Brother today announced that every series in its mobile printer lineup now features at least one model certified by Apple's MFi Program.
MFi-certified printers are fully compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, enabling users to print instantly from an iOS device via Bluetooth, without the need to download special drivers. That's in addition to existing AirPrint support on select Brother printers for wireless printing from an iOS device over a Wi-Fi network.
Brother's MFi-certified models include the RuggedJet RJ-2050, RJ-2150, RJ-3050Ai, RJ-3150Ai, RJ-4030Ai, PocketJet 763MFi, and M-Print MW145MFi and MW260MFi. Look for the "Made for iPhone, iPad, and iPod" logo on the box.
Brother has a wide variety of mobile printers available to purchase on its website, with some models costing upwards of $1,000.
Sprint today announced the "Sprint Magic Box," a small plug-and-play device that the carrier said will "dramatically improve" LTE data services and connections for any Sprint customers in its range. The indoor consumer device is built to be placed near a window, and is free for qualifying customers, with no installation, labor, or rental costs attached to its use.
The Magic Box doesn't require a router or Wi-Fi to use -- Sprint also mentioned that it doesn't interfere with established Wi-Fi networks -- and it automatically connects to the nearest Sprint cell site to guide users through installation. Once it's up and running, Sprint said that users will see a better data experience while streaming videos and surfing online, with up to 200 percent increases in download and upload speeds.
The carrier also said that the Magic Box will be additionally beneficial in cities, as one device will boost the densification of Sprint's network for any Sprint user nearby.
So why did we name it Sprint Magic Box? Because the product is so simple, it just plugs in and works like magic to create a better experience by virtually eliminating hard-to-reach indoor areas. Within minutes customers see an average increase of 200% in download and upload speeds. The early feedback from thousands of customers who’ve been using Sprint Magic Box has been tremendous, and we’re excited for more customers to benefit from this amazing new innovation.
One Magic Box has more than enough coverage to provide faster speeds for any average-sized home or business. According to Sprint, this means the device can cover an indoor area of around 30,000 square feet, and reaches up to 100 meters of outdoor coverage, with up to 64 simultaneous user connections sustainable on one Magic Box.
Users interested can fill out a request form to see if they qualify for the Magic Box, which can be found on Sprint's website. The form asks for a Sprint number and description of how users heard about the offer, among the usual name and email requirements.
Ecobee today announced that its next-generation ecobee4 smart thermostat with built-in Amazon Alexa voice services is now available to pre-order for $249 on its website in the United States. Pre-orders are estimated to start shipping on May 15, the same day it will hit shelves at Lowe's, Home Depot, and Best Buy.
Like the ecobee3, the ecobee4 continues to support Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, and Samsung's smart home platform SmartThings.
While the ecobee3 also works with Alexa, it can only be controlled by voice using external devices such as the Amazon Echo. The ecobee4, in addition to having a touchscreen and smartphone control, has Alexa built right in with far-field voice technology so that it can hear you from across the room.
Alexa voice service allows customers to simply ask their ecobee4 to adjust the temperature of the home, in addition to the growing list of Alexa skills such as setting a timer, helping plan your commute, or playing the news. Through far-field voice recognition, ecobee4 will conveniently respond to voice commands from anywhere in the room.
The ecobee4 has a built-in speaker and microphone for Alexa, while its side profile appears to be slightly rounder than the ecobee3. Otherwise, it has identical features and tech specs as the ecobee3.
The ecobee4 comes with a wireless room sensor and supports up to 32 sensors. Ecobee said a companion smart light switch that can measure a room's occupancy and temperature will be released later this year.
The ecobee4, like other smart thermostats, is designed to help homeowners save money by intelligently adjusting the temperature of a home. Room sensors help manage hot and cold spots of a home, and homeowners can easily adjust temperature and comfort settings from a paired iOS or Android device.
Hulu's anticipated live television service, which was rumored in the past few weeks to launch in early May, has appeared on the iOS App Store [Direct Link] in beta form. Users interested in signing up for the service can adjust their membership and subscribe to live TV from the account and add-on section of Hulu.com.
Officially named "Hulu with Live TV," the company said that this version of the app comes with cloud DVR and the ability to stream more than 50 live and on-demand television channels, including sports-related content.
User interface changes include a new onboarding experience, a new home screen, and "My Stuff," so subscribers can manage their shows, movies, networks, and more. A multitasking feature called "Fliptray" will let users watch a show and browse Hulu with Live TV simultaneously.
You’ll enjoy features that help you customize how you watch TV: - Create up to 6 personalized profiles for the whole household. Enjoy your own collection of shows, movies, networks, and more. - Track your favorites with My Stuff. Add shows, networks, and movies for quick access across your devices. - The more you watch, the better it gets. Enjoy a reimagined TV experience that adjusts to your tastes every time you use Hulu. - Browse while you watch with Fliptray to quickly find what else is on, change the channel, or get recommendations of what to watch next.
At launch, Hulu with Live TV has the following channels that subscribers will be able to watch live: FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, FX, NBCSN, FS1, History Channel, and TNT. Certain limitations exist for channels in specific areas, meaning some users will only be able to access on-demand content for major networks like ABC and CBS instead of live streams. Potential subscribers can check out the channels accessible in their area through Hulu's live TV launch page.
Additionally, sports coverage for pro, college, and regional teams will be on the service, along with national news and local feeds in some cities, kids shows, big events, and on-demand shows and movies from most of the supported channels.
Those interested can download Hulu with Live TV now from the iOS App Store in the United States [Direct Link], as well as on Apple TV. It's clear that the app was added onto the App Store ahead of an official announcement, so we'll update this post once more information becomes available.
Update: Pricing for Hulu with Live TV can be found on Hulu.com in the add-on section of the account page. There, it's confirmed that the basic service will cost $39.99/month, while the plan which removes commercials from on-demand content will cost an additional $4/month. Both of these options come with all of the previously mentioned channels, the ability to stream on 2 screens at a time, and 50 hours of cloud DVR storage.
Feature add-ons area also available, allowing users to upgrade their cloud DVR to 200 hours of storage with the ability to fast-forward through commercials (presumably absent from the basic DVR) for an additional $14.99/month. Subscribers will also be able to add unlimited simultaneous viewing on as many screens as they want for $14.99/month. If both are purchased, $10 can be saved.
In terms of free trials, users will be able to try out Hulu with Live TV for one week before having to pay, and each of the feature add-ons can be tested for one month before users are charged.
HSBC has launched Apple Pay support for customers in Australia for the first time, enabling any Visa and MasterCard branded credit card issued by the bank to be added to Apple's mobile wallet.
HSBC said the majority of its customers' credit card payments are already contactless and it expects Apple Pay will be quickly embraced as part of the wider shift towards tap-and-go payments.
"Our customers have told us they want to be able to use Apple Pay in Australia, and we're proud to be able to make this service available to them," said Graham Heunis, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC Australia. "HSBC has introduced Apple Pay in five other markets and we're looking forward to another successful launch here."
The bank has set up a new Apple Pay web page on its site to guide users through the steps needed to add a credit or debit card into the Wallet app on iPhone and iPad.
HSBC joins a growing number of banks in Australia which support Apple Pay, including American Express, ANZ and Macquarie. However, several major issuers such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, NAB, and Bendigo and Adelaide have resisted supporting the payment system during their failed attempts to collectively negotiate with Apple over gaining access to the NFC chip in iPhones.
In addition to the HSBC Australia launch, over 20 U.S. banks also gained official Apple Pay support on Tuesday. Apple has updated its web page of participating banks, which include the following:
• 1st Constitution Bank • Alerus Financial N.A. • Bank of Cashton • Bank of New Mexico • BankStar Financial • Central National Bank & TrustCompany • Chevron Federal Credit Union • Citizens Community Bank • Connexus Credit Union • DATCU • Department of CommerceFederal Credit Union • First Bank Blue Earth • First National Bank of Pana • First US Community CreditUnion • Legacy Bank • Manasquan Bank • Market USA Federal CreditUnion • Midstates Bank N.A. • Security State Bank ofHibbing • Skyward Credit Union • The Bank of Bennington • Two River Community Bank
The Apple Pay service is available on iPhone 6 and later, iPhone SE, Apple Watch, the late 2016 MacBook Pro, and iPad mini 3 or later within apps and Safari. Macs introduced in 2012 and later can also be used, but checkout must be confirmed through an Apple Pay-enabled iPhone or Apple Watch.
Apple has made highly rated autorunner game Chameleon Run a free download for anyone who uses the Apple Store iOS app.
The fast-paced, colorful runner offers some unique jump mechanics amid the stylish graphics. The aim of each level is to reach the end of the course without touching a platform that has a different color to the main character. To do this, players must jump and switch between pink and yellow as they run.
Each level has a fixed ending with three different objectives to complete. The first two objectives unlock lightning speed bursts and the third one unlocks the hoverboard.
With all three objectives unlocked, the levels can be finished much faster. Advanced players can also try to switch color as late as possible to gain higher speeds and compete against others in the leaderboards.
To get hold of the game, download and open up the Apple Store app, scroll down the Discover screen to where it says "Exclusively for you", and then tap the Chameleon Run panel. On the next screen, tap the blue button that says "Download now for free" and Apple will provide a code for users to redeem in the App Store.
The free game offer through the Apple Store app expires on June 15, 2017.
Friday Labs today announced the long-awaited launch of its Friday Lock, which was originally introduced in 2015 as part of an Indiegogo campaign for the "world's most advanced smart lock."
When the lock was first conceived, HomeKit-compatibility wasn't mentioned as a feature, but the release version of the device supports Apple's smart home system.
According to Friday Labs, the Friday Lock is the world's "smallest and most stylish" retrofit lock, and the only lock to offer Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HomeKit in a single product.
The Friday Lock is slender, unassuming, and available in a range of finishes to match different decors, including brass, bronze, copper, gun metal, nickel satin, porcelain, and silver. According to the lock's creators, it was designed not to shout "I'm a very intelligent object on your door," so it doesn't feature a screen, lights, or other features that would make it stand out.
"We're delighted to announce Friday Lock's availability today. Friday Labs is a design-driven company - our goal is to provide users with secure, connected products that encompass functional design and feel good to use, said Marcus Tempte, CEO of Friday Labs. He continued, "We've created a beautiful lock with changeable shells made from die cast metal with gorgeous finishes to make doors fit naturally in with the rest of the house or any room."
Siri commands or an iPhone with the Home app can be used to control the Friday Lock, thanks to its HomeKit integration. There's a remote key system that allows one-time entry to let in guests, using a text message for activation. For family members, there's also an option for unlimited access, and a geofencing system detects when an iPhone is near, automatically unlocking the door.
A Friday Universal Baseplate is used to mount the Friday Lock to any door, with no locksmith required for installation, and there's also a Door Adapter Plate to ensure a solid fit even on doors that need longer tailpieces. A rechargeable battery is included, which lasts approximately three months before needing to be recharged via an included USB charger.
The Friday Lock can be pre-ordered from the Friday Labs website in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland starting today. The lock is priced at $249 and pre-orders will ship out in three to four weeks.
Facebook's Instant Games feature, first introduced in November, is now available worldwide. Along with expanding Instant Games worldwide, Facebook is also introducing new functionality first announced at its F8 conference, including turn-based gameplay and additional games.
Turn-based gameplay has been a highly requested Instant Games feature. Prior to today, games were single player, with Facebook relying on challenges to engage a user's friends and family, but now, two people can play games like Words With Friends with each other. Leaderboards, tournaments, and more engaging game messages delivered by game bots have also been bundled into the update.
Rich gameplay features such as turn-based games (our most requested feature) can also weave in leaderboards and tournaments, and offer more visually engaging and customizable game messages during play. Game bots help re-engage players by calling out new game options and encouraging competition with updates on the leaderboards.
Facebook Messenger now features 50 Instant Games to play (depending on location), including EverWing, Words With Friends, Solitaire, Pac-Man, Bingo, Snake, and more.
According to Facebook, Instant Games for Messenger will roll out over the next few weeks worldwide for both iOS and Android.
During today's second quarter earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple was seeing a "pause" in purchases of the iPhone, which he attributed to "earlier and much more frequent reports about future iPhones."
The comment came in response to a question about a 451 research survey, which mentioned a nine year low in iPhone purchase intent. Cook said he hadn't read the survey in depth, but explained Apple was seeing slower iPhone sales.
I only glanced at it and so I haven't had time to study it, but in general, what we are seeing... we're seeing what we believe to be a pause in purchases on iPhone, which we believe are due to the earlier and much more frequent reports about future iPhones. And so that part is clearly going on, and it could be what's behind the data. I don't know, but we are seeing that, in full transparency.
Rumors about the iPhone 8, coming in 2017, started before the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus were even released, despite Apple's ever-increasing focus on secrecy. Major changes are rumored to be in the works for the 2017 iPhone, and those changes have been difficult for Apple to keep quiet.
The device is expected to feature the biggest overhaul to the iPhone in a number of years, with an edge-to-edge OLED display with no Home button, a glass body with stainless steel frame, Touch ID embedded under the screen, new biometric features, a revamped camera, and more.
With the number of rumors circulating about improvements coming to the iPhone, it should come as no surprise that customers are holding off on an iPhone purchase until 2017, when the entirely revamped iPhone debuts.
Apple did not expect so many people to choose the iPhone 7 Plus over the iPhone 7, according to statements made by Apple CEO Tim Cook during today's second quarter earnings call.
"One of the things we didn't get right was the mix between the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus," said Cook. "Demand was much stronger towards the iPhone 7 Plus than we expected." Apple's misestimation of the popularity of the iPhone 7 Plus led to some shortages of the bigger-screened device during the December quarter.
Apple sold the highest number of Plus models in the first half of fiscal 2017 than ever before, higher than the iPhone 6 and 6s lineups. Cook says it took Apple a while to "bring the iPhone 7 Plus into balance," something that occurred early in the second quarter.
According to Cook, Apple learns from its mistakes. "Every time we launch something, we learn something, and we brush up our models and apply everything we learn for next time," he said.
Apple's "Other Products" category, which includes the Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, iPod, and Apple-branded and third-party accessories, is seeing solid growth according to Apple's Q2 2017 earnings results.
Revenue from "Other Products" was at $2.87 billion during the quarter, up from $2.19 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Apple Watch sales doubled year-over-year during the holiday quarter, and according to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the response to AirPods has been "great." Cook says that demand for AirPods continues to significantly exceed supply, and that Beats growth is also "very strong."
"Combine Apple Watch, AirPods, and Beats and our revenue from wearable products in the last four quarters was the size of a Fortune 500 company," said Cook.
During today's earnings call for the second fiscal quarter of 2017 (first calendar quarter), Apple announced that its App Store revenue was up 40 percent year-over-year, setting a new all-time quarterly record.
Overall, services brought in $7 billion during the quarter, up from $6 billion in the year-ago quarter. Apple's "Services" category includes the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iTunes, and iCloud.
According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple's services category is "well on the way" to being the size of a Fortune 100 company. Apple saw a "deep level of customer engagement" across all services, with Apple Music and iCloud Storage also experiencing double digit revenue growth.
Cook says Apple saw strong growth in both its own subscription services and the services offered through the App Store during the quarter, with 8 subscriptions now exceeding 165 million.
Apple Pay also saw strong growth, with transaction volume up 460 percent in the last twelve months. Apple Pay is now live in 15 markets, with more than 20 million locations accepting Apple Pay worldwide. 4.5 million contactless-ready locations are available in the United States alone.
During the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $52.9 billion, with net quarterly profit of $11 billion or $2.10 per diluted share. While services did well, iPhone and iPad sales were both down, with Apple selling 50.8 million iPhones and 8.92 million iPads.
Apple today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2017, which corresponds to the first calendar quarter of the year. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $52.9 billion and net quarterly profit of $11.0 billion, or $2.10 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $50.6 billion and net quarterly profit of $10.5 billion, or $1.90 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.
Gross margin for the quarter was 38.9 percent compared to 39.4 percent in the year-ago quarter, with international sales accounting for 65 percent of revenue. Apple also declared an increased quarterly dividend payment of $0.63 per share, up from $0.57. The dividend is payable on May 18 to shareholders of record as of May 15.
In addition to the increase in the dividend payment, Apple says it will once again expand its share repurchase authorization by an additional $50 billion and the company says it expects to spend a total $300 billion in cash under its overall capital return program by the end of March 2019.
Apple sold 50.8 million iPhones during the quarter, down slightly from 51.1 million a year earlier, while Mac sales rose slightly to 4.20 million units from 4.03 million units in the year-ago quarter. iPad sales continued to decline, falling to 8.92 million from 10.25 million.
“We are proud to report a strong March quarter, with revenue growth accelerating from the December quarter and continued robust demand for iPhone 7 Plus,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve seen great customer response to both models of the new iPhone 7 (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition and we’re thrilled with the strong momentum of our Services business, with our highest revenue ever for a 13-week quarter. Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome attendees from around the world to our annual Worldwide Developers Conference next month in San Jose.”
Apple's guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 includes expected revenue of $43.5–45.5 billion and gross margin between 37.5 and 38.5 percent.
Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q2 2017 financial results conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.
Microsoft today unveiled an all-new "Surface Laptop," a student- and teacher-focused Windows 10 S, new features for Minecraft: Education Edition, a new Surface Arc Mouse, and more at an education-focused event in New York. The hardware reveal of the Surface Laptop marks the first major computer launch for the company since last year's debut of the Surface Book and Surface Studio, the former of which saw huge sales numbers thanks to churn from the "disappointment" of the 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, according to Microsoft.
When compared to the Surface Book's unique reversible hinge, the just-announced Surface Laptop is more traditionally built with a clamshell design and four color options: burgundy, platinum, cobalt blue, and graphite gold. Microsoft is aiming the Surface Laptop at the grade school and college education market, but the laptop will still be purchasable by all users on Microsoft's store, starting at $999 for the Intel Core i5 version with 4GB RAM and 128GB of SSD storage.
In terms of specs, the Surface Laptop includes a PixelSense Display touchscreen with a resolution of 2256 x 1504 that measures 13.5 inches on the diagonal, made with edge-to-edge Corning Gorilla Glass 3. USB-C is not found on the Surface Laptop, but ports otherwise included are: USB, an SD card slot, mini DisplayPort, and a traditional charging port. The laptop will have a battery life that lasts for around 14.5 hours.
The Surface Laptop weighs 2.76 lbs and is 14.47mm at its thickest point, which Microsoft said is unmatched by any of its rivals' laptops. In comparison, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar weighs 3 lbs and is 14.9mm thick. The keyboard section of the Surface Laptop is covered in the same Alcantara material used by the Surface Pro 4 keyboard, and resists spills and is easy to clean, according to the company.
We built Surface Laptop to do two things: refresh the classic laptop form factor that our customers, especially college students, have been asking for; and make a Surface that works seamlessly to showcase the best of Windows 10 S.
The result is the most personal and balanced Surface we’ve ever made. This Surface perfectly blends fabric and function, power and portability, beauty and performance. It does all of this without compromising on the things we know are important to higher education students: battery life, display quality, storage, and portability.
Microsoft's new Windows 10 S operating system comes installed on the computer and is said to provide "superior performance" on laptops at the lower end of the hardware spectrum. Windows 10 S is a walled garden OS, allowing only approved applications from the Windows Store to be downloaded on the system while also cutting down on some Windows 10 features to provide streamlined security and performance.
Microsoft said that these features are expected to come in handy for teachers in classrooms who need regulations on the computers and applications with which their students interact. Windows 10 S will be making it onto a variety of hardware devices, not just the Surface Laptop, including laptops from HP, Dell and Acer. These devices will come in much cheaper than Microsoft's first-party laptop as well, expected to range from $189 to $300.
Microsoft's EDU event also saw the announcement of new features for Minecraft: Education Edition, which will be gaining a new "Code Builder" tool that will allow students to connect to popular learn-to-code platforms to build impressive structures within the game. During the presentation, Microsoft gave a few examples of projects that students have already begun working on using Code Builder in Minecraft, including a Liberal Arts teacher tasking her class with reconstructing Shakespeare's Globe Theater.
Other details of the event include Microsoft Teams, which will let students and teachers collaborate on projects in a chat room, new 3D and mixed reality initiatives, and updated device management software for teachers. A new $79.99 Surface Arc Mouse was also announced today, and is aimed to be a "travel companion" for any Surface device, including the Surface Laptop. The mouse supports Bluetooth 4.0, houses two buttons, and is designed with a travel-friendly, bendable tail.
Pre-orders for the Surface Laptop will begin today, and the device is said to begin shipping on June 15. Configurations on the laptop will go all the way up to an i7 processor with 16GB RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. For a recap of Microsoft's EDU event, check out a highlight video that the company posted to its YouTube channel, as well as a design-focused overview of how Microsoft engineers crafted the Surface Laptop.
“The 600 MHz spectrum will allow 5G to be deployed nationwide, bringing the ultimate experiences to T-Mobile’s enterprise customers and consumers throughout the United States,” said Borje Ekholm, President and CEO, Ericsson. “We will support T-Mobile US with 5G radio development for this spectrum. Commercial availability of the product will be aligned with 3GPP standardization and ecosystem support.”
T-Mobile will help drive 3GPP certification for 5G in 600 MHz. As 5G standards are defined, chipsets are delivered, and equipment comes to market, T-Mobile will quickly deploy 5G nationwide in a large swath of unused spectrum.
T-Mobile expects the first smartphones compatible with the 600 MHz spectrum to be released later this year.
In February, Verizon said it will begin offering gigabit broadband internet over a wireless 5G connection to pilot customers in 11 select U.S. markets during the first half of 2017. AT&T is also rolling out "5G Evolution" speeds in over 20 major metro areas, but as widely reported, it's not really 5G.
Elevation Lab today introduced its latest product, the BatteryPro charger that's designed to be an on-the-go charging solution for both the Apple Watch and the iPhone.
The BatteryPro features an integrated Apple Watch charging puck, so there's no need to supply your own Apple Watch charger, and it has a USB-A port (and included cable) for charging the iPhone.
At 8,000 mAh, it's able to provide more than two weeks of Apple Watch charges or three days of charges for the iPhone 7. It supports full-speed iPhone and Apple Watch charging, with an integrated Apple-approved StowStrap that locks the Apple Watch to the charger so it can charge securely regardless of where the BatteryPro is at.
Design wise, it's similar in shape to an iPhone 7, but thicker, and it fits well in a back pocket. LED lights indicate charge level, and the BatteryPro itself can be recharged using micro-USB. It can lay flat for charging, but there's also an option to balance it on its end to use the Apple Watch Night Stand mode.
Elevation Lab is offering pre-orders for the BatteryPro on its website starting today, with shipments to begin on June 1. The BatteryPro retails for $99.00, but during the pre-order period, a 20 percent discount is available using the POWERUP code at checkout.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is partnering up with Charitybuzz for the fifth year in a row, offering Apple fans the chance to bid on a lunch with Cook where they can hold a discussion with the CEO in a private environment. Additionally, this year the meet-up will be hosted at Apple's brand new Apple Park campus.
Like previous years, the winning bidder will be able to bring along one other person, and the lunch is said to last for around an hour. The cost of the Apple Park meal is included in the winning bid, but travel and accommodations are not. The bidding ends on May 16 at 3PM EDT and as of writing one bid of $10,000 has been entered, with the auction listing an estimated value of $100,000.
Proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, which aims to achieve a just and peaceful world by advancing corporate responsibility, teaching social justice, and partnering with human rights leaders. Cook joined the RFK Center's board of directors last year after being a longtime supporter and proponent of the charity.
Running and cycling app Strava today announced a new update focused on expanding the social aspect of the app's toolset, launching first for 36 professional athletes and expanding to all users later this summer. Called "Athlete Posts," the new feature will let the group of athletes post personal stories, ask their fans questions, share gear tips and recommendations, detail their workout plans, and more.
The update is an expansion to Strava's current social feed and activity uploads, which let all users post pictures of their workout, details of where the run or bike ride was located, and enables comments and likes on posts. According to Strava, Athlete Posts will be a more nuanced addition to its social features that will include basic text and link posts without requiring a workout-related activity upload.
Strava said that this will lead to posts related to recipes, article sharing, stories about recent vacations, and will allow users to avoid other social networks in their hunt for sports-related subject matter.
No more digging through forum websites built in the ’90s to find your niche gear question. And you can leave all the political rants and cat GIFs behind on other social networks. Strava’s where you can be a sport nerd, hanging out with other sport nerds, and delightfully little else.
Strava mentioned that early access for the 36 included athletes will allow any user following them to become familiar with the feature ahead of its wide public debut. Some of the athletes who will begin using Athlete Posts today include Lauren Fleshman, Rich Roll, Susie Chan, Adrian Ballinger, and more. The full list can be found on Strava's website.
“Strava is a place where athletes come to connect with each other, share their experiences and learn from one another,” says Aaron Forth, Chief Product Officer at Strava. “And until now, those connections have been based entirely on athletic activities. Our opportunity is to help athletes have conversations beyond their daily activities, sharing everything from favorite gear, to injury recovery tips, to travel recommendations.
To open up those conversations, we are introducing the ability for members to post new types of content. Ultimately, when you want to engage with friends who share your passion for all things running, cycling, swimming, hiking, or any other sport, Strava is the place to do it.”
Athlete Posts will be available for all users when the feature launches wide later this summer, and it won't be part of the Strava Premium membership plan. Strava is available to download for free from the iOS App Store [Direct Link], and the update should begin appearing throughout the day. As the company pointed out in its blog post, users will only notice Athlete Posts if they follow one of the 36 participating athletes.
During today's 
