While the original Apple Watch has a 2-meter charging cable in the box, Apple says new Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 1 models come with a shorter 1-meter charging cable in the box.
Apple Watch Series 2 models also include a 5W USB Power Adapter in the box, while Series 1 models do not. The wall charger costs $19 on its own.
Both new series became available for pre-order today, with shipping estimates quickly slipping to 2-3 weeks or later for most models. Best Buy still promises launch day delivery for some models.
As one of the more high-profile wireless headphone companies in recent months, Bragi is already looking to position its two products -- The Dash and the just-announced The Headphone -- as strong competitors to Apple's just-announced AirPods. In a FaceBook post this morning, Bragi shared a chart which lists how The Dash and The Headphone (particularly The Dash) compare favorably to AirPods in various categories.
The nine categories in the chart include: Bluetooth connectivity, waterproofness, audio transparency (amplifying ambient noise as needed to hear your external environment without needing to remove the earbuds), fitness tracking, internal music player, Bragi OS updates, battery life, "PerfectFit" sizing, and price.
The Dash beats out the AirPods in five of the categories, with Bragi positioning its flagship headphones as a sports-centric device with waterproofing and fitness tracking, two things lacking in Apple's AirPods. AirPods, however, have a one-up on battery life (5 hours compared to The Dash's 4 hours), and come in at a notably more affordable $159, well below The Dash's $299.
Unsurprisingly, Bragi's chart focuses on criteria in which its products compare favorably to AirPods and omits features such as Siri and seamless device pairing with syncing over iCloud that are key parts of the AirPods experience.
Perhaps one of the more user-friendly features of The Dash and The Headphone is the ability for users to choose between three included "FitSleeves" for The Dash and "FitTips" for The Headphone. With small, medium, and large sizes included, Bragi seeks to ensure that anyone who wants to use its products will find a comfortable fit without any of the potential pain and headache caused by one-size-fits-all products, like the AirPods.
Overall, while Bragi's comparison chart paints a favorable picture of The Dash and The Headphone, Apple is no doubt banking on its design appeal, device integration, and price to present an appealing option. But even the AirPods' $159 price will be steep for some users, and with the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack in the iPhone 7, Apple is moving to soften the user transition to a wireless future by including Lightning headphones, and a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter, in the boxes of the new iPhones.
Just hours after Apple Watch Series 2 pre-orders became available, shipping estimates for most 38mm and 42mm models have slipped to 2-3 weeks in the U.S. for new orders placed through Apple's online store.
Apple Watch Nike+ models are expected to ship in late October, while the new 42mm ceramic Apple Watch Edition ships in 5-7 weeks. Apple Watch Series 1 models remain available for September 16 launch day delivery.
Best Buy, however, still appears to be offering shipped-to-home September 16 launch day delivery in the U.S. for several Apple Watch Series 2 models, including aluminum and stainless steel variants. It does not appear to be selling the ceramic Apple Watch Edition.
For those that elected not to or are uninterested in pre-ordering online, Apple Watch Series 2 models launch at Apple retail stores and authorized resellers like Best Buy on September 16. In-store stock will likely be very limited, with customers accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Apple Watch Series 2 models feature a built-in GPS, water resistance up to 50 meters, a faster S2 dual-core processor, and a display that is two times brighter than the original Apple Watch. Series 2 models will come with watchOS 3 preinstalled, while the software will be released as a standalone update on September 13.
One of the first major surprises out of Apple's September 7 event was the appearance of game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, and the announcement of an all-new Mario game for iOS called Super Mario Run. In the game, players will help Mario navigate various worlds by tapping on the screen to help the plumber jump, dodge, and slide past obstacles and enemies until they reach the flag pole at the end of the stage.
During Apple's event, Miyamoto and senior product marketing manager for Nintendo, Bill Trinen, explained the mechanics of the game and its intent for quick burst, one-handed smartphone gaming. Now, in a recent interview with The Verge, Miyamoto divulged more information on the iPhone game, potentially hinting at what the company's outlook on mobile gaming could mean for the other two upcoming DeNA iOS games, Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem.
Image via The Verge
In its time with Super Mario Run, The Verge commented that the game underscores the company's strategy of introducing addicting, but modest experiences on mobile in order to win more players over with full-fledged console games. Super Mario Run ultimately started as an idea that "was too simple for a home console device," Miyamoto said, and that the company's "main focus" is still convincing players to migrate over to its first-party hardware.
Still, Miyamoto said he hopes people are "going to want to play a much more in-depth and a more challenging Mario experience … it’s going to increase the population of people interested in coming to our platforms, which is of course is our main focus."
It looks to be everything a Super Mario game should be, but also, what it shouldn’t be. Miyamoto’s game has been carefully designed so that it’s simple enough to attract a new audience of iPhone lovers, but not satisfying enough to supplant a console experience.
As suspected, the success of Pokémon Go has helped Nintendo push forward in the smartphone space, and helped dictate the experience of Super Mario Run. In the way that Pokémon Go is inherently tied into the GPS and camera functions of a smartphone, Super Mario Run was built around a similar, play-anywhere universality, leading to its "simple... one-handed gameplay" and "shorter play time."
Miyamoto cited the success of Pokémon Go as validation of this smartphone-centric approach. "Pokémon Go is obviously a game that uses your GPS and it’s synced into the camera and Google Maps, so it’s a piece of software that’s really geared towards that mobile play experience," Miyamoto said. "So, similarly with Mario, what we’re looking at is simple game play, one-handed gameplay; shorter play time, playing in shorter bursts; and then really bringing the joy of Mario to that much larger audience."
With its new iOS Mario game -- which will eventually make it to Android -- Nintendo is also admitting that most kids' first interaction with technology is no longer with one of the company's consoles, but the smartphone or tablet of a parent. This convinced Nintendo to finally put its most famous IPs on mobile devices, and helped them decide to make Super Mario Run a one-time-only paid game, so parents don't have to worry about their kids spending large amounts of money on in-game ephemera.
Miyamoto noted that there was a point in time when "[Nintendo’s] hardware system was really the first device that kids would interact with, and that’s starting to shift." The first device kids interact with now, he says? Their parent’s smartphone. This notion of the smartphone "being the first place this kids are encountering games, is what helped us to decide to bring this to smartphones," Miyamoto said.
The first Nintendo and DeNA partnership game was Miitomo, which launched earlier in the year, but failed to gain much traction due to its social-focused features that lacked much in the way of a main gameplay hook. Coming next, besides Super Mario Run, are Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem, but details on the games have been scarce. In the original announcement, Nintendo said that Fire Emblem will be "more accessible" in comparison to the console entries in the popular RPG series, and Animal Crossing "will be connected with the world of Animal Crossing for dedicated gaming systems."
With the new context of Miyamoto's interview for Super Mario Run, it's possible that the two other upcoming mobile games will continue Nintendo's focus on introducing a pared-down version of each franchise, so that players are encouraged to play the full-fledged titles on Nintendo's consoles. Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem are also said to support a free-to-play structure, so there still remains a chance that Nintendo will differentiate the two titles from its simplified mobile gaming strategy and present gameplay closer to the console titles.
Super Mario Run will launch in December, and Nintendo has said that Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem would debut sometime in the fall, but the company has yet to give more specific launch details for those games.
Read The Verge's full interview with Shigeru Miyamoto here.
Just hours after iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus pre-orders opened, some customers in the United States have seen their orders move to the "preparing for shipment" stage with an estimated delivery date of September 16.
MacRumors readers that purchased their new iPhones through Apple, AT&T, and Verizon appear to be the earliest to see movement on their orders, but most pre-orders placed in the U.S. and abroad remain in the processing stage.
MacRumors readers can track and discuss their pre-orders in our community forums based upon their carrier or country. We've also shared some other useful links for customers that pre-ordered. Join the conversation:
Customers who have not pre-ordered the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus online may still have a chance to purchase the model they desire sooner than anticipated through Apple's in-store Reserve and Pick Up program. Reservations will reopen on September 17 in the U.S., U.K., and Italy, while launch day reservations still remain available for select models in many other countries.
While estimated shipping dates for most iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models have quickly slipped to 2-3 weeks or later, including November for most Jet Black models, customers who elected not to pre-order online or slept through their alarm may still have a chance to purchase the model they desire sooner than anticipated.
In Canada, the "Reserve and Pick Up" program remains live at the time this article was published, with many iPhone 7 models still available for pick up on launch day. iPhone 7 Plus reservations have sold out in all of Ontario, but some 5.5-inch models remain available at select stores in other provinces.
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus launch at Apple retail stores on September 16. Apple traditionally accepts walk-in customers on a first come, first served basis, with a separate line for Reserve and Pick Up customers. However, Apple anticipates demand to outstrip supply as usual, so in-store stock could be especially limited.
Authorized resellers such as Best Buy and stores of carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile also generally begin to receive extremely limited iPhone stock on launch day, but availability is not guaranteed due to tight supply. Prospective buyers are best to call their local stores ahead of time.
Google has integrated the technology from its Motion Stills app into Google Photos for iOS, enabling users of the latter to benefit from the Live Photos stabilization feature without having to download another app.
Google's Motion Stills feature uses advanced stabilization and rendering to further manipulate Apple's Live Photos – pictures taken on supporting iPhones with a second and a half of video footage captured either side of the photo.
The added feature means Google Photos can now freeze the background in Live Photos or create sweeping cinematic pans, and save the resulting creation as a looping video.
In addition, the latest update to Google Photos includes the ability to sort photos in albums chronologically or by recently added. Google says it has also listened to feedback and users can now choose new thumbnails for faces in 'People' photo collections.
Users can learn more about the technology behind Motion Stills stabilization here.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple today that details how new brushing and polishing tools could be used to finish a wireless charging station.
While the application covers general polishing techniques for cylindrical and contoured surfaces, Patently Apple notes that the patent also details ways to create a space for an inductive charging coil, confirming that the tools are designed specifically for the creation of a wireless charging device.
In describing how the tools would work, the application includes multiple illustrations of a charging station used to provide electrical current to another device via inductive power transmission. An inductive transmitter coil wraps around a metal core and is designed to pair with a receiver coil and charge the battery in the electronic device.
Apple notes that the charging station could include an electromagnetically transparent support surface for the device to be charged, allowing it to sit on the station unencumbered and receive power wirelessly via the induction coupling technology. The charging station is also described as including a port for a USB-type connector cable to connect with an external power source, such as a laptop.
The patent application was filed in late 2015, and provides ample evidence that Apple's engineering teams continue to investigate wireless charging solutions. Indeed, Apple has had an interest in the technology ever since the first iPhone, gaining patents for wireless charging stations and wireless charging via near field magnetic resonance, which wirelessly charges a device within a certain region.
Earlier this year, one rumor source suggested the iPhone 7 would feature wireless charging as well as better waterproofing and no headphone jack. However, that report warned that the charging feature could be pulled from the iPhone 7 for a future iteration of the device, since Apple was still working on the technology.
Indeed, only two of the aforementioned features were ultimately realized this week, indicating Apple may have purposely held back the charging technology in order for it to be included in its tenth anniversary "iPhone 8", said to be debuting next year.
The suggestion will undoubtedly grate for some readers, given that this would have been the perfect solution for charging an iPhone and listening to music through wired headphones at the same time, rather than using the more cumbersome charging dock method suggested by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller.
Back in September 2012, however, Schiller said that Apple wasn't sure of how convenient the then-current state of wireless charging technology was, since most wireless charging systems had to be plugged into a wall. This may explain why Apple is still exploring the technology. Indeed, the company has shown an interest in WiTricity's wireless charging tech, which uses a "hidden charging" method that allows magnetic fields to wrap around barriers, which would allow users to place their charging pads wherever they want.
Pre-order supplies of the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus are starting to dwindle, with several of the new iPhone models now displaying shipping estimates ranging into November. Pre-orders began at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, September 9, and it took less than 20 minutes for supplies of popular models to begin selling out.
Models in the new Black and Jet Black colors are the most heavily affected in the United States. Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus devices were initially quoted delivery times of late September and orders placed now won't ship until November, while the Black iPhone 7 Plus lists shipping estimates of two to three weeks.
Jet Black iPhone 7 models ship in two to three weeks, while Black iPhone 7 models ship in one to two weeks. Supplies of other colors are better, but may dwindle as the day goes on. At this rate, customers who wait to pre-order a Black or Jet Black iPhone will need to wait several weeks.
Shipping estimates in Apple's online stores for other countries such as the UK, Australia, and France are also starting to dwindle, with many Jet Black models also listed as shipping in two to three weeks.
Though pre-order supplies of some models of the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus are beginning to sell out, it may still be possible to get an iPhone on launch day by visiting an Apple retail location on Friday, September 16.
Yesterday morning, Apple warned that iPhone 7 and 7 Plus supplies could be constrained in an announcement stating pre-order sales statistics would not be shared. According to Apple, early iPhone 7 sales will be dictated by supply, not demand.
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus come in 32, 128, and 256GB configurations, with five color options: Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Black, and Jet Black. In the United States, iPhone 7 pricing starts at $649 for the 32GB model. The 128 and 256GB models are priced at $749 and $849, respectively. iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769 for the 32GB model. The 128GB and 256GB models are priced at $869 and $969.
Apple is now accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus through its online storefront and through the Apple Store app. Pre-orders are being accepted in all first wave launch countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.
All of the major U.S. carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, are accepting pre-orders for the new devices. Major online retailers including Best Buy and Target are also accepting pre-orders starting on September 9.
Apple has said supplies of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be constrained, so it's a good idea to pre-order a device right away if you're hoping to for a launch-day delivery. Jet Black iPhone 7 Pluses had a delivery date of September 26 to October 3 right when pre-orders launched.
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus come in 32, 128, and 256GB configurations, with five color options: Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Black, and Jet Black, the new glossy shade. Jet Black is only available in 128 and 258GB.
In the United States, iPhone 7 pricing starts at $649 for the 32GB model. The 128 and 256GB models are priced at $749 and $849, respectively.
iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769 for the 32GB model. The 128GB and 256GB models are priced at $869 and $969, respectively.
With the iPhone Upgrade Program, which allows users to get a new iPhone each year with AppleCare+ support, iPhone 7 pricing starts at $32.41 per month and iPhone 7 Plus pricing starts at $37.41 per month.
The earliest pre-orders will likely be delivered to customers on September 16, which is the official launch date for the two devices.
Alongside the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, the second-generation Apple Watch, Apple Watch Series 2, is now available for pre-order from Apple's online storefront and through the Apple Store app.
Supplies of the Apple Watch Series 2 could be limited, so customers interested in launch-day delivery should order as soon as possible.
Apple Watch Series 2 features a second-generation chip that's up to 50 percent faster with 2x better graphics performance. It also has a second-generation display that's much brighter for more vivid colors outdoors, and it has built-in GPS for better fitness and location tracking.
Alongside the standard aluminum and stainless steel models, Apple Watch Series 2 is also available in a new pearl-white ceramic material that's four times stronger than stainless steel. Apple has also created new Hermès models and there's a new Apple Watch Nike Plus that's been developed in collaboration with Nike, featuring an aluminum body and a custom perforated Nike band.
Apple Watch pricing begins at $369 for the entry-level aluminum Sport model, $549 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $1,249 for the ceramic Apple Watch Edition. All three models can be ordered from the online store beginning now. Apple is also accepting pre-orders for Hermès and Nike models, but those won't ship out until late September and late October, respectively.
Upgraded Apple Watch Series 1 models, which feature the new S2 processor, are also available for pre-order at this time. Series 1 models start at $269.
The Apple Watch Series 2 will officially launch on September 16, which is the same date that some customers will begin receiving their devices at their homes.
Apple has announced that it will be reopening four of its U.S. retail stores on September 10, six days ahead of the iPhone 7 launch on September 16.
Apple Bay Street in Emeryville, California, Apple West Town Mall in Knoxville, Tennessee, Apple Willow Bend in Plano, Texas, and Apple Mayfair in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin will each open their doors on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. local time. All four stores have been either renovated or moved to a new location.
Each store has been updated with Apple's next-generation retail layout, featuring a combination of The Avenue, Genius Grove, The Forum, The Plaza, and The Boardroom, coupled with large glass doors, sequoia wood shelves, indoor trees, light boxes extending the length of the ceiling, and large digital screens for product marketing.
Apple will move to a larger space at 5656 Bay Street in the Bay Street Emeryville shopping complex, while its store at The Shops at Willow Bend has been fully renovated. Apple's store at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa will move to a larger unit within the shopping mall, while its West Town Mall store in Knoxville has moved down the hall.
Apple's all-new Memorial City store in Houston, Texas
Following Jony Ive's promotion to Chief Design Officer at Apple, he has worked alongside retail chief Angela Ahrendts on new designs for stores. Apple has since opened next-generation stores in cities like Brussels, Memphis, Dubai, and London, and it is in the process of renovating dozens of older U.S. locations.
Apple has taken its online storefront down in order to prepare for the launch of the iPhone 7, the iPhone 7 Plus, and the new Apple Watch Series 2 models. Pre-orders are expected to begin at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time or 3:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, September 9.
Pre-orders will be available through Apple's website, the Apple Store app, several carrier sites, and from major retailers like Target and Best Buy.
Apple will accept pre-orders in first wave launch countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.
The 4.7-inch iPhone 7 is available in 32, 128, and 256GB capacities in the United States for $649, $749, and $849, respectively. The 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus is also available in 32, 128, and 256GB options for $769, $869, and $969.
Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program is available in the United States, United Kingdom and China, allowing customers pay a monthly fee for their iPhone 7 with the option of trading it in after 12 months of payments. Pricing, which includes AppleCare+, starts at $32.41 for the iPhone 7 and $37.41 for the iPhone 7 Plus.
Announced earlier this week, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus feature significant camera improvements, a 4-core A10 Fusion chip, better battery life, water resistance, a revamped pressure-sensitive Home button, stereo sound, new colors, and most controversially, no headphone jack.
Both the Apple Watch Series 1 and the Apple Watch Series 2 will also be available for pre-order. Prices for the Series 1 devices, which include a S2 processor but no other features, start at $269. Prices for the upgraded Apple Watch Series 2, which includes a GPS chip, better waterproofing, and a new display, start at $369.
Macy's is set to become the first major department store in the U.S. to offer the Apple Watch, reports Fortune. Starting before the holiday shopping rush, Macy's will begin offering the Apple Watch at more than 180 stores across the United States.
"It will be in all of our top buildings for the holiday season," said Macy's president and future CEO Jeff Gennette. In addition to offering the Apple Watch in many of its retail locations, Macy's also plans to open a dedicated Apple Store inside of its flagship Herald Square location in New York, which will sell a variety of Apple products including iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and Apple Watches.
Since its April 2015 debut, the Apple Watch has become available for purchase from many major third-party retailers around the world. In the United States, the Apple Watch can be purchased from stores like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and B&H Photo, making it easy to walk into any local brick and mortar store to pick up one of Apple's wearable devices.
Last year, steep holiday discounts on the Apple Watch from retailers like Best Buy and Target helped spur its popularity. Apple has never divulged sales numbers for the Apple Watch, but market research suggests it is by far the most popular smart watch on the market.
Apple this week introduced its second-generation Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 2. The new devices feature a much faster S2 processor, better waterproofing, a GPS chip, and a brighter display. Apple also introduced Series 2 Apple Watches created in collaboration with Nike and Hermès, along with a new high-end ceramic material. The Series 1 Apple Watch, which features a lower price tag, was upgraded with the S2 processor but none of the other new features.
Macy's and other Apple Watch retailers will offer the new Series 1 and Series 2 models in stores as soon as they are available. Apple Watch Series 2 goes on sale on September 16, with pre-orders starting on September 9.
Apple's new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus ship without a headphone jack, requiring customers to use either Bluetooth or Lightning-equipped headphones. Many customers who routinely charge their iPhones while also listening to music have been questioning whether that usage scenario will possible sans headphone jack, and as it turns out, Apple has a solution.
In an email to a customer, Apple SVP of marketing Phil Schiller says that while he prefers to use the wireless AirPods to listen to music, customers who want to listen to wired headphones while charging an iPhone 7 can use the Apple Lightning Dock, which has a built-in headphone jack.
Priced at $49 and available in colors to match each of the iPhones, the Lightning dock has both a USB input and a 3.5mm headphone jack built in, making it perfect for customers who want to charge and listen to music at the same time. Unfortunately, it's an expensive solution compared to former method of using 3.5mm EarPods and a Lightning cable, which came free with the iPhone. Belkin also just announced a $40 Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter designed to let users listen to Lightning headphones while charging, but it's both bulky and pricy.
To ease the transition away from the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple is providing customers with both a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter and a set of EarPods with a Lightning connector. Of course, when using these accessories, charging is not possible at the same time.
Apple's ultimate goal seems to be to transition customers to wireless headphones like its recently announced AirPods. While on stage at yesterday's event, Schiller explained that one of the reasons why Apple moved away from the headphone jack was to push wireless technology forward. The AirPods, which have been in development since the Apple Watch was conceived, feature a proprietary wireless W1 chip and up to 24 hours of battery life implemented through a charging case.
AirPods, priced at $159 and similar in design to EarPods, are entirely wireless with no cord connecting the two earpieces and feature technology like gesture recognition, voice isolation, and more. AirPods have been receiving largely favorable reviews, but $159 is a lot to pay for the ideal iPhone 7 music experience.
Apple executives have explained that the removal of the headphone jack took a lot of "courage," but was necessary to free up valuable space and improve technology in the iPhone 7 and future iPhones.
Belkin today announced the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, an accessory that will allow iPhone 7 users to charge their iPhones and listen to music at the same time.
According to Belkin, the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar was developed "closely" with Apple, and it does indeed resemble Apple's own iOS adapter accessories. The Lightning connector on the end of the RockStar plugs into the iPhone for passthrough charging (up to 12W), while additional Lightning ports on the device accommodate either the Lightning-based EarPods or headphones with a 3.5mm jack using Apple's 3.5mm to Lightning adapter (included with the iPhone 7).
"We're excited to offer the Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar to our customers, extending our family of RockStar multi-port products and creating an easy way for people to charge and listen on the go," says Steve Malony, VP, GM Belkin.
Belkin's Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar doesn't seem to be a perfect solution to the charging while listening issue. The Lightning end needs to be plugged into the iPhone, while a Lighting cable needs to be plugged into one port for charging and Lightning headphones (or headphones with an adapter) need to be plugged into the other port, resulting in a mess of cables. Adding in the 3.5mm to Lightning adapter makes the situation even worse, with a total of two adapters and a Lightning cord plugged into the iPhone.
The Lightning Audio + Charge Rockstar supports 48 kHz 24-bit audio output and it's able to work with a variety of cases, including the iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case. It is Made for iPhone certified.
Belkin plans to start selling the Lightning Audio + Charge Rockstar on October 10 for $39.95. It will be available from the Belkin website, the Apple online store, and Apple retail stores.
Based on what seems to be a legitimate Geekbench benchmark of the iPhone 7 Plus, it appears Apple's larger-screened smartphone features 3GB RAM, as was rumored. In the list of details about the device, memory is listed as 2998MB, meaning it has 3GB RAM instead of 2GB RAM like the iPhone 6s Plus.
Prior to the announcement of the iPhone 7 Plus, rumors suggested it would have 3GB RAM because of the increased resource demands of the dual-camera system. The iPhone 7 features two 12-megapixel cameras, one that's the same as the wide-angle camera on the iPhone 7 and one telephoto camera.
iPhone 7 Plus benchmark
When capturing a photo, images from both cameras are merged together via software so users can zoom in further, which is likely a system intensive process. Apple is also developing a depth-of-field effect that uses software and advanced machine learning techniques to highlight a person in a photograph while blurring the background, another process that's likely to require additional RAM.
Rumors suggest the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 7 continues to feature 2GB RAM, and an iPhone 7 benchmark from earlier this week offers potential confirmation.
iPhone 7 benchmark
The processor data on the iPhone 7 benchmark was off, which initially called into question its legitimacy, but Geekbench doesn't yet accommodate the lower-power high-efficiency scores of the A10 Fusion chip, and Geekbench's John Poole believes it's possible there was a problem when calculating processor speed. If representative of an actual iPhone 7 device, the benchmark indicates 2GB RAM.
While the iPhone 7 also features an upgraded camera system, it does not require software processes for merging multiple images together, so higher amounts of RAM may not be necessary for optimal performance.
We won't have concrete confirmation on the amount of RAM in the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus until launch day, when multiple sites are likely to begin teardowns to see just what's inside.
Alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the Apple Watch Series 2 was a major hardware announcement at Apple's media event in San Francisco yesterday. The company pivoted slightly from the Apple Watch's original, fashion-focused unveiling, this time focusing on the internals of Series 2, and what it can do to push Apple forward in the fitness tracking category.
As journalists got hands-on time with Apple Watch Series 2 after yesterday's event, a handful of impressions have surfaced online surrounding the new wearable device. Since most of its features are activity-focused (swimming, running, etc.), opinions on how the new Apple Watch functions under these conditions were left to speculation, but otherwise the resounding takeaway appeared to be that Apple has successfully innovated in areas where Series 1 lacked, despite the fact that extended battery and a slight design change would have been welcome.
Images via The Verge
Starting off with the most expensive Ceramic Apple Watch Edition, which runs for $1249 (38mm) and $1299 (42mm), Wareable noted that the ceramic finish "felt smooth and light to the touch" and was "more attractive in real life." The case was also reflective of more light in comparison to aluminum and stainless steel, but given Series 2's ultra-bright display, it doesn't seem to be an issue. Ultimately, Wareable sees Series 2 as Apple's next step "to be taken seriously in the fitness sphere."
I strapped on the new Edition, which starts at a casual $1249. Apple claims ceramic is one of the toughest materials in the world, and it felt smooth and light to the touch. It's more light-reflective than I expected, and looks more attractive in real life than from the presentation's images, if you're a fan of the gently rounded cube display and chunky straps.
While Series 2 doesn't offer much for those longing for new designs, the under-the-hood changes are clear indications of Apple's desire to be taken as seriously in the fitness sphere as Garmin and Polar, while retaining its minimalist design.
The Verge compared the thickness of Series 1 with Series 2, noting that Series 2 is about one millimeter thicker than Series 1, "though you really have to look closely." The site also commented on the similar battery life of each Series -- 18 hours, according to Apple -- but retained any in-depth opinions on the new Apple Watch for a future review.
TechRadar gave one of the most detailed opinions on Series 2, commenting on the "simplicity" of the fitness-focused features in the device, which might also be its "greatest drawback." The site gives an example of the Apple Watch miscalculating the user's stroke during a swimming workout, and not being able to alter the data because the bare-bones workout app doesn't offer such a feature. TechRadar feared that "if you can't trust what you're seeing, then you'll come to disregard it as a training tool."
The big question is whether these changes are enough – sure, the fitness credentials are good, and a solid upgrade, but these are the things we were hoping to see last time around, rather than having to wait two years for.
But then again, the smartwatch market is incredibly turbulent, and while Apple never disclosed sales figures of its first Watch, it was certainly the best-selling device of its kind by an absolute street. The Apple Watch Series 2 builds on that success, comes with water resistance and fitness smarts and a brighter, more useful screen – but it's iterative again.
Focusing on one of the cheaper collections, SlashGear took a dive into the Apple Watch Nike+ Edition, which won't launch until sometime in late October. The site called the Nike-branded Apple Watch "extremely similar" to the rest of the Sport collections, noting that "it's relatively light on the wrist." Still, given the short time in the Apple event showroom, the site is unsure whether or not the Nike branding, exclusive watch faces, and Siri commands will all be enough to pick this edition over other models.
Image via TechRadar
This version of the Apple Watch feels extremely similar to that of the rest of the series - especially since it's nearly identical save the Nike branding on its back and the new set of straps. It's relatively light on the wrist and the strap seems to fit well for a wide variety of wrists.
Whether or not this particular version of the watch will be worth buying over the standard Apple Watch, we can't quite yet tell. We'll have to give the whole lot a try before we can give any definitive answers.
As the September 16 launch date for Apple Watch Series 2 gets closer, we should begin seeing more detailed reviews and impressions of the device, particularly how Apple's claims of a truly swimproof smartwatch hold up in daily use. In the meantime, check out even more initial impressions of Series 2 from the sites below:
While the original Apple Watch has a 2-meter charging cable in the box, Apple says new Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 1 models come with a shorter 1-meter charging cable in the box.
Just hours after Apple Watch Series 2 pre-orders became available, shipping estimates for most 38mm and 42mm models have 
Just hours after iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus 
