Apple has closed parts of its self-driving car project and laid off dozens of employees attached to it as it reboots its plan for self-driving vehicles, according to The New York Times. The move comes just over a month after the company reportedly began shifting its car project to autonomous driving systems rather than vehicles under Bob Mansfield.
Mansfield, a longtime Apple executive who was previously Vice President of Technologies, was appointed to oversee the car project in late July, adjusting the project to focus on the "underlying technology" for autonomous vehicles rather than actually building an automobile. The layoffs, according to The New York Times, are part of the strategic shift of the project.
Apple employees were told that the layoffs were part of a “reboot” of the car project, the people briefed on it said. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.
Apple had made some progress in the development of Project Titan, the codename for its car project, having a number of self-driving vehicles in testing. The cars were tested with simple, limited operating routes in closed environments, but the technology was far from ready for primetime, reports The New York Times.
The Cupertino company had recruited hundreds of engineers from Tesla, Ford, GM, other car companies and employees in other divisions of Apple to work on its car project, growing the Apple Car team to nearly 1,000 members.
Earlier this year, Steve Zadesky, former Ford engineer and VP of Product Design, left the company for personal reasons. He had been in charge of the project and reported to Dan Riccio, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. Rumors have suggested that the departure of Zadesky resulted in delays of the project and internal strife due to challenges like unattainable timelines and organizational changes. The original launch target for the Apple Car was said to be in 2020, but changes and delays to the project had caused it to slip into 2021.
On the same day the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus became available for pre-order, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a new research report outlining his expectations for a dual rear camera in next year's iPhone model.
According to Kuo, cost considerations and a niche appeal for the dual camera, which is found only on the larger iPhone 7 Plus model this year, mean that the feature is likely to remain exclusive to "high-end" models in 2017 as well. Presumably this means the dual camera would again appear only on so-called "iPhone 8 Plus" models should Apple continue to offer similar product lineups.
While an attractive addition for avid picture takers and professional photographers, the iPhone 7 Plus dual-camera is not a mass-market killer application yet. Along with its high cost (estimated at over US$30-40) and the necessity for Apple to enhance the added value of high-end iPhone models, we expect only high-end new iPhone models (30-40% of them) to have a dual-camera next year.
As for what improvements can be anticipated for the dual camera in 2017, Kuo indicates that optical image stabilization (OIS) is likely to be added to the telephoto camera. In the iPhone 7 Plus, only the wide-angle camera has OIS.
Note that for the dual- camera of iPhone 7 Plus, wide-angle CCM is equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) VCM, while telephoto CCM only comes with general VCM. We believe the focus of the dual-camera upgrade will be equipping telephoto CCM with OIS CCM, so as to significantly enhance optical and digital zoom quality.
While 2017 would normally be considered an "S cycle" for the iPhone that would focus on internal improvements rather than changes to the external appearance of the device, rumors have suggested Apple is embarking on a major "iPhone 8" or "iPhone X" upgrade as the iPhone turns ten years old. Apple is reportedly looking to move to a glass body and a flexible edge-to-edge OLED display that curves around the sides of the device. The 2017 iPhone may also see the removal of the iconic Home button and perhaps include features such as wireless charging and an iris scanner.
In its 2.13 update yesterday, mobile payments app Square Cash introduced the "Cash Virtual Card" into its iOS app, letting users create a virtual Visa debit card that lets them spend their Square Cash anywhere that accepts Visa online (via Recode).
Square Cash users can check out at retailers like Amazon, for example, and simply enter the card number for their virtual card during the check out process. The company is also reportedly working on making the new virtual payments compatible with Apple Pay and Android Pay, "making it possible to use Square Cash funds to tap and pay in stores that accept mobile payments."
The obvious question is why someone would choose to use a Square Cash account — either in a store or on a website — instead of their regular debit or credit card. A spokesperson cited push notifications triggered by purchases — something that some services like Apple Pay already employ — as well as easy-to-browse digital receipts as potential incentives.
The update brings Square Cash a little closer to PayPal in functionality, but users on Square Cash are relegated to spending money only within the app's account and are unable to draw from funds in their back-up bank accounts. With PayPal, if users over-spend the funds in their account, the app will fall back into the attached bank account to make up for the difference.
Square Cash is also changing up how instant deposits work in an attempt to make more money from each transaction on the app. Now, users who receive a payment can withdraw the money to their bank if they're willing to pay a one percent fee for the same-day withdrawal. If not, the money will be deposited in their bank on the next business day for free. The monetization of its withdrawal service is an attempt by the company to catch up to more popular mobile wallet apps.
Users can create their virtual Visa card within the Square Cash now, only needing to enter a billing address to associate with the card to get things started. The Square Cash app is available on the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Apple CEO Tim Cook has responded to a MacRumors reader's email about the lack of a long-awaited MacBook Pro refresh, stressing that he "loves the Mac" and that Apple is "very committed" to it. He told the customer, who wishes to remain anonymous, to "stay tuned," suggesting that updates to the Mac lineup are on the horizon.
MacRumors cannot fully confirm the authenticity of the email, but it does appear to originate from Apple's corporate servers based on full headers we saw. Apple executives occasionally respond to customer emails, but it is possible the response was handled by Apple's executive relations or public relations teams.
An update to the Mac lineup at some point is inevitable, and the bigger focus is now on when that will happen. The latest word is that Apple will release new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with USB-C ports as early as October, while updated iMac models with an option for new AMD graphics chips are also in the works.
That report reiterated rumors that the new MacBook Pro will be thinner and include an OLED-based touch bar along the top of the flatter keyboard, which will present functions that dynamically fit the current task or application, as well as integrate Touch ID to enable users to quickly log in using their fingerprint.
Our own Mac Buyer's Guide shows that it has been 479 days since the MacBook Pro was last updated, while the MacBook Air has not been refreshed in 550 days. Similarly, the Mac mini has not been refreshed in 694 days, while the Mac Pro is five days shy of 1000 days since its last update. iMacs stand at 332 days.
For the next few weeks, MacRumors is running a special giveaway event, which will see us highlighting and giving away high-quality luxury bags from manufacturers like Pad & Quill, Intrepid Bag Co, Whipping Post, and Saddleback Leather Company. We've got all of these bags on hand so we can give clear details on construction, quality, utility, and more.
For today's giveaway, we've teamed up with Whipping Post to give away one of the company's all leather suede-lined Vintage Messenger Bags, designed to pay homage to antique postal bags. Compared to each of the bags in the giveaway, Whipping Post's Vintage Messenger bag is the softest and the lightest, but still with enough structure to hold all of your gear.
Measuring in at 18.5 inches by 11.5 inches by 4 inches, it is large enough to hold a notebook as big as a 15-inch MacBook Pro, and it even has a dedicated MacBook or iPad section inside the bag. There's a big magazine pocket at the back of the bag, a smaller front pocket, and an inner pocket divided into two parts.
It's thin, which I liked, but it also expands outward once it's filled with stuff, and due to its malleability and its ability to expand, the Vintage Messenger Bag holds a lot of stuff (but it never looks overly bulky). It fit my MacBook Pro, two iPads, several notebooks and loose papers, a water bottle, and a bunch of various accessories and sundries.
The inside laptop flap clasps with a leather strap, as does the front flap, keeping both securely shut. The straps are, however, designed in a way that makes the bag easy to open and get into quickly, something I appreciated. There's a thin handle at the top so it can be held like a briefcase, and there's also a padded shoulder strap that can be adjusted to several different sizes with a set of buckles.
The Vintage Messenger Bag comes in a nice chocolate red color, which is pristine out of the box, but I suspect it will wear nicely and gain a lot more character once it's broken in. Whipping Post typically charges $295 for its Vintage Messenger Bag, but one MacRumors reader will get one for free.
To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner and send the prize.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (September 9) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 16. The winner will be chosen randomly on September 16 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
While the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus became available for pre-order at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time this morning, some customers enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program were unable to select the model, carrier, color, or storage capacity they desired due to limited stock seemingly as soon as orders began.
MacRumors reader Pbrutto of Allentown, Pennsylvania said that there were no iPhones available for him to pre-order, while many other existing iPhone Upgrade Program members were unable to order the specific model they wanted from Apple retail stores in their local areas, even immediately at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.
My experience was logging in the moment that the Apple Store app was working only to see no availability and no way to pre order an iPhone. Seriously, Apple did not let their most loyal customers even place a pre order.
MacRumors reader Markarian421 shared a similar experience:
Same experience. Existing iPhone Upgrade Program member, but the only color available the instant the store opened was Rose Gold. My iPhone 6s Plus is Rose Gold, and I love it, but this is a black bezel year for me and I lust for the Jet Black. So, I reserved a Rose Gold for pickup Friday, but also ordered a Jet Black full price. By the time I got around to that, delivery dates had shipped to November.
The underlying reason appears to be that iPhone Upgrade Program members were placed into a separate stream than regular pre-order customers, and forced to reserve a new iPhone from a local Apple retail store -- many of which were sold out. Some customers were not even able to access the reservation system at all, and instead received the following message just minutes after pre-orders began:
We're not taking any more reservations to upgrade your iPhone right now. Reservations will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on September 17. Please come back then to make a reservation.
Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program lets customers upgrade to a new iPhone after just six months, as long as they have made at least 12 payments towards their current smartphone and trade it in upon upgrading. The leasing program is financed through Citizens Bank in the United States.
Today's experience has left many iPhone Upgrade Program members frustrated, and questioning whether they will enroll in the program in the future. In the meantime, Apple's in-store pickup reservation system for regular customers resumes September 17 in the United States, and select other countries, or customers can attempt a walk-in purchase on a first come, first served basis.
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.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
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 
