Popular accessory maker Twelve South has come out with a line of merchandise to promote the brand, ranging from T-shirts and cups to a candle that's been causing quite a stir on the Internet over the last couple of days.
Made from soy wax, Twelve South's candle promises to deliver a "New Mac" smell, as in the smell you get when you take a whiff of a freshly opened and unboxed MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or other Mac product.
According to Twelve South, the "New Mac" candle features notes of mint, peach, basil, lavender, mandarin, and sage, which somehow magically combine to mimic the smell of a new Mac.
If you think you've seen everything, here's a new one... Ever open up a new Mac box and smell it? (or is that just us?) We took that scent - and literally bottled it. Meet the New Mac Soy Candle. No kidding. It's kind of awesome.
Twelve South is pricing its New Mac candle at $24, and it's been so popular with Apple enthusiasts that it's temporarily sold out. The company expects to have more available for purchase later this month.
Twelve South's merchandise page also features a water bottle, coffee mug, t-shirt, drink cooler set, and hat, all ranging in price from $14 to $29.
At its media event today in San Francisco, Google announced a few new pieces of hardware, mainly centering around the company's artificial intelligence initiatives and the confirmation of a new pair of smartphones called the Pixel and Pixel XL.
Additionally, the company revealed the new Chromecast Ultra streaming dongle, a VR headset called Google Daydream, and gave more details about its connected smart home hub device, Google Home. Bits and pieces of information on the Pixel smartphones and Google Home have surfaced online over the past few weeks, correctly predicting most of today's announcements.
Google Assistant
The company started off by providing details on its artificial intelligence platform, called Google Assistant, which the company says is like "your own personal Google." The assistant can perform normal tasks like playing music, performing search queries, and providing navigation directions, as well as carrying on a normal conversation with the user. The company showed this by providing an example of a user asking for directions, then inquiring about restaurants at the destination's end, and finally setting a reservation at one.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai also discussed a few intelligent updates coming to the company's search system, including improvements to image descriptions, better translation fueled by machine learning technology, and more human-like text-to-speech abilities. Pichai said that the assistant will "constantly get better" as the company introduces it to more and more users, which it's started doing with the recent launch of Google Allo.
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update to public beta testers, one week after seeding the second public beta and one day after seeding the third beta to developers. It's been two weeks since Apple released macOS Sierra to the public.
Beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program will receive the 10.12.1 macOS Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
Those who want to be a part of Apple's beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to both iOS and macOS Sierra betas. Betas should not be installed on a primary machine due to the potential for instability.
macOS Sierra 10.12.1 appears to focus mainly on bug fixes and performance improvements to address issues that have surfaced up since macOS Sierra was first released. It also includes album support in Photos for the new Portrait feature in iOS 10 on the iPhone 7 Plus.
macOS Sierra is a major operating system update that introduces features like Siri support, cross device copy paste, improved iCloud functionality, the ability to unlock a Mac with the Apple Watch, an Optimize Storage option, and more.
Apple today seeded the second beta of watchOS 3.1, Build 14S464, to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first beta and three weeks after releasing watchOS 3 to the public.
watchOS 3.1 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 must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. watchOS 3.1 requires an iPhone running iOS 10 to install.
watchOS 3.1 appears to focus on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements rather than outward-facing changes, as no new features were discovered in the first beta. We'll update this post with anything new that's found in the second beta.
watchOS 3 brings a new interface to the Apple Watch, with a dedicated App Dock and instant launch apps. There are new Activity sharing features, a "Breathe" app guides you through daily deep breathing sessions to cut down on stress, and there are new Reminders, Find My Friends, and Heart Rate apps.
Three new watch faces are included, and an SOS feature can automatically call emergency services. A revamped Messages app makes it easier to reply to incoming texts, plus there's a new "Scribble" feature for writing replies on the Apple Watch face with a finger.
Apple today seeded the second beta of tvOS 10.0.1, Build 14U66, to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the first tvOS 10.0.1 beta and three weeks after releasing the tvOS 10 update.
Designed for the fourth-generation Apple TV, tvOS 10.0.1 can be installed by connecting the Apple TV to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, downloading and installing the software via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Once a beta profile has been installed on the device through iTunes, new beta updates will be available over the air.
No obvious outward-facing features were discovered in the tvOS 10.0.1 beta, so it's likely it focuses on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements to address issues discovered since the release of the first version of tvOS 10.
Single sign-on, a feature that will allow Apple TV users to sign in once with their cable credentials to access all live cable content included in a cable subscription, does not appear to be in this beta and will be introduced in the future.
tvOS 10 brings improved search, expanded Siri capabilities, a new dark mode, a Continuity option for using the iPhone for text input, automatic download of universal apps, easy access to live TV, and more.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming iOS 10 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first iOS 10.1 beta and three weeks after releasing iOS 10 to the public.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 10.1 beta, Build 14B67, from the Apple Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile is installed.
iOS 10.1 includes a new "Portrait" mode for the iPhone 7 Plus that allows it to use the two built-in cameras to create shallow depth of field portrait photos with blurred backgrounds.
To achieve the look, the image signal processor in the iPhone 7 Plus uses images from the wide-angle camera to create a depth map, dissecting the different layers of the photo to decide what to blur. It works on people, pets, and objects, but does require good lighting to achieve the proper effect.
The update also likely includes bug fixes and other under-the-hood improvements to address issues that have been uncovered since iOS 10 was released.
iOS 10 has been described by Apple as the "biggest release ever" for iOS users, with features that include a redesigned Lock screen, a Siri SDK to allow third-party apps to integrate with Siri, and a completely overhauled Messages app with stickers, a full App Store, Digital Touch, Bubble Effects, and more.
Other features include a dedicated "Home" app for HomeKit users, new facial and object recognition capabilities in Photos, and redesigned Maps and Apple Music apps.
Apple has also released a second beta of Xcode 8.1 for developers.
What's new in iOS 10.1 beta 2:
Messages - The Messages App Drawer has been tweaked. There are no longer dots to represent each app installed, and there's a new scroll bar at the bottom.
Split-View - It's no longer possible to drag and drop stickers when using Split View mode on an iPad that supports it.
Apple has added The CW to the universal search function on the fourth-generation Apple TV, less than a week after the app launched in the United States.
The CW app allows Apple TV owners to watch new episodes of shows on the network for free, with ads, with no cable authentication or login required. Only five episodes from the most recent season of each show are available to watch, with no archived content available from past seasons.
Apple TV universal search has also expanded to five additional countries, namely Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands, for iTunes movies and Netflix. Meanwhile, in Australia, universal search now supports regional video on demand services ABC iview and Plus7, a few months after support for Stan was added.
For those unfamiliar with universal search, it's a feature that allows users to conduct Siri voice searches or text-based searches to find TV and movie content across a wide range of channels. At launch, universal search only supported a few channels, but Apple has been rapidly expanding the feature to encompass additional channels.
Apple TV universal search is available for a wide number of apps in the United States, but the feature is limited to iTunes and Netflix in Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In some other countries and regions, only movies in iTunes are supported.
Yahoo today announced the rebranding of its core mobile app to "Yahoo Newsroom," where users can engage in conversations and social interactions about news relevant to their interests. The app makes it easy to discover new and breaking stories through a range of topics the company is referring to as "Vibes." Yahoo describes each Vibe as a "forum where you read, react, and debate topics that you care about."
With every Vibe followed, the app's newsfeed "will adjust to include the stories and conversations that matter most to you," and the more the app is used, more user-specific content will appear for each person. Users can also post articles into various Vibes, along with their opinion on the subject, so other users can comment and begin a discussion.
What’s exciting about this experience is that it empowers our community of hundreds of millions of global users to participate in and help shape the conversation. You can now post articles from around the web – with your reactions – directly into specific “Vibes” to spark a discussion. Yahoo’s personalization technology ensures that people who share your interests will see your posts and be prompted to join the conversation.
The company hopes that Yahoo Newsroom encourages users to participate in discussions on a wide range of topics while being "free from social pressure" that might be present in other communities. Yahoo says its new app is specifically aimed at exploring the Vibes curated for you with "people that share your interests, not 'friends' on social media."
Ultimate Ears today updated its iOS and Android apps with a feature called "Party Up" that lets users connect "more than 50" of its Bluetooth speakers at once (via TechCrunch). When synced together, every speaker can be simultaneously controlled from a single mobile device, with the music selection and volume synced together across every speaker. Additionally, the company's UE Boom 2 speaker is gaining Siri integration with today's update, making it "quicker, easier, and more convenient than ever to keep your party going."
After updating the app, users can find the new setting by swiping right-to-left on the home screen. In this new Party Up section of the app, guest speakers will appear at the bottom of the screen, called the drawer, and all users have to do is drag and drop each speaker they want to sync up into the middle of the screen. Similarly, to remove a speaker from the party, drag and drop it back into the drawer.
PartyUp is an exclusive UE App feature that lets you wirelessly connect 50+ speakers and take your music where no other portable bluetooth speaker can go. Caves. Mountains. Lakes. Rooftops. You name it. So grab your speaker and your friend’s speakers, and take the party to a new level. Wherever. Whenever
With our brand new and improved UE App, growing the party has never been so easy and fun. Simply download the UE App to join and amplify your Party. So no matter how big your party gets, you can connect 50+ UE BOOM, UE BOOM 2 and UE MEGABOOM wireless speakers at the same time. #PartyUp
Ultimate Ears says the UE Boom, UE Boom 2, and UE Megaboom can all participate in the new Party Up feature, but the company's smaller Bluetooth speakers - the UE Roll and UE Roll 2 - are not supported. In its tests, Ultimate Ears engineers have said to reach up to 140 connected UE speakers, although it's not likely the company's "50+" statistic is accounting for users to have that many speakers in one place simultaneously.
UE Boom and Megaboom users can try out the new Party Up mode today by downloading the update to the UE Boom iOS app on the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Adobe today released new versions of Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements, its affordable photo and video editing software aimed at consumers. Both Photoshop and Premiere Elements include new tools and enhancements to existing capabilities to make the photo and video editing experience even more streamlined and simple.
Photoshop Elements includes a new Transform tool that's able to turn frowns into smiles, adjust squinting eyes, and make other quick, easy adjustments to photos in a matter of minutes. Filters have been improved and can be layered and edited more simply, and there's a new Smart Tags system that scans images for content and makes it easier to find them based on subjects like cats, dogs, sunsets, birthdays, people, and more. Search using multiple terms is also available.
For those who are new to the photo editing process, Photoshop Elements has a range of new Guided Edits to do things like add text elements to photos, layer multiple effects, add motion blur behind subjects, turn photos into paintings with texture and color, and create custom frames.
On touch screen devices, which pertains to Windows machines, there are new options for using the Organizer and Quick Edit with touch-based gestures, an improvement also included in Premiere Elements. Both Premiere and Photoshop Elements also include integration with Facebook, YouTube, and other social networks to make it faster to share videos and photos.
Premiere Elements features a simplified search tool to quickly locate video content you want to work with, and there's a new tool for clearing haze from landscape shots for clearer video. As with Photoshop Elements, Premiere Elements includes new Guided Edits, including one that allows users to apply effects across multiple clips or an entire movie.
Face detection allows Favorite Moments to automatically locate the people in your videos to bring them to the front and center, a feature that's also new to Pan and Zoom and Smart Trim, enhancing the functionality of these tools. A new music remix feature lets users pick a music file that can be automatically rematched to the length of the movie, and there's a tool for creating dynamic collages from photos and videos.
Photoshop Elements 15 and Premiere Elements 15 for Mac and Windows can be purchased from Adobe's website for $99.99 each. Bundles are available for $149.99, and existing users can upgrade for $79.99 for one product or $119 for the bundle.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office today granted Apple a patent that describes a Touch ID sensor which could effectively detect and read a user's fingerprints through other components of the smartphone, "such as display stacks and touch screens" (via AppleInsider). While going unspecified, the technology aligns with the current rumors for the iPhone 8, which is expected to eliminate the Home Button for good and integrate various pieces of the smartphone directly into the display, including Touch ID.
Described in the new patent, there are many reasons Apple is looking to integrate Touch ID into the iPhone's screen, "not the least of which is an interest in avoiding assigning valuable surface space exclusively to an component that may only be used briefly during the process of identifying the user." But the company still had to face multiple issues when building the new technology, namely a "blurring of the electric field" that brought about a loss of resolution of the fingerprint images as they were being transferred through the space between the Touch ID sensor and the iPhone's screen.
To combat the gap between where the user places their finger, and the technology reading the fingerprint data under the display, Apple's patent proposes the use of electrostatic lenses, which are described as including "one or more patterned conductive layer(s)." In an example laid out by the patent, the position, relative voltage, and shapes of the patterned conductive layer or layers can be altered to shape the electric field specifically associated with the user's fingerprint, and the information can be held "in the region between the contact surface of the capacitive fingerprint sensor and the array of capacitive sensing elements."
Apple's patent aims to reduce the spread of a fingerprint's electric field using electrostatic lenses
The collected data would help improve the resolution of the user's fingerprint, despite the distance between the Touch ID sensing module and the place on the iPhone display where they place their finger. In the patent, Apple notes that the specific setting and location for these electrostatic lenses depend on the "geometry of the consumer electronics device and the effects of any intervening components," but touchscreens and display stacks are mentioned by name multiple times.
As is usual with patents, it is unclear whether the electrostatic lens technology will show up in any future Apple device at all, much less one set to debut in less than a year, but its descriptive ability to fuel one of the iPhone 8's biggest rumors is interesting all the same. Apple appears to have been working on the patent for a few years now, since it was originally filed on September 9, 2014, with inventor credit going to Jean-Marie Bussat.
Two more U.K. banks adopted Apple Pay technology today, with The Co-Operative Bank and Metro Bank announcing support for the mobile payment platform that works on iPads, iPhones, and Apple Watch devices (via Engadget).
In announcing the service's launch on its systems, The Co-Operative Bank chose to emphasize that its existing customers can still earn Everyday Rewards if they are already registered to use the scheme, provided they are eligible for that month.
Meanwhile, Metro Bank highlighted the fact that it's currently the only bank that allows new customers to start using Apple Pay as soon as their account has been opened.
The Co-operative Bank and Metro Bank became the 21st and 22nd financial institutions in the U.K. to support Apple's mobile payment platform, following the recent roll out to Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank. The U.K. now has the widest support for the service outside of China and the U.S. Today also saw Russia become the latest major market to gain access to the payment system.
Russia joined the Apple Pay club today, becoming the 10th major region to gain access to the mobile payment service (via Reuters).
The introduction of Apple Pay was announced on Apple's regional website, where it was revealed that the system would come via Mastercard and through Moscow-based Sberbank.
According to Sberbank, Apple Pay can be easily set up in the Sberbank Online mobile application, which will be familiar to all Sberbank cardholders. Users can then use the contactless payment service while continuing to receive all the benefits from using their credit and debit cards.
If rollouts in other countries are any indication, additional credit card operators and regional financial institutions are expected to gain access over the coming months.
Upon launch of Apple Pay in Russia, participating retailers include ATAK, Magnit, Media Markt, Auchan, Azbuka Vkusa, bp, M.Video, TsUM and authorized Apple reseller re:Store. Contactless payments are expected to roll out at Electronics store Eldorado and Burger King in the near future.
With the introduction of macOS 10.12, web-based payments have become another feature of Apple Pay. However it remains to be seen when Russian apps and online vendors will support this or other in-app methods of online payment.
Apple announced its intention to bring the system to Russia during its iPhone 7 event last month, where it also said New Zealand would see Apple Pay come to its shores in the near future.
The ten countries Apple Pay is available in include the United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, France, and Singapore. Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey has said Apple is "working rapidly" to expand the service to additional countries in Asia and Europe.
Apple today updated its investor relations page to note that the company's earnings report for the fourth fiscal quarter (third calendar quarter) of 2016 has been moved to Tuesday, October 25 due to a scheduling conflict.
As announced last week, Apple originally had scheduled the call for Thursday, October 27. It is not clear what conflict has arisen that is causing the meeting to be moved to a new date.
Apple's 4Q 2016 earnings report will provide a look at initial iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus sales, giving us our first hint at how well the two devices have sold compared to the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
Apple's guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 includes expected revenue of $45.5 to $47.5 billion and gross margin between 37.5 and 38 percent, well below the revenue of $51.5 billion it saw in 4Q 2015.
Apple will release its quarterly earnings statement at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time), with a conference call to follow at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 pm. Eastern Time). MacRumors will provide live coverage of the results and the call.
Apple may sell fewer Apple Watch models in 2016 than it did in 2015, according to research conducted by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and shared by Business Insider. According to Kuo, the new Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watch models suffer from a lack of "killer" applications, inadequate battery life, a heavy reliance on the iPhone and a multi-touch UI that he does not feel will be the ideal solution for wearable devices.
The Apple Watch, says Kuo, has failed to impact sales of the Fitbit, and he does not believe the more affordable Series 1 models will lead to a higher number of sales.
As a result of these perceived shortcomings, Kuo has cut his estimates for 2016 Apple Watch shipments by 15 to 25 percent, projecting sales of 8.5 to 9 million units during fiscal 2016. Kuo made similar predictions in April of 2016.
"Based on these considerations, we revise down our 2016F shipments projection for the entire Apple Watch line from 10.0-10.5mn units to 8.5-9.0mn units (vs. 10.4mn units in 2015)," writes Kuo. "We now predict 2016F Apple Watch sales will decline from 2015 (with shorter selling time of eight months)."
Apple does not break down Apple Watch sales numbers and has never revealed how many of the wearable devices have sold since April of 2015, making it difficult to pin down just how well it's doing with customers. IDC estimates shared over the summer suggest Apple sold 1.6 million units during Q2 2016, down from 3.6 million estimated units in the second quarter of 2015, aligning with Kuo's prediction.
It's important to note that estimates for Apple Watch sales sometimes vary wildly, however. For example, during the March quarter, Swiss bank UBS estimated sales of 1.6 million units, while Strategy Analytics estimated sales of 2.2 million.
The new Apple Watch Series 2 looks identical to the Series 1 Apple Watch models but includes better waterproofing to make it suitable for use when swimming, GPS, a faster dual-core processor, and a brighter display. Series 1 models also feature a faster processor, but are otherwise unchanged from the original Apple Watch.
More substantial changes are expected for the 2017 Apple Watch, including an exterior redesign.
Following the release of macOS Sierra last month, the latest operating system has caused some compatibility and stability issues with Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac that both companies are working to resolve.
A growing number of users on Adobe's support community claim that Photoshop CC crashes when attempting to print projects after updating to macOS Sierra. Doug Thomson, for example, is unable to print to his Epson 7890, while some other Epson and Canon printer models appear to be affected.
Installed macOS Sierra and now Photoshop 15.5.1 crashes when attempting to print. Print dialogue opens and settings can be modified, but when attempting to print Photoshop crashes perhaps 9 out of 10 attempts. Most frustrating. I'm printing to an Epson 7890, but I have seen the same issue cited for Canon. Adobe support told me that Photoshop has not been tested on Sierra, but in reality Adobe has had Sierra for months and have even published known issues. I pay a ton of money for this thing to work and this nonsense from support is very annoying.
Adobe has since acknowledged the issue in a support document, noting that Photoshop CC version 2015.5 or earlier may crash while printing to some printers from Macs running macOS Sierra. Adobe said its engineers are working on a solution for a future update to Photoshop CC, as echoed by Adobe product manager Pete Green.
Adobe recommends users make sure their printer driver is up-to-date. "Just updating the driver may not work," said Adobe, adding that users "need to delete the driver, delete the printer, install the latest driver then install the printer." Adobe points towards an Apple support document on troubleshooting printers on Mac. If all else fails, Adobe recommends users print from Photoshop Lightroom in the meantime.
Separately, Microsoft has acknowledged that Office 2016 for Mac closes unexpectedly, or crashes, for some macOS Sierra users. The company's engineers are working with Apple to investigate and resolve the issue.
MacRumors reader Adam C. emailed us about his problems on macOS Sierra:
Office for Mac is causing me heaps of trouble. Computer hangs, and I can't even force quit the applications. Have to rudely switch off computer and restart.
Until a fix is released, a new support document suggests turning off "Auto Proxy Discovery" or "Automatic Proxy Configuration" as a possible workaround, if allowed by your personal or organization's network configuration.
The Microsoft Band, the wearable device Microsoft first introduced in late 2014, is being quietly phased out of existence. As of today, Microsoft has removed all Microsoft Band models from the Microsoft Online Store and has eliminated the Band Software Development Kit.
In a statement given to ZDNet, a Microsoft representative said that the company has sold through all of its Band 2 inventory and does not have plans to release a new Band wearable in 2016.
"We have sold through our existing Band 2 inventory and have no plans to release another Band device this year. We remain committed to supporting our Microsoft Band 2 customers through Microsoft Stores and our customer support channels and will continue to invest in the Microsoft Health platform, which is open to all hardware and apps partners across Windows, iOS, and Android devices."
Following the Microsoft Band's 2014 release, Microsoft continued development on the device and released a second-generation model in October of 2015. Priced at $250, the second-generation Microsoft Band featured an optical heart rate monitor for measuring heart rate, an accelerometer and gyroscope for measuring movement, GPS, skin temperature sensors, and more.
Previous information shared by ZDNet has suggested Microsoft disbanded the team that was working to bring Windows 10 to the Microsoft Band and has relocated some of the hardware team. Sources have also told the site that Microsoft is planning to phase out the fitness band and has no plans to work on a Band 3.
Starting today, Apple is making the new macOS Sierra operating system available as an automatic download to customers running OS X El Capitan in order to encourage them to update.
Customers who have auto downloads enabled will see macOS Sierra start to download automatically, but it will not install without express user permission.
Apple shared the news with The Loop and says the update will only be downloaded on computers that meet the specs for macOS Sierra and have an adequate amount of storage space.
Apple is also being smart about the download. If your computer is low on space, macOS Sierra will not download. In addition, if it has downloaded and your computer starts to get low on space, the download will be automatically deleted.
Customers who do not want to upgrade to macOS Sierra can manually delete the update to keep from being prompted to do the install, and the download can be turned off by disabling automatic downloads. Disabling the feature can be done by going to System Preferences -> App Store and unchecking "Download newly available updates in the background."
Automatic downloads of macOS Sierra will be rolling out to customers over the next week.
