Multiple iCloud services are currently experiencing downtime, according to Apple's System Status page, leaving them inaccessible to some users.
Find My Friends, Find My iPhone, iCloud Backup, Contacts, Calendar, Drive, Keychain, Mail, Notes, Reminders, Storage Upgrades, and Web Apps have all been down for some people since 8:35 a.m. Pacific Time.
Back to My Mac, iWork for iCloud apps, Mail Drop, and Photos are also impacted.
Apple's System Status report says that 1.5 percent of users are affected and may be unable to use the above listed services. It's not clear how long the outage will last, but we'll update when it's resolved.
Update: According to Apple's System Status page, the iCloud issue has been resolved.
Apple has outlined the HomePod's power consumption in an environmental report [PDF] about the speaker published today.
Apple says the HomePod consumes less power than an average ENERGY STAR certified LED household light bulb during music playback. The comparison is true, as a classic-shaped A-series LED bulb typically draws around 9-10 watts, while the HomePod draws around 8.74 watts with 115V of line voltage during music playback at 50 percent volume. Of course, power will vary depending on the volume.
The environmental report includes a chart with a complete breakdown of the HomePod's power consumption based on different line voltages. For those unaware, around 115V is standard in the United States and Canada, and around 230V is standard in many other countries like the UK. 100V is standard in Japan.
Apple says the HomePod is so energy efficient because it automatically enters a low power mode after eight minutes of inactivity. In this mode, the speaker draws between only 1.71 and 1.76 watts of power.
HomePod outperforms the stringent requirements of the ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Audio/Video Version 3.0, consuming 50 percent less than the allowable energy for low power mode, according to Apple.
HomePod uses power-efficient components and software that can intelligently power them down during periods of inactivity. For example, through optimized power management features and a high-efficiency power supply, HomePod has been designed to be efficient in its low power mode, where the majority of time is spent. The result is that HomePod is energy efficient right out of the box.
The environmental report also notes the HomePod is free of brominated flame retardants, PVC, and beryllium, and adds that 100 percent of its packaging fibers are sourced from responsibly managed forests or recycled paper.
On a related note, an Apple support representative told 9to5Mac that the HomePod comes with a two-meter power cable in the box that is color matched in Space Gray or White. The representative said the cable is removable and user replaceable, but this wasn't the case on demo units, so it may be wrong information.
Although longer and more in-depth reviews for Apple's smart speaker, the HomePod, have not yet been published, a few websites have gotten the chance to spend an hour or so with the speaker and have been sharing their experiences this week.
At Digital Trends, Julian Chokkattu liked the unassuming design of the HomePod, noting that "it's easy to miss... because it makes no effort at standing out." This should make it easier for the HomePod to blend in with any room's decor, according to Chokkattu.
In terms of sound, he got to listen to upwards of five songs from various genres at a volume of about 65 percent, and concluded that it "sounds great" no matter where you are in the room. He also called his brief encounters with Siri on HomePod "fast and seamless," explaining that Siri is smart enough to realize when you're meaning to activate it on your iPhone ("when your phone is in your hand") so that the HomePod does not answer.
Audio quality is beautifully warm, yet the bass is not overpowering, even though it was still quite rich. If you close your eyes, it’s easy to feel like you’re at a live performance. We could pick out the vocals and instruments clearly. The speaker allows each instrument to shine through; you can hear precise guitar plucks. No, it doesn’t have that crisp sound you’d hear from very expensive high-end speakers, but then again, the HomePod doesn’t cost thousands yet still pushes brilliant sound quality out of a single, small enclosure.
What’s more impressive is how consistent the HomePod sounds wherever you are in the room. Yes, the further away you are, the quieter it is, but not by much. It almost felt like the music was following our movement, and it consistently sounded great.
Tech journalist Lance Ulanoff shared his thoughts on HomePod in a post on Medium, and noted that when the sound quality was compared to the Google Home Max and Sonos One, HomePod was "astonishing." Ulanoff echoed a sentiment stated by Chokkattu, detailing a listening experience that felt as if he was hearing the music "in a small café for an audience of me" and equating HomePod's sound quality to a live performance.
Although stereo pairing won't be ready at launch, Ulanoff got to experience this as well and said that "two HomePods playing just about anything is incredible." Ultimately, he called HomePod an "ultra-high-quality" speaker that doubles as an "excellent Siri ambassador."
What Apple has here is an ultra-high-quality speaker and the first physical instantiation of Siri without a screen. The fact that Apple is finally entering the smart speaker race is cause for muted celebration. It’s attractive, sounds amazing and is an excellent Siri ambassador. And it’s $349. Is better sound and solid iOS integration (plus the added cost of an Apple Music subscription) worth spending nearly four times as much as a decent sounding Echo?
Pete Pachal with Mashable was also impressed by the HomePod's sound quality, which he described as an "aural triumph," but was more skeptical on the device and questioned whether or not Apple is too late to the smart speaker market.
What I'm less convinced of, however, is whether customers will care. The success of the Echo Dot — Amazon's puck-shaped smart speaker that definitely de-emphasizes the second word of that description — tells me that anyone who's been won over by the category mostly just wants to get the power of voice command in more places. And audio? A glorified intercom will do. Or, hey, just connect your own speakers.
In my short time with the HomePod, I came away impressed with its acoustic power and precision. I liked the design more than I thought I would, too. But in the world of smart speakers — which is where Apple is now competing, despite its desire to make the conversation all about music — those factors are secondary to the simple question, "How much can this thing do for me?"
Those interested in HomePod can pre-order the speaker on Apple.com in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia beginning today, January 26, and then the device will launch on February 9. For those on the fence about Apple's entry into the smart speaker market, Sonos today is launching a sale aimed at competing with Apple where you can get two Sonos One speakers for the same price of one HomePod.
Apple is now accepting HomePod orders through its online store and Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom, with the first deliveries to customers estimated to arrive Friday, February 9, which is when in-store availability begins as well.
HomePod is available in Space Gray and White for $349 in the United States, $499 in Australia, and £319 in the United Kingdom.
While the HomePod is only launching in three countries today, it can be used anywhere in the world. However, Siri currently supports American, Australian, and British varieties of English only. More languages will be supported in future software updates, including French and German this spring.
Apple has primarily positioned the HomePod as a speaker that can stream Apple Music, but with built-in Siri, users can send messages, set timers, play podcasts, check the news and weather, control HomeKit-enabled smart home accessories, and complete other tasks without needing to take out their iPhone.
The high-fidelity speaker is equipped with spatial awareness and Apple-engineered audio technology, including a seven‑tweeter array and high-excursion woofer. It stands nearly seven inches tall and is powered by Apple's A8 chip.
While some construction remains underway at Apple Park on both the inside and outside, an increasing number of Apple employees will likely transition to the company's new headquarters over the next few months.
VentureBeat reports that Apple received temporary occupancy permits for five of the 12 sections of the main circular building on the campus in late December. The report adds that Apple is on track to receive temporary occupancy permits for all of the other sections between late January and March at the latest.
The permits should accelerate the move-in process for some 12,000 employees that will eventually work out of Apple Park, with many coming from the company's nearby Infinite Loop campus, both of which are located in Cupertino, California.
Apple employees have generally remained quiet about the move, in line with the company's secretive culture, but a few mentions have surfaced on social media platforms like Twitter and Snapchat since early January. One employee tweeted that Wednesday was his last day at Apple's previous Infinite Loop headquarters.
Last day at the Loop. It’s always felt surreal to be in these buildings where so much has happened. Next week starts at the new campus, Apple Park, where new history will be made.
— Brian (@littlebluebro) January 25, 2018
Apple had already received temporary occupancy permits last year for certain sections of Apple Park that contain the restaurant and atrium. Permits were also granted for the Apple Park Visitor Center and Steve Jobs Theater, where Apple unveiled the iPhone X and will host its annual shareholders meeting next month.
Apple originally said its new headquarters would open last April, but at its September event, chief executive Tim Cook said employees would begin moving in later in the year, beyond some ancillary buildings already in use.
When construction wraps up at Apple Park, the headquarters should be able to receive permanent occupancy permits. For the latest progress update, watch this drone video shared by Duncan Sinfield earlier this month.
Apple could release just one new OLED-based iPhone alongside two new iPhone models with LCD displays this year, according to a new report today. Previous reports have gravitated towards the view that Apple will launch two new 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED iPhone models and only one 6.1-inch model with an LCD display.
However, Digitimes Research senior analyst Luke Lin believes Apple is increasingly leaning towards releasing two LCD-based models – one between 5.7-inch and 5.8-inches, and another between 6.0-inches and 6.1-inches. Lin also claims the 6.1-inch OLED device Apple is testing is falling out of favor, and the company sees more of a future in a larger 6.4- to 6.5-inch OLED model it is also testing.
Apple originally intended to push the two OLED iPhones and the 6.0- to 6.1-inch LCD iPhone, but has recently started leaning toward the combination of the two LCD models plus the 6.4- to 6.5-inch OLED iPhone, abandoning the 6.0- to 6.1-inch OLED model.
Such a line-up would be similar to the iPhone range Apple launched last year: Two LCD-based devices in the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, and the OLED-based iPhone X. Lin believes the four iPhone projects Apple is working on all support wireless charging and 3D sensing functionalities. However, Lin believes Apple has not yet made a final decision on the combination, so the 2x OLED/ 1x LCD iPhone line-up predicted by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo could still play out.
Taiwan-based website DigiTimes has a mixed track record at reporting on Apple's upcoming product plans, but its sources within the upstream supply chain have proven reliable in the past. However, its in-house research arm remains an unknown quantity, so we remain guarded on the accuracy of this prediction going forward.
Earlier this week, Taiwan's Commercial Times added to the speculation by claiming Apple's rumored 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will use Japan Display's so-called "Full Active" LCD technology, enabling it to have a taller display and ultra-slim 0.5mm bezels on all four sides, making them smaller than those on the iPhone X.
Apple is reportedly working on a new entry-level smartphone model similar to the iPhone SE that will support wireless charging and be released in time for summer 2018.
The prediction comes from Digitimes Research analyst Luke Lin, who believes that Apple's iPhone SE successor will have a glass back similar to the iPhone 8 series and iPhone X, but will lack the 3D sensing capabilities of the latter model.
For the entry-level sector, Apple is preparing a new inexpensive smartphone similar to the iPhone SE for 2018, featuring the wireless charging functionality, but not 3D sensing. The smartphone will begin mass production in the second quarter with the official launch in May or June, Lin noted.
Taiwan-based website DigiTimes has a mixed track record at reporting on Apple's upcoming product plans. Its sources within the upstream supply chain have proven reliable in the past, but predictions from its research analysts are harder to gauge.
Lin doesn't specifically mention the size of the new entry-level model, but the details match up with previous rumors about a forthcoming four-inch 'iPhone SE 2' with a glass back, although earlier speculation said the device would ship in the first quarter of 2018, rather than the second quarter.
Rumors about a the specifications of Apple's next small form factor smartphone appeared in August last year, when Indian tech website Tekz24 claimed Apple's next iPhone SE model would have an A10 Fusion chip, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB and 128GB storage capacities, and a slightly larger 1,700 mAh battery.
In November, China's Economic Daily News claimed Apple's second-generation iPhone SE was set for the first half of 2018 and would be assembled by Wistron at its factory in Bengaluru, India, where some assembly of the current iPhone SE occurs. Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce also recently predicted that Apple is planning to launch a second-generation iPhone SE in 2018 to target the mid-range smartphone market.
Apple hasn't properly refreshed the iPhone SE since it launched back in March 2016, but it did double the available storage capacities to 64GB and 128GB in March 2017. Apple has confirmed an AirPower wireless charging mat will be released sometime this year for Apple Watch and iPhone models with a wireless charging feature.
Starting on February 2, the Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular connectivity will be available for purchase in Singapore and Hong Kong, according to updated information shared on Apple's Singapore and Hong Kong websites.
Customers in Singapore and Hong Kong will be able to place orders for the cellular Apple Watch starting on February 2, with those orders set to arrive on February 9, the official launch date for the device.
Pricing on the LTE Apple Watch Series 3 will start at S$598 in Singapore and HK$3,188 in Hong Kong.
In Singapore, the cellular Apple Watch will be available with Singtel service, and in Hong Kong, both 1O1O and csl3 will support it.
The Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular connectivity is already available in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Switzerland, and the UK. In other countries, only Apple Watch Series 3 models with GPS are available for purchase.
It was available in China at launch, but one week after launch, carriers in China stopped offering the cellular version of the device, likely due its usage of an eSIM, a new technology in the country, and government security concerns.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 11.3 update to its public beta testing group, one day after providing the beta to developers and a few days after the release of tvOS 11.2.5, a minor bug fix update.
The tvOS 11.2.5 public beta can be obtained by going to the Settings app on the Apple TV and navigating to the Software Updates section under "System." "Get Public Beta Updates" will need to be toggled on, and once it is, the Apple TV will download the beta software.
With AirPlay 2, you can play music on multiple Apple TVs in different rooms, and when AirPlay 2 officially launches, that same functionality will extend to other AirPlay 2 devices like HomePod and AirPlay 2 compatible speakers.
Other new features in tvOS 11.3 include enhancements to Match Content support, automatic frame rate switching on the fourth-generation Apple TV, and automatic mode switching for AirPlay video sessions.
Apple's Clips video editing app received a small update this afternoon, introducing new artwork ahead of Chinese New Year on February 16.
Today's update brings a new Apple-designed label and poster for Chinese New Year. The poster, which reads "Gung Hay Fat Choy" (the equivalent to Happy New Year in Cantonese) is accompanied by fireworks and can be used as an interstitial scene in a video composition, while the label, which says the same thing, can be used as a sticker.
According to Apple's release notes, the update also improves stability when browsing and recording Selfie Scenes on the iPhone X and it addresses an issue that caused the Top Secret poster to animate incorrectly during playback.
Today's minor Clips update follows a significant overhaul of the app that was introduced in November. That update added "Selfie Scenes," a feature that's designed to use the front-facing TrueDepth camera on the iPhone X to immerse users in 360-degree animated landscapes.
The new poster and label is available on all devices, but Selfie Scenes are limited to the iPhone X. Clips can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
If you're looking to cut down on the amount of time you spend performing certain actions on your iPhone, there's usually a solution hidden in Apple's mobile operating system. Here are five quick iOS tips that once you start using will make you a lot more time-efficient in the long run.
This article assumes you're using an iPhone running iOS 11 or later, but some of these tips will work on iPad and earlier versions of Apple's mobile OS. Read on for more.
1. Search a Web Page
In Safari on iOS, there are two ways to search a web page for a specific word or phrase. One method is quicker than the other, although neither is necessarily immediately obvious.
The first way involves tapping the Share icon (the square with an arrow pointing out of it), sliding your finger left along the bottom column, and tapping the Find on Page button, indicated by a magnifying glass. Start typing what you're looking for, and your search results will be returned automatically.
The second, faster method is to type your search term straight into Safari's address bar and then tap the On This Page option at the bottom of the suggestion list, after which you'll be able to tap through each occurrence of the term on the current page.
2. Swipe to Delete in the Calculator
It's a common misconception that if you type the wrong number into the Calculator app, you have to start the whole sum all over again. Happily, that isn't the case: Simply swipe right or left with a finger across the number display to remove the last number you typed, and repeat the action if necessary to remove several numbers.
3. Access Deeper Control Center Options Sans 3D Touch
In iOS 11, the Control Center is designed to reveal deeper controls when the user hard-presses to activate 3D Touch – just try it on the camera button, for instance.
If you own an iPhone SE or an older iPhone that doesn't support 3D Touch gestures, it's still possible to access these more granular controls on any button that supports them by using a simple long press instead.
4. Quick-Switch Back From Numbers/Symbols to Letters
Switching onscreen keyboards when you need to type a number or symbol is an all-too-often occurrence on iPhone, so here's a tip for making the transition super-swift.
Rather than tap the "123" key to switch to the number/symbol keyboard, hold down on it and slide your finger over to the key you want, then let go. This single action types the number/symbol and automatically switches you back to the alphabetical layout, avoiding the need to perform three separate taps to achieve the same result.
5. Clear All Notifications At Once
If you've got a bunch of notifications from earlier in the day or week that are clogging up your Notifications Screen, don't waste time clearing them one by one. Simply hard press on the first x icon you see on the right of the list. From there, you only need to select the Clear All Notifications 3D Touch option to make them instantly vanish.
Apple this week signed a straight-to-series order for a drama series from "La La Land" creator Damien Chazelle, according to reports from Variety and The New York Times.
Little is known about the series at this time, but Chazelle plans to write and direct each episode of the series, as well as executive produce. Apple did not divulge information about the subject of the series, where it will take place, or how many episodes Chazelle will make.
Chazelle is best known for writing and directing "La La Land," which starred Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. "La La Land" won six Academy Awards, including Best Director, and seven Golden Globe awards. In addition to "La La Land," Chazelle wrote and directed "Whiplash," an award winning film starring Miles Teller.
The original TV series for Apple will be Chazelle's second television-related project, as he also recently inked a deal with Netflix to create "The Eddy," a musical series set in Paris.
Apple has multiple other original TV shows in the works under the leadership of former Sony executives Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, including a revival of 1985 Steven Spielberg sci-fi series "Amazing Stories," an untitled space drama developed by Ronald D. Moore, known for "Battlestar Galactica," an untitled "morning show drama" starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, "Are You Sleeping," a psychological thriller starring Octavia Spencer that focuses on a podcast that reopens a murder case, "Home," a docuseries about amazing houses, and "See," a futuristic drama series.
Apple today released the first public beta of an upcoming iOS 11.3 update to its public beta testing group, one day after seeding the first beta to developers and a few days after releasing the iOS 11.2.5 update.
Beta testers who are members of Apple's beta testing program will receive the iOS 11.3 beta update over-the-air after installing the proper certificate on an iOS device.
Those who want to join the beta testing program can sign up on Apple's beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas. iOS betas are not always stable and should not be installed on a primary device.
iOS 11.3 is a significant update that introduces multiple new features like Messages on iCloud for storing your iMessages in iCloud, and ARKit 1.5, a new, upgraded version of ARKit that can more accurately map irregularly shaped surfaces and recognize and place objects on vertical surfaces like walls.
Four new Animoji are available for the iPhone X, the Health app has a new Health Records feature where you can store your medical records, and AirPlay 2 features are available in both iOS 11.3 and tvOS 11.3.
Other features new to iOS 11.3 include an Apple News "For You" section that displays the top videos of the day, Advanced Mobile Location (AML) for sharing more accurate location info when placing an emergency call in a supported country, and a new Privacy icon that will show up whenever Apple asks you for info. iBooks has also had the "i" removed from its name, so it's just "Books" now.
In the future, Apple plans to introduce more detailed information about the health of a device's battery. The update should provide a lot more data about battery health, and there will also be an option to let customers turn off the power management feature entirely, though Apple does not recommend disabling it.
Business Chat, which will let you interface with businesses like Wells Fargo, Delta, Hilton and Lowe's right in the Messages app is coming when iOS 11.3 is released, and improvements to Apple Music will bring better support for music videos.
Apple says iOS 11.3 will be released to the public in the spring.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 4.3 update to developers, just two days after releasing watchOS 4.2.2, a minor update focusing on bug fixes and performance improvements.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
It's not yet clear what new features or improvements the watchOS 4.3 beta might introduce, but we'll update this post once we've installed the update and have had time to look for any new features.
Update: watchOS 4.3 introduces support for Nightstand mode when in portrait orientation, it includes a new charging animation when placing the Apple Watch on the charger, and it adds Activity information to the Siri watch face.
The update also includes the return of a much-desired feature that allows music playing on the iPhone to be controlled using the Music app on the Apple Watch. In prior versions of watchOS, the Music app could only be used to control music playing from the watch itself.
Apple today released a major 10.4 update for its professional audio editing software Logic Pro X, introducing a huge list of new features for musicians and sound editors.
A new Smart Tempo system is designed to keep multiple tracks in sync regardless of their original tempo, allowing content to be combined together automatically. It lets users record into Logic Pro X using an attached instrument sans metronome or click track, with the software analyzing your performance to create a tempo map for the project.
Several new plug-ins are included in Logic Pro X 10.4, including ChromaVerb, an algorithmic reverb with a colorful visual component, Step FX for rhythmic multi-effect processing, and Vintage EQ with three vintage analog EQ models from the 1950s to 1970s. A full list of all the new plug-ins is below:
- ChromaVerb is a sophisticated new algorithmic reverb with a colorful, interactive interface for creating rich acoustic spaces - Space Designer is a convolution reverb with a new design and a scalable, Retina interface - Step FX adds rhythmic multi-effect processing using 3 powerful step sequencers and an X/Y pad - Phat FX makes your tracks bigger and bolder using 9 effects that add warmth and punch to your sounds - The Vintage EQ Collection provides 3 accurate models of vintage analog EQs from the 1950s to the 1970s - Studio Strings and Studio Horns are deeply sampled, realistic ensemble instruments with custom articulation controls - Mellotron is now available as a standalone instrument plug-in - Retro Synth now offers 18 different filter models
Two additional drummers with roots and jazz-influenced styles are included, and there are two new vintage brush kits for Drum Kit Designer. Apple has also added more than 800 new loops in a variety of instruments and genres, plus the New Visions library for Alchemy has gained 150 cinematic presets.
Other new features include an undo option for mixer and plug-in actions, an option for saving favorites in the File Browser, support for looping audio files in the Loop Browser, and a new universal design for controlling articulations for a more consistent interface across Logic and third-party instruments.
Today's Logic Pro X update is free for existing users. New users can download Logic Pro X from the Mac App Store for $199.99. [Direct Link]
Apple has expanded its California fleet of self-driving vehicles from three registered last April to 27 as of early 2018, according to a new report posted by Bloomberg today and sourced from emails with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Following the first three vehicle registrations, from July 2017 to January 2018 Apple has registered 24 more Lexus RX450h sports utility vehicles in California as part of its self-driving tests. The company is believed to be "accelerating" efforts to catch up to one of the current leaders in the self-driving field, Alphabet's Waymo.
Work on the "Apple Car" began circulating in rumors from early 2015, when reports of "Project Titan" emerged and pointed towards upwards of 1,000 employees working on developing an electric vehicle at a secret location near the company's Cupertino headquarters. Over time, the project pivoted away from Apple constructing a vehicle of its own to the development of a self-driving software system, which CEO Tim Cook confirmed last summer.
We're focusing on autonomous systems," Cook said in an interview on Bloomberg Television. "It's a core technology that we view as very important."
"We sort of see it as the mother of all AI projects," Cook said in his most detailed comments to date on Apple's plans in the car space. "It's probably one of the most difficult AI projects actually to work on."
Now, Apple is said to be gearing up to compete with Waymo and its self-driving tests, which have currently expanded into six states, encompassing 600 minivans in Phoenix, Arizona alone and now open up to public applicants. Waymo partnered with Lyft last year to begin building a ride-hailing service that aims "to bring autonomous vehicle technology into the mainstream," and then began testing such a service without a safety driver "or any human at all" behind the steering wheel.
iHelpBR editor Filipe Espósito has discovered strings in the first iOS 11.3 beta that refer to a "modern iPad," which is notable since Apple's software engineers referred to the iPhone X as the "modern iPhone" in older firmware, according to both Espósito and developer Guilherme Rambo.
While the "modern iPad" strings could be placeholders, as commonly found in Apple's code, the discovery lends credence to rumors of an iPad Pro with Face ID, which would certainly be a logical next step in Apple's product roadmap.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also expects Apple to release a new iPad Pro with Face ID this year, so there is a good chance the rumor is true. Like the iPhone X, the tablet reportedly lacks a Home button, although it will likely still have an LCD instead of OLED display due to supply, cost, and technological constraints.
It's unclear if the iPad Pro will have a notch for the TrueDepth system, as illustrated in the first mockup above, or if the device will have uniformly slim bezels on all four sides with enough room for the Face ID sensors.
Sonos has announced a limited time sale launching tomorrow, January 26 in the United States and United Kingdom, bundling two of the company's Sonos One speakers together for $349/£349. Individual Sonos One devices cost $199 in the U.S., so the company's new sale offers $50 in savings.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The sale offers two Sonos Ones for the same price as Apple's $349 HomePod, and is debuting on the same day that customers will be able to pre-order the HomePod in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. With two Sonos Ones, users can have a stereo pair of speakers to enhance sound, or play music across multiple rooms -- two features HomePod will not have at launch.
"Sonos One sounds incredible on its own, but the ability to have a stereo pair or have music in two rooms vs. one at $349 US feels like it's an easy choice for those who truly love music," said Joy Howard, chief marketing officer at Sonos. "We believe in freedom of choice and don't want to lock people into a specific ecosystem – it's why we support more than 80 streaming services globally and will take an agnostic approach to voice assistants as well."
Sonos One supports Amazon Alexa, and the company previously confirmed that Google Assistant is coming later this year. Support for Apple's AirPlay 2 protocol is planned for 2018 as well. Like other smart speakers, Sonos One can be controlled with voice and can read out information sourced from Alexa like the weather and news. Sonos launched the Sonos One in October 2017.
Sonos did not mention how long the new limited sale will last, but confirmed those interested will be able to take advantage of the offer on Sonos.com and through participating retailers. We'll update this post tomorrow if the company creates a new landing page for the sale.
Update 1/26: The Sonos One Bundle is now available to purchase on Sonos.com for $349 with free delivery.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
