a statement this afternoon.

"We are aware of the issue which is affecting customers in a small number of cases," said an Apple spokesperson. "Our team is at work on a fix, which will be included in an upcoming software release."

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Many MacRumors readers began noticing the static noise shortly after the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus became available last Friday. It is described as a "very annoying" crackling sound that can be heard from the earpiece of the device during both standard calls and FaceTime calls.

The noise issue can be bypassed by using headphones or the speaker phone option on an affected device, suggesting the issue lies in the software rather than the hardware. MacRumors forum member Jgpsolo describes the problem:

It is a high-pitched crackle like an audio pop that happens in the earpiece top speaker intermittently during calls. Some calls are fine and others crackle. It is not audible on earphones or on speakerphone, only through the earpiece. The caller on the other end doesn't hear it.

Changing cellular settings like WiFi calling or Voice Over LTE does not seem to improve the problem, and resetting a device also does not appear to offer a reliable fix.

It's not clear when Apple will release another update to fix the issue, as no specific time was provided by the company. Apple's first iOS 11 update came out this morning, addressing an Exchange email bug that prevented many users from sending mail from Outlook, Office 365, and Exchange Server email accounts.

Related Forum: iPhone
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Apple Watch Series 3 LTE Models Shipping Earlier Than Expected

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Customers who were not lucky enough to secure an LTE-enabled Apple Watch Series 3 model right when pre-orders went live have been waiting patiently for their new devices, with many shipping estimates ranging into October after delivery dates slipped by weeks.

Some of those customers won't be waiting too long, though, as Apple is getting those backordered Apple Watch Series 3 models out quicker than expected. MacRumors has heard several reports from readers who expected their devices in mid-October but are already receiving shipment confirmations, and many others are discussing their early arrival dates in our forums.

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Orders appear to be arriving early in several countries, including the United States and the UK. From MacRumors reader danmart:

My order (UK, confirmation received 08:05, 42mm SSSB with Sport Band) was originally projecting 9-16 October. Just received notification that it will deliver on Thursday!

Some customers who have been waiting on an Apple Watch have been able to secure one in a local Apple retail store by keeping an eye on stock using Apple's in-store pickup tool.

All of the Apple Watch Series 3 models with LTE connectivity list shipment dates of at least three to four weeks when purchased online in the United States, and availability is similarly limited in other countries. Given that Apple is getting some of these watches out early, the wait could be somewhat shorter.

applewatchshippingestimates
Non-LTE Series 3 Apple Watch models are readily available in stores and will ship out right away.

Customers who chose a Nike+ model have also been waiting for their devices to arrive. While the first LTE models delivered on September 22, Nike+ models won't start arriving to customers until Thursday, October 5.

Apple Watch Series 3 pricing starts at $329 for the non-LTE devices and $399 for LTE connectivity, with prices going up based on band selection and case material.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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HomeKit-Enabled D-Link Omna Camera Gains New Features in App Update

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D-Link's HomeKit-enabled Omna 180 Cam HD home security camera today gained new functionality through a major app update that brings important new features to the device.

The user interface of the app has been improved and it's no longer quite as slow when you open it up, which is a major plus.

There's a new pinch-to-zoom feature that allows you to zoom in on the video feed from the camera, a new toggle lets the night vision feature to be turned off if desired, and there's now support for event notifications when motion is detected. It's also possible to turn off the LED indicator light on the camera following the update.

d link omna camera
Both video clips and snapshots taken with the camera can be saved to a local album from the microSD card from the playback menu, and for users who don't have an Apple TV or an iPad to enable remote viewing, there's now a built-in remote live streaming feature.

Customers who own the Omna 180 Cam HD can download the new update in the iOS App Store. Following the update, new firmware will need to be downloaded to the camera through the Settings section of the Omna app. Along with today's iOS update, D-Link released a new app for Android, enabling Android compatibility.

The Omna, one of the first cameras to support HomeKit, is an in-home security camera with a wide-angle lens, night vision support, and a two-way microphone, among other features. It records all data to a microSD card and does not offer a cloud upload feature.

We reviewed the Omna when it first launched earlier this year and some of the features that were implemented today were among our chief complaints with the device.

D-Link recently lowered the price of the Omna, and it is now available for purchase from the Apple Store for $149.95.

Tags: D-Link, HomeKit Guide
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Twitter Testing Expanded 280 Character Limit for Tweets

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Twitter today announced that it is going to "try out" a longer character limit, doubling the current 140-character limit to 280 characters.

The 280 character limit is going to be available in languages that are "impacted by cramming," aka all languages aside from Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.

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Tweet with traditional 140-character limit on left, new 280-character limit on right.

According to Twitter, most tweets in English have 34 characters while most tweets in Japanese have 15 characters, and Twitter users tweeting in English hit the 140-character limit more often, which can be a "major cause of frustration."

Twitter says the new character limit is "only available to a small group" of users at the current time as it gathers data and feedback on the impact of the change. It won't roll out to all users until Twitter is sure that it "works" for the Twitter community, but Twitter is hoping 280 characters will "make it easier for everyone to Tweet."

We understand since many of you have been Tweeting for years, there may be an emotional attachment to 140 characters - we felt it, too. But we tried this, saw the power of what it will do, and fell in love with this new, still brief, constraint. We are excited to share this today, and we will keep you posted about what we see and what comes next.

Twitter has had a 140-character limit in place since the service first launched in 2006, so a character expansion is a major change to the way Twitter works.


Before considering a character limit expansion, Twitter made several other changes to give users more room to share their thoughts. Starting in 2016, photo attachments, GIFs, polls, and other media stopped counting towards the 140-character limit, and in March, usernames no longer counted towards the limit.

Users randomly selected to be part of Twitter's beta testing group will be able to use 280 characters in their tweets starting today.

Tag: Twitter
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OWC's Aura SSDs Not Working With macOS High Sierra, Fix Coming Soon

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Some Mac owners who have replaced their machine's storage with Aura SSDs from OWC are not able to install macOS High Sierra at this time due to an incompatibility issue that prevents the update from successfully converting the drives to the new APFS format.

The Aura SSDs show up as "Rotational" drives instead of Solid State, and when attempting to install macOS High Sierra, users are seeing an error message about a firmware update before the installation process crashes.

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Several customers who have purchased Aura SSDs have complained on a macOS High Sierra beta blog post, as the issue long pre-dates the macOS High Sierra release. One customer was told that new firmware would not be developed until the High Sierra golden master was released, but new firmware has apparently not made it out yet.

OWC offers Aura SSDs for a range of Macs, including many MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Pro models. According to the company, Aura SSDs compatible with the following machines are affected:

- MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013)
- MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)
- MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014)
- MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)

Apple is aware of the issue with select third-party SSDs, and the OWC engineering team is working directly with Apple on a fix. OWC expects "a very timely solution."

Tag: OWC
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iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X Support the Galileo Satellite System for Better GPS

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The iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and upcoming iPhone X include support for Galileo, Europe's Global Satellite Navigation System. While this information has been listed on Apple's iPhone technical specifications page since the devices debuted earlier this month, it's a feature update that's received little attention.

Galileo joins existing support for the Global Positioning System (GPS) operated by the U.S. government, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) operated by the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces, and QZSS, the regional Quasi-Zenith Satellite System used in Japan.

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According to the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency, Galileo support in the new iPhones will allow users to benefit from more precise positioning that's able to combine GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo signals. Galileo, says the agency, has a modern signal structure that's able to help users better maintain their position fix when navigating through cities worldwide.

Multi-satellite support also increases signal availability in urban areas where buildings can obstruct the sky and limit the number of visible satellites. Galileo has 15 operational satellites in orbit and three that are in testing, compared to 31 GPS satellites and 24 GLONASS satellites. By 2020, Galileo is expected to have 30 satellites operational.

Worldwide support for QZSS is also new in Apple's 2017 iPhone lineup. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models sold in Japan previously supported QZSS, but now all iPhones offer the feature. QZSS, unlike Galileo, GPS, and GLONASS, is limited to three satellites and is receivable only within Japan.

Related Forum: iPhone
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Is it Worth Buying AppleCare+ for iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus?

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After spending hundreds of dollars on a brand new iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus, you may be debating whether it's really worth it to put additional money towards an AppleCare+ plan for your shiny new device.

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There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but the short version is that AppleCare+ for iPhone is generally worth the investment. The long answer depends on many factors, such as the type of damage and how careful you are.

What is AppleCare+?

AppleCare+ is an optional warranty plan that extends an iPhone's warranty coverage to two years from the original purchase date of the device, and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a service fee of $29 for screen damage, or $99 for any other damage.

AppleCare+ for iPhone also provides 24/7 priority access to AppleCare advisors via online chat or phone for up to two years after the device's original purchase date. Without the plan, iPhone owners are covered by a limited one-year warranty and an initial 90 days of complimentary telephone support.

How Much Does AppleCare+ Cost?

AppleCare+ is $129 for iPhone 8 and $149 for iPhone 8 Plus in the United States.

• Scenario A — Your Screen Cracks
Apple charges $149 for an iPhone 8 screen repair and $169 for an iPhone 8 Plus screen repair in the United States. There's also a $6.95 shipping fee if you need to send the iPhone to an Apple repair facility.

AppleCare+ combined with a screen repair incidental fee costs $158 for iPhone 8 or $178 for iPhone 8 Plus.

AppleCare+ is $2.05 to $9 more expensive if you crack your screen.

• Scenario B — The Back Glass Shatters
Apple charges $349 for an iPhone 8 glass back repair and $399 for an iPhone 8 Plus glass back repair in the United States.

AppleCare+ combined with an "other damage" repair incidental fee costs $228 for iPhone 8 or $248 for iPhone 8 Plus.

AppleCare+ is $121 cheaper for iPhone 8 and $151 cheaper for iPhone 8 Plus if you shatter the back glass.

• Scenario C — Other Damage
Apple charges $349 for a non-screen-related iPhone 8 repair and $399 for a non-screen-related iPhone 8 Plus repair in the United States.

AppleCare+ combined with an "other damage" repair incidental fee costs $228 for iPhone 8 or $248 for iPhone 8 Plus.

AppleCare+ is $121 cheaper for iPhone 8 and $151 cheaper for iPhone 8 Plus for any other kind of damage.

Is AppleCare+ Worth It?

AppleCare+ will save you at least $120 if the rear glass on your iPhone shatters even once. If you plan on using your iPhone without a case, and think you might drop it, then it's a worthwhile investment. If you are using a protective case, however, the rear glass should be able to withstand drops from reasonable heights.

AppleCare+ is less worthwhile if you damage your screen, as you can expect to roughly break even. But, the person who has AppleCare+ would still have a second incident of accidental damage coverage if they ever need it, plus 24/7 priority access to technical support via online chat or phone.

Since it only takes one accident to pay for itself, if not save you money, many users feel AppleCare+ is ultimately worth it. And if you're super careful and never end up needing it, two years of 24/7 priority access to technical support is still a nice perk.

Tag: AppleCare Guide
Related Forum: iPhone
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iOS 11 Installed on 25% of Devices One Week After Launch

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One week after being released to the public, iOS 11 is installed on 25.28 percent of iOS devices, according to data collected by analytics company Mixpanel.

Over the course of the last week, iOS 11 adoption has expanded by just 15 percent, as 10 percent of people already had the update installed 24 hours after launch. With iOS 11 adoption growing, iOS 10 is now installed on 67.83 percent of devices, while 6.89 percent of devices continue to run an earlier version of iOS.

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iOS 11 adoption rates are much slower than iOS 10 adoption rates during the same time period last year. A little under a week after iOS 10 launched, it was already on 34 percent of devices.

The iOS 11 update has not been affected by installation issues like iOS 10 was, but there have been some reports of app slowdowns and performance drops, which could potentially be holding people back from installing until a later date.

Apple also delayed several key iOS 11 features, including peer-to-peer Apple Pay and iCloud storage for iMessages, another reason that some users might not yet be inspired to download new software.

Apple this morning released the first update to iOS 11, iOS 11.0.1, which includes a fix for a significant email bug that was affecting customers who used Microsoft email services.

Though iOS 11 adoption is slow, it wildly outpaces the adoption rates of new Android software. Android Oreo, released in August, isn't even listed on the Android Developer site, while Android Nougat, the previous-generation version of Android, is only installed on a total of 15.8% of devices.

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The majority of Android devices continue to run Android Marshmallow and Lollipop, software that's now two to three years old.

Related Forum: iOS 11
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Get an Exclusive 15% Discount on RAVPower's Qi Mat, $100 Off New iPad Pros, and More in Latest Deals

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There's a notable sale on Apple devices going on this week at Best Buy, offering those on the hunt for new MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and iPads the chance to save between $100 and $350 on Apple's devices.

The largest selection of devices marked down is the mid 2017 iPad Pro in both 10.5- and 12.9-inch versions, all Wi-Fi only. The cheapest model is the 10.5-inch iPad Pro with 64GB at $549.99, down from $649.99; the 256GB version is $699.99, down from $799.99; and the 512GB version is $899.99, down from $999.99. For the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, you can grab the 64GB at $699.99, the 256GB at $849.99, and the 512GB at $1,049.99, all with similar $100 discounts and in Silver, Gold, and Space Gray colorways.

best buy ipad macbook sale
If you're looking for a new Mac to run macOS High Sierra -- which just launched yesterday -- Best Buy has taken up to $150 off the latest MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models in both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, which Apple refreshed at WWDC in June. Sale prices start at $1,649.99 for the 13-inch MacBook Pro and 256GB flash storage, down from $1,799.99; the 512GB version is also on sale for $1,849.99, down from $1,999.99.

There are also discounts on the 15-inch MacBook Pro, the newest 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs, and between $200 and $300 off the older 9.7-inch iPad with Wi-Fi and cellular. Check out our full Deals Roundup for more information on the Best Buy sale.

In other deals news, we're continuing to keep an eye out on discounts for some of the best Qi inductive wireless charging pads, which iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus users can use right now to charge their smartphones. Prices and availability have fluctuated since we made our original roundup, but as of today here's a list of some of the cheapest accessories from reliable third-party companies:

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For a discount on a charging mat that supports the iPhone 8 and upcoming iPhone X, RAVPower has given MacRumors readers the chance to get exclusive savings on its Qi wireless charging pad. When purchased on Amazon, you can get 15 percent off the $49.99 accessory, marking it down to $42.49, by using the promo code Rumors15 during checkout. This discount expires October 15.

Anyone looking for quality audio editing software should also check out Rogue Amoeba's 15-year anniversary sale, which is running this week and ends Saturday, September 30. All of Rogue Amoeba's apps are marked down by 15 percent during this period, and through a special scratch-off you have the chance to boost your discount by 1.33x, 1.67x, 2x, 3x, or 4x. Some of the company's Mac apps include Audio Hijack, Fission, Airfoil, and more.

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Head over to our Deals Roundup for more of the latest discounts occurring this week, including 50 percent off JBL's Pulse 2 Bluetooth speaker at Amazon, ongoing sales on Apple Watch Series 2 models at B&H Photo, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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MacRumors is Looking for a New Full-Time Video Producer! [Updated]

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macrumorslogoAs many of you know, MacRumors has a YouTube channel that's been steadily growing over the course of the past few years, and we're searching for a new full-time video producer who can help us take our channel to the next level.

If you're familiar with making YouTube videos, love Apple products and know a lot about them, have an engaging and upbeat personality, and have a wealth of ideas on intriguing and fun ways to highlight Apple-related news, this could be the job for you.

This is a work from home position, and we're looking for someone who already has video equipment on hand and knows how to use it to make videos of the caliber that are already on MacRumors' YouTube channel.

The right person will be able to produce videos, star in those videos, and come up with ideas for videos in collaboration with our editorial team.

We are looking for a full-time video producer, and while the job will typically require traditional full-time hours, after-hours work is necessary on occasion for breaking news, Apple events, and major software releases. Travel to events like CES may also be required every so often.

If this sounds like it might be a good fit for you, we'd love to hear from you! Please email us at jobs@macrumors.com with details about you and some examples of video content you've created, and we'll get back to you with more information about the position. An already-existing YouTube channel and experience creating Apple-related tech videos is a huge plus!

Note: Comments have been disabled for this post.

Update: The position has been filled.

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Apple Joins FDA Pilot Program for Faster Approval of Digital Health Tools

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healthappupdateThe Food and Drug Administration today announced that it has selected nine companies to join its voluntary Pre-Cert pilot program, which is designed to foster innovation through the creation of a less restrictive regulatory framework that will lead to faster acceptance of health-related software and, in some cases, products.

Companies accepted to the program include Apple, Fitbit, Johnson & Johnson, Pear Therapeutics, Phosphorus, Roche, Samsung, Tidepool, and Verily.

With its program, the FDA is aiming to create a more tailored approach toward digital health technology by looking at the software developer rather than the product to establish a firm-based pre-certification program for these digital health tools. The companies accepted to the program will be reviewed for software design, validation, and maintenance and to determine if they meet the FDA's quality standards for pre-certification.

Companies who have been pre-certified may be able to submit less information to the FDA before marketing a new digital health tool, speeding up the approval of new services and technologies. The FDA is also considering allowing pre-certified companies to avoid submitting products for premarket review in some situations.

As part of the program, Apple will provide the FDA with access to the measures it use to develop, test, and maintain software products. Apple has agreed to allow visits from FDA staff and offer information about its quality management system.

"Our method for regulating digital health products must recognize the unique and iterative characteristics of these products," said Dr. Gottlieb. "We need to modernize our regulatory framework so that it matches the kind of innovation we're being asked to evaluate, and helps foster beneficial technology while ensuring that consumers have access to high-quality, safe and effective digital health devices. These pilot participants will help the agency shape a better and more agile approach toward digital health technology that focuses on the software developer rather than an individual product."

For Apple, this program could be a major boon as it has several digital health-related tools like Health, CareKit, and ResearchKit, and FDA approval is likely one of the major roadblocks to releasing new health-related products that are rumored to be in the works, such as some kind of device for monitoring blood glucose.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that Apple does not want to put the Apple Watch through the FDA approval process, but should the program go well, Apple may also have fewer regulations to contend with when it comes to the future of the Apple Watch, which could allow for new, more advanced health-monitoring capabilities.

Tags: CareKit, FDA, HealthKit
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Uber Adding Feature to Let Drivers Provide More Rider Feedback

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Uber App IconUber today introduced a new feature for its iOS app that allows drivers to provide feedback when giving a rider a rating of less than five stars.

As outlined by The Verge, drivers are now asked "what went wrong" when providing a four star rating or lower. Drivers can then choose from reasons like wait time, patience, number of riders, attitude, wanted a new route, or other.

Riders who continue to receive much of the same feedback from multiple drivers may receive a notification from Uber letting them know about the low ratings and the reason behind them.

Uber is also changing the way its UberPool service works in an effort to make the feature less stressful for drivers. UberPool allows passengers to choose a cheaper fare, but it's a shared ride with the potential for several passenger pickups.

For UberPool rides, drivers will now receive an additional flat fare for each passenger picked up, and Uber says it is planning to pay much of the added cost for the trips through a service fee reduction. Riders will not pay more for a trip even if there are additional pickups.

Uber in June launched a "180 Days of Change" initiative designed to improve working conditions for its drivers and bolster its public image, and today's changes are part of that effort. Uber has been introducing new driver features since then, starting with a long-desired in-app tipping option.

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