T-Mobile announced today it has recently implemented 4x4 MIMO in 319 cities across the United States, effectively doubling the number of data paths between the network's cell towers and compatible smartphones.
The carrier has also launched 256 QAM for downloads and 64 QAM for uploads across half of its network, with a nationwide rollout to be completed by the end of October. These new quadrature amplitude modulation technologies increase the number of bits delivered per transmission for even faster LTE speeds. Combined with 4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM delivers theoretical download speeds up to 400 Mbps.
Meanwhile, T-Mobile said it now covers nearly 312 million customers in the United States, bringing it to within 99.7% of Verizon's coverage.
Qualcomm's X12 modem, an appropriate candidate for iPhone 7, supports 4x4 MIMO, so it is possible that some models could benefit from the technology. However, Apple is expected to use Intel's XMM 7360 LTE modem for a portion of iPhone 7 models, including AT&T models, and 4x4 MIMO is not an advertised feature of that chipset. iPhone 6s and older models do not support 4x4 MIMO.
T-Mobile customers with Samsung's Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge will be covered by 4x4 MIMO following a software update later this month.
After sharing photos and a video of the thin display and larger battery for the Apple Watch 2, Byte today posted a video focused on comparing the measurements of the new and old Apple Watch generations. As expected, the measurements for the Apple Watch 2 represent an overall slightly thinner display than the original model, while its battery is noticeably thicker.
Thanks to the detailed measurements, Byte was able to confirm that the Apple Watch 2's display is 2.86 mm at its thickest location and 2.12 at its thinnest, compared to 3.57 mm and 2.99 mm, respectively, for the original Apple Watch.
The thickest point of the Apple Watch display (left) vs thickest point of the Apple Watch 2 display (right)
The Apple Watch 2's slightly different measurements continued in the height and width of its display (appearing to be a 42mm model), which measured 39.47 mm tall and 33.43 mm wide. The first generation Apple Watch came in at 38.74 mm tall and 32.65 mm wide, so while the Apple Watch 2 is slightly taller and longer, the overall difference appears to be similarly negligible as iPhone generations that jump between the main models and an "S" generation.
Byte also measured the thickness, length, and width of each generation of Apple Watch battery, with the first measuring 3.95 mm thick, 27.46 long, and 18.42 mm wide. Comparatively, the upcoming second generation Apple Watch battery measured 5.11 mm thick, 27.50 mm long, and 18.71 mm wide, falling in line with previous rumors that the Apple Watch 2 would have a larger battery to fuel speedier performance and improve its recharge life.
The battery for the 42mm Apple Watch 2 was investigated in a video last week, and was rated for 1.28 watt-hours. If proved true, this means that the 42mm Apple Watch 2 will have a 334 mAh battery that is 35.7% larger than the 246 mAh battery in the original 42mm model. Last week's video also showed Apple Watch 2 components like the Force Touch gasket, but the piece wasn't measured due to the similar size between each generation.
Byte also shared a circular gasket component of the Apple Watch 2, speculating its potential involvement in providing further water resistance to the unit, particularly its appropriate size for the heart rate sensor.
Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch 2 during tomorrow's media event, along with the debut of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Despite the slight differences in the measurement of its display and battery, the new generation of Apple Watch will still keep the external design of the current model.
The latest data from research firm Strategy Analytics shows that Apple currently accounts for two of the three top-selling smartphone models shipped worldwide.
iPhone 6s was the world's top-selling smartphone in the second quarter of 2016, based on an estimated 14.2 million shipments, while the two-year-old iPhone 6 trailed in second with an estimated 8.5 million shipments.
Strategy Analytics added that the iPhone 6s is "currently the world's most popular smartphone," implying that it has remained the top-selling smartphone through the third quarter leading up to the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Both the iPhone 6s and two-year-old iPhone 6 outsold Samsung's newer Galaxy S7 edge, released in March 2016, which finished third with an estimated 8.3 million shipments in the second quarter.
Apple officially reported sales of 40.4 million iPhones during the second quarter, including the iPhone 6s Plus and older models.
iPhone 7 models could remain the top-selling smartphones worldwide through the holiday shopping season after Samsung's voluntary Galaxy Note7 recall due to isolated incidents of exploding batteries. Some analysts forecast the "heartbreaking" recall could cost Samsung between $1 billion and $5 billion in revenue.
The pulse oximeter provides noninvasive measurements of oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and perfusion index, allegedly with greater accuracy than over a dozen other hospital-grade pulse oximeters.
In a study of 70 healthy volunteers during conditions of movement and low blood flow, Masimo SET was the most accurate pulse oximeter when compared to 19 other hospital-grade pulse oximeters. SpO2 accuracy was defined as being within 7% of the reference value and pulse rate accuracy as being within 10%.
The measurements and trends are sent to iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth LE and stored in the Masimo Personal Health app available in the App Store, while the data can also be shared with Apple's official Health app if permission is granted.
MightySat is $299, while a premium version that also measures respiration rate and pleth variability index is available for $399.
Another set of Geekbench results claiming to be from an iPhone 7 have appeared online, just a day before the device is set to be announced.
We've seen alleged Geekbench reports before – screenshots that turned out to be fake – but emerging so close to the phone's unveiling and appearing on the PrimateLabs site, this one may have more legitimacy to it.
The device is identified as an "iPhone9,3", which may refer to a third model of iPhone 7, given that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus carry the hardware strings "iPhone8,1" and "iPhone8,2", respectively. And yet the RAM for the device is stated as 2GB, whereas previous rumors imply that the iPhone 7 Plus will get 3GB RAM, suggesting this is a 4.7-inch device.
The scores indicate significant performance gains owing to the A10 chip expected to feature in the iPhone 7. If the results are legitimate, a single-core score of 3379 and multi-core score of 5495 show that a 400MHz A10 processor easily beats the performance of the A9 in the iPhone 6s Plus, which scores 2490 and 4341, respectively.
On these results, the A10 also outperforms the 2.2GHz A9X chip powering the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which returns Geekbench scores of 3224 and 5466, respectively.
Interestingly, the report says the handset is running a future version of iOS 10 (10.1) that has yet to be seeded to developers, implying that the test was conducted internally, apparently with full knowledge that the results would become public.
As noted, suspension of belief is advised without any official confirmation, but we shouldn't have to wait long before more concrete results begin appearing in the wild.
Apple is expected to reveal its new iPhones tomorrow, along with a second-generation Apple Watch, and refreshed Beats products. Apple should also provide final release dates for iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3, and it may have other product and service updates to announce. Check back with MacRumors.com for live coverage and through the @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.
The president of Samsung has confessed that recalling 2.5 million of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones will cost the company a "heartbreaking amount".
According to Bloomberg, the comment came on Friday when the head of Samsung's mobile business Koh Dong-Jin was asked by reporters about the financial impact of having to recall the phones, following the discovery of a defect in the batteries that caused some handsets to explode while charging.
Some analysts forecast that the scale of the recall will cost Samsung anything between $1 billion and $5 billion in revenue. Given that Samsung's projected net income is $20.6 billion this year, the firm will undoubtedly absorb the loss. But Dong-Jin's comment could just as easily refer to the cost to the company's manufacturing reputation in its rush to beat Apple's iPhone 7 to market.
In Samsung's haste to beat Cupertino to launch, beginning last year the South Korean firm had brought forward the release of its Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series models by roughly a month. The move was initially deemed a success after it helped Samsung report on its best profit in more than two years, but the strains on its supply chain appear to have backfired disastrously.
"Samsung might have over-exerted itself trying to pre-empt Apple, since everybody knows the iPhones launch in September," said Chang Sea-Jin, business professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and author of Sony vs. Samsung, a history of the electronics giants.
Speaking to Reuters, Sea-Jin called the recall "an unfortunate event; it feels like Samsung rushed a bit, and it's possible that this led to suppliers also being hurried."
Samsung said in a statement to Reuters that it conducts "extensive preparation" for its products and will release them to the market "only after proper completion of the development process".
However, many view the recall as a gift for Apple, which is currently dealing with depressed phone sales and relatively lukewarm anticipation for this year's devices as analysts speculate the company is holding back its most impressive upgrades for 2017.
Indeed, since news emerged of Samsung's mass battery defect, Apple has alerted iPhone parts suppliers to increase production rates, suggesting the company is confident of a late surge in sales of its latest flagship smartphones.
"The time advantage that [Samsung] had on the iPhone, that's evaporated now," said Bryan Ma, an analyst at IDC in Singapore. "It'll hit them this quarter obviously, but if it's something they immediately address and immediately turn around, then there won't be a long-term impact."
With Apple said to be overhauling its mobile design for a tenth anniversary "iPhone 8", and Samsung clearly keen to bounce back and impress after its latest troubles, everything points to 2017 being potentially one of the most ultra-competitive years the smartphone industry has ever seen.
A Vietnamese technology website claims to have spent some time trying out a fully assembled and operational 4.7-inch iPhone 7, offering a few original tidbits amid a number of details that have already been rumored about Apple's device, set to be unveiled tomorrow.
The tinhte.vn blog offers no photos to back up its claims about the upcoming iPhone 7, so the following should be taken with a liberal dose of salt, but the writer reckons the smaller handset will be capable of recording 4K video at a smoother 60 frames per second, in contrast to the 30fps 4K recording found on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (60fps is limited to 1080p resolution video on both devices).
Given the significant additional storage that would be required for such a spec bump, speculation is inevitable that 60fps 4K video is one of the main reasons why Apple is expected to offer 128GB and 256GB capacity models, and would seem to tie in with the company's recent introduction of a 2TB iCloud storage tier option.
According to the writer, the iPhone 7 also has a rubber sealed SIM tray which – along with the lack of headphone jack – improves the overall effectiveness of the device's waterproofing.
Over the weekend, respected KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also listed improved IPX7 water resistance as one of the upgrades to the upcoming iPhone. That would see the handset match the Apple Watch's impressive level of waterproofing, something which the company has arguably underplayed.
Elsewhere, the writer suggests that speculation regarding a new black color option is on the mark, and will replace the Space Gray iPhone variant currently available. Also, the volume buttons apparently no longer sit inside a small recess, but are placed directly on the side of the device body.
Lastly, the writer claims that the new touch-sensitive home button utilizes haptic Force Touch feedback technology to mimic the sensation of a physical depress, and still requires the user to exert a decent amount of pressure on the button to activate it.
Of course, nothing can be confirmed until Apple's big reveal, but with just a day to go before the company's live streamed media event, the wait is almost over. MacRumors is providing live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through our @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.
Apple Music for Android today surpassed 10 million downloads on the Google Play store, nearly ten months after it was released on the platform. Specifically, the app's total number of installs is now between 10 million and 50 million, up from between 5 million and 10 million, as of some point in the past day.
Apple Music expanded to Android in November 2015, around four months after the streaming music service debuted on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The app, which is no longer in beta as of August, has a similar design and features as its iOS 9 counterpart, including the same three-month trial and prices.
Apple's streaming music service had 15 million paying subscribers as of WWDC 2016 in June. Industry leader Spotify, by comparison, had 30 million paying subscribers at around the same time period. On iOS 10, Apple has completely revamped the app with improved organization and a new design centered upon bold, large text.
Apple Music for Android is available as a free download on Google Play for devices running Android 4.3 or later.
Wireless audio company Bragi has today announced a new pair of Bluetooth earbuds simply called the "Headphone". Based on the firm's original crowdfunded Dash earpieces, the Headphone buds boast the same overall design, but lose some features in favor of a more affordable price tag.
According to Bragi, the main physical difference is the Headphone's three physical buttons, which replace the touch controls found on the Dash for controlling playback, audio transparency, volume, and taking calls.
The activity tracking features native to the $300 Dash buds are also missing in the new earpieces, but their removal shores up battery life on the Headphone, with Bragi promising up to six hours of operation on a single charge, rather than the three hours Dash users will be accustomed to. Bragi also claims the Headphone buds feature a stronger Bluetooth connection than the Dash.
The Bragi Headphone buds are poised to launch in November and will cost $150, with pre-orders starting today at the lower price of $119.
In addition to the new earpieces, Bragi today announced a firmware update to the original Dash buds which the company says improves the accuracy of the devices' heart-rate tracking, while also bolstering the strength of the Bluetooth connection.
With Apple's event just days away, Bragi is unlikely to be the last accessory firm to announce wireless products this week, as the industry shifts gears in anticipation of a new iPhone widely believed to lack a headphone jack.
Apple will provide a live stream of the September 7 keynote on the Apple TV and on iOS and Mac devices through its website. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through the @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.
Over the weekend, Apple began decorating the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, which is where its "See You on the 7th" keynote will be held on Wednesday. Crews have put up window decorations and flags with Apple logos, plus other black-with-colored-dots themed banners and signage.
At the event, Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, second-generation Apple Watch, and refreshed Beats products. Apple should also provide final release dates for iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3, and it may have other product and service updates to announce.
Apple will provide a live stream of the September 7 keynote on the Apple TV and on iOS and Mac devices through its website. MacRumors will also provide live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through our @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.
Apple has begun selling gift cards for Apple Music annual subscriptions at the discounted price of $99. The 12-month gift cards work out at $8.25 per month, offering an 18 percent saving over the standard $9.99 monthly subscription rate for Apple's streaming service.
Currently the gift cards are being offered at brick-and-mortar Apple stores and select third-party sellers like Best Buy, but eGift cards can also be purchased online at PayPal and Walmart for instant activation.
Elsewhere, residents in the U.K. can use PayPal's online eGift shop to buy 12-month Apple Music gift cards for £99, which works out at £8.25 instead of £9.99, for those willing to sign up for a full year.
Apple still offers eligible students 50 percent off an Apple Music subscription, while the family plan lets up to six people pay $15 per month, or $2.50 each.
The new Apple Music, which has seen a significant redesign in iOS 10, will launch to the public this fall.
Apple has reportedly hiked orders for parts and components required for the production of the upcoming iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, according to sources from the supply chain in Taiwan (via DigiTimes).
Apple shipped on average 30 million iPhone 6s units a month in the second half of 2015. The company originally predicted shipments of the iPhone 7 this year would reach only 60 percent of that number over the same period, but supply chain sources are today reporting that Apple has boosted its original prediction by 10 percent.
Dummy mockups of iPhone 7 handsets
The hike in order volumes suggests Apple is increasingly upbeat about demand for the new devices among existing iPhone owners seeking to upgrade, despite relatively subdued interest in the iPhone 7 models compared to the pre-launch buzz of previous years.
Another potential factor in Apple's upward revision is Samsung's global recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone last week, which followed numerous complaints that the device caught fire while charging. The news arguably couldn't have come at a worse time for Apple's biggest rival, which has pitched its Note 7 as a direct competitor to Apple's 5.5-inch iPhones.
Samsung has already voluntarily pulled its flagship device from 10 countries, including South Korea and the U.S. Target has reportedly stopped selling the phone, while Amazon and Best Buy have also said they are no longer selling the Note 7. In the latest blow, Consumer Reports has called for an official recall which would make it illegal to sell the phones in the U.S.
Samsung has told customers it will take at least 14 days to replace their phones, and with several mobile operators including T-Mobile offering full refunds to Note buyers over the same week the new iPhones are expected to be announced, Apple's offering could prove a tempting alternative.
A lot depends on how fast Apple can fulfill pre-orders for its new handsets. While the company typically releases an iPhone about two weeks after introducing it, scheduling information from AT&T indicates that the iPhone 7 might not launch until later in the month, on September 23.
Previous information from notable smartphone leaker Even Blass suggested pre-orders for the iPhone 7 will take place this Friday, September 9, two days after the debut event. That date is in line with the schedule from AT&T.
However, Blass also predicted an iPhone launch for September 16, so if the AT&T information is accurate and does relate to release preparations, the previous prediction could be incorrect. September 16 and September 23 are both likely candidates for an iPhone release date.
Despite Apple's revised orders, some suppliers reportedly remain worried that the uplift could be short-lived, given that order volumes for new parts and components may start drifting down in Q4 "on seasonality".
Be sure to check out our "What to Expect" post for a recap on other announcements expected at Wednesday's event and stay tuned to MacRumors for other last-minute news and rumors.
We'll have full live coverage here on MacRumors.com on the event day, as well as through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account, starting at 10:00 AM Pacific Time.
At WWDC this year, Apple announced a new "Discovery Mix" playlist that would recommend music and artists to each Apple Music subscriber based on their listening habits and favorite songs. Yesterday, the feature became available to users on the iOS 10 beta, now under a different name: one playlist called "My New Music Mix" and another called "My Favorites Mix" (via AppleInsider).
My New Music Mix introduces users to new songs
The update can be found in the For You section of Apple Music, with each playlist housing 25 songs. My New Music Mix contains all-new music from artists that the Apple Music curators have picked based on each user's listening habits, and updates with new options every Friday. My Favorites Mix is full of "the songs you love and more," meaning it's focused on music users have already listened to rather than introducing them to new content. That playlist is updated every Wednesday.
Similar to other personally curated playlists in the For You tab, both My New Music Mix and My Favorites Mix can be subscribed to, placing them in the Library tab to become more easily accessible. On a smaller scale, each individual song can be added to the Library, and then downloaded to listen to offline.
My Favorites Mix curates each user's favorite artists and songs into one place
Apple Music's new curation feature is akin to Spotify's Discover Weekly and Release Radar playlists, which recommends music from new artists and current favorite artists, respectively. Spotify updates Discover Weekly every Monday and Release Radar every Friday.
New iOS updates, like Apple Music's personally-tailored music curation playlists, are predicted to be topics of discussion at Apple's September 7 event next week. Otherwise, it's expected that focus will be on the debut of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch 2.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a very solid track record when it comes to Apple product rumors, has released his most detailed research report yet ahead of Wednesday's iPhone 7 launch. The report recaps a number of claims previously shared by Kuo and others while also introducing several new tidbits about the device.
Kuo notes that there are many upgrades and other changes with the iPhone 7, but because the overall design is similar to the iPhone 6s, "general users may not feel the differences significantly." Details on the iPhone 7 include:
- New A10 chip from TSMC that could top out at 2.4-2.45 GHz, although Apple may clock it a bit lower due to heat and power consumption concerns.
- Storage capacities of 32 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB on both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus will include 3 GB of DRAM to support the dual-lens camera, while the iPhone 7 will continue to include 2 GB.
- Five color options including the usual silver, gold, and rose gold, along with a "dark black" replacing the usual Space Gray. A new fifth color Kuo describes as glossy "piano black" will also be offered. A photo of SIM trays in those five colors surfaced earlier this week.
We expect the iPhone 7 to come in piano black, dark black, rose gold, gold and silver. Only the piano black model will have a glossy finish. Given high production barriers, large-storage models may have first priority in adopting piano black casing in the initial stage.
- Improved IPX7 water resistance matching that of the original Apple Watch and making the device suitable for splashes, showering, and even brief dips in water up to one meter deep.
- No headphone jack, with Apple providing both Lightning EarPods and a Lightning to 3.5 mm jack adapter in the box. Removal of the headphone jack will allow for an upgraded speaker and a new sensor for improved Force Touch.
- Earpiece receiver to become a speaker with the addition of a new audio amplifier. Rather than putting a second speaker at the bottom in place of the headphone jack, Apple is said to be upgrading the earpiece receiver at the top of the device to become a full speaker. The change would provide enough separation to allow for stereo sound when the device is held in landscape orientation.
- Pressure-sensitive click-less home button to benefit water resistance. New haptics to mimic a clicking sensation when the button is pressed will be included.
- Wide color displays in the same sizes and resolutions as the current iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The wide color technology adopted from the 9.7-inch iPad Pro will offer better color quality.
- Dual-lens rear camera on the iPhone 7 Plus, which will increase Apple's costs by about $40 and could make the iPhone 7 Plus more expensive than the iPhone 6s Plus. Both lenses will be 12-megapixel, but one will be a wide-angle camera with larger pixel sizes, a 6P lens, and optical image stabilization, while the second will be a telephoto lens with smaller pixel sizes and a 5P lens.
- Upgraded rear camera flash with four LEDs (two cool and two warm) and a new ambient light sensor for better image quality.
- Possible upgraded proximity sensor shifting from LED to laser for faster response and greater recognition distance, as well as potential gesture recognition.
- FeliCa NFC support in models sold in Japan, as had been previously rumored for either the iPhone 7 or the 2017 iPhone.
Overall, Kuo believes iPhone 7 shipments will be below that of the iPhone 6s through the end of the year, coming in at 60-65 million compared to 82 million last year. Kuo reports that Apple's water resistance requirements resulted in low assembly yields that pushed back the start of mass production until the second half of August.
Make sure to check out our "What to Expect" post for a recap on other announcements expected at Wednesday's event and stay tuned to MacRumors for other last-minute news and rumors. On the event day, we'll have full live coverage here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account, starting at 10:00 AM Pacific Time.
Apple and other companies today filed friend-of-the-court briefs to support Microsoft in its legal fight with the U.S. Department of Justice. Microsoft's lawsuit is aimed at striking down a law that prevents companies from telling customers about government data requests, reportsReuters.
Apple joined a wide array of companies to support Microsoft, including Fox News, The Washington Post, BP, Delta Airlines, Google, Snapchat, Amazon, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Mozilla and more.
Microsoft filed its lawsuit against the Justice Department in April, saying that the government is using the authority of the 30-year-old Electronic Communications Privacy Act to prevent companies from informing customers when they hand over private data stored in the cloud. Microsoft argues that the government is violating the Fourth Amendment, which guarantees the right for people and businesses to know if the government is searching or seizing their property, and the company's First Amendment right to free speech, which it would use to inform customers.
The Department of Justice, which filed a motion to dismiss the suit in July, argues that the public has a "compelling interest in keeping criminal investigations confidential" and that Microsoft has no standing to bring on the case. It also contends that there are procedural safeguards to protect constitutional rights.
Apple has also been embroiled in a legal fight with the DoJ, asserting that the FBI's use of the All Writs Act to force Apple to unlock the iPhone used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farouk is both unprecedented and dangerous. Microsoft was one of the many companies filing amicus briefs in support of Apple.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
We're just a few days away from Apple's annual fall event, where we expect to see the launch of the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, a second-generation Apple Watch with new bands, and refreshed Beats products.
We may also see the debut of Apple's rumored wireless "AirPods" earbuds, and we'll find out when iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3 will officially launch. For details on all of Apple's new products culled from the rumors we've heard over the course of the last year, read our below guide on what to expect, but beware -- there are lots of spoilers!
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.
Measuring in at 15 inches by 11.5 inches by 3.5 inches, the Pocket Briefcase is not a small bag, so it's big enough to hold a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, a Retina MacBook, a 13-inch MacBook Pro/MacBook Air, or a 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro. I was able to fit multiple Apple products inside, along with all of their accessories.
The Pocket Briefcase is made from a super thick, rugged full-grain leather and features a saddle-style buckle and two outer pockets that also clasp with buckles. When new, the bag is rigid and the main buckle is a bit hard to work with, but it should soften up within a few weeks. The outer leather looks like it'll weather nicely, gaining a lot of character over time from scratches and bumps, and it's undeniably sturdy, made from just a few pieces of leather with careful stitching.
Aside from the two outer buckle pockets, a pen pocket, and a rear pocket large enough to hold papers or magazines, there's one main pocket on the inside of the bag, roomy enough to hold the aforementioned laptop along with accessories and anything else you might need to carry. There are two hidden side pockets within the main pocket, sized to hold items like pens, pencils and flash drives, and there's a leather key fob.
The padded leather strap can be used to wear the briefcase as a messenger bag or as a backpack depending on how it's buckled, so can be worn in whichever way is most comfortable. The shoulder strap can also be removed entirely so it can be used as a traditional briefcase with just the padded hand strap, and no matter how you're using it, it's going to get compliments. This is a stylish, rugged briefcase.
At 5.35 pounds, this is not a lightweight bag, but the craftsmanship is superb and it looks like it'll be able to stand up to a lot of abuse while still looking great. Saddleback Leather Company offers a 100 year guarantee on its products, so this is a bag that you buy for life.
The Thin Front Pocket Briefcase is normally priced at $489, but one MacRumors reader will win 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 2) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 9. The winner will be chosen randomly on September 9 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.
Apple has quietly updated the radio section of Apple Music and iTunes with a few new pieces of artwork for stations like "Pop Workout," "Dance," and "Classical." The new art can be seen within the radio tab of the Music app on iOS and iTunes on OS X.
Apple is expected to touch upon software updates coming to its mobile and desktop operating systems at its iPhone-centric event next Wednesday, September 7. These will include iOS 10 and macOS Sierra, both expected to launch alongside the so-called iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus later this month with an all-new and revamped Apple Music app.
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.
