The 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the iPad Air 2 are the exact same size and thickness, measuring in at 9.4 inches by 6.6 inches by 0.24 inches (6.1mm), but Apple accessories designed for the iPad Air 2, such as the Smart Cover and the Smart Case, are not fully compatible with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
With the launch of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, Apple also released a line of Smart Covers specific to the new device, which are being sold alongside Smart Covers for the iPad Air and the iPad Air 2. Given that many people may already own an iPad Air Smart Cover, there was some question as to whether it would fit on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
Because of the Smart Connector on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the magnet alignment in the Smart Cover is different, something an Apple representative confirmed to Macworld. For that reason, using the iPad Air Smart Cover with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is "not recommended."
As for the Smart Case designed for the iPad Air 2, while it may fit, it isn't designed for the Smart Connector, the rear flash, or the four speakers on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, making it technically incompatible.
With Apple's own iPad Air accessories ill-suited for the new iPad Pro, it stands to reason other third-party cases and covers designed for the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 are also not going to work with the 9.7-inch tablet, requiring adopters to purchase new accessories.
Google's YouTube app for iOS devices was today updated to version 11.10, adding support for Slide Over and Split View on compatible iPads. With Slide Over and Split View, the app can run alongside another app or with the Slide Over panel open, allowing people to multitask while watching YouTube videos.
The third split screen feature available on Apple's iPads, Picture in Picture, has not been added to the YouTube app despite being a feature that many YouTube users have been hoping for.
Split View is compatible with the iPad Air 2, both iPad Pros, and the iPad mini 4. Slide Over is compatible with the iPad Air and up, the iPad mini 2 and up, and both iPad Pros.
Other new features in the update include relocated home tabs when in landscape mode on an iPad and a fix for a bug that prevented URLs in video descriptions from opening.
But those waiting patiently for a Mac refresh may not have much longer to wait, as DigiTimes today reported that Apple will begin shipping new "ultra-thin" 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks at the end of the second quarter.
The second calendar quarter ends on June 30, meaning that new Macs could feasibly be introduced by WWDC 2016, which will likely take place between June 13-17 based on scheduling information available from the Moscone Center.
The new MacBooks will allegedly "share a design similar to the existing 12-inch MacBook" and be "thinner than [the] existing MacBook Air," which makes it difficult to infer which MacBook lineup the report is referring to.
DigiTimes has a mixed track record at reporting on Apple's upcoming product plans, but its report corroborates a previous rumor claiming Apple is preparing thinner 13" and 15" MacBook Airs with "fully redesigned" internal components. That report said the notebooks would be ready by the third quarter, which corresponds to a July-September timeframe -- possibly shortly after a WWDC announcement.
Apple currently offers the MacBook Air in 11" and 13" sizes, and it has never released a 15" MacBook Air. In fact, many have assumed the MacBook Air will be discontinued at some point as declining costs allow the MacBook to become Apple's mainstream notebook offering. A redesigned MacBook Air, possibly with a long-awaited Retina display, could be considered a bit of a surprise.
The current MacBook Pro perhaps better corresponds with the rumored 13" and 15" sizes, but whether Apple is able to fit pro-level hardware in an "ultra-thin" design similar to the lower-spec 12-inch MacBook remains to be seen. There is also the possibility that the new 13" and 15" notebooks will be MacBooks, but the notion seems questionable unless Apple discontinues the year-old 12" model.
Apple's refreshed Mac lineup is expected to feature Intel's faster Skylake processors and Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C, while the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are also deserving candidates for an overall redesign.
Apple last refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro in March 2015, while the 15-inch model was updated in May. For this reason, the 13-inch model is classified as Early 2015, and the 15-inch model is Mid 2015. Both notebooks received Force Touch trackpads, faster flash storage, longer battery life, and improved graphics.
The Early 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro is based on Intel's last-generation Broadwell chip architecture, while the 15-inch model still has older Haswell architecture. Over the past year, Intel has announced Skylake chips appropriate for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro, 12-inch MacBook, and MacBook Airs.
Apple is reportedly in "advanced talks" to acquire British microchip designer Imagination Technologies, according to The Verge this morning.
The information is said to come from "a source with knowledge of the discussions". When asked for comment, Imagination Technologies refused to deny the planned takeover.
The report follows the UK firm's announcement just last week that it was making additional cuts to its business as part of a significant restructuring program, which saw 350 jobs axed in the process.
Imagination traditionally supplies the PowerVR graphics architecture found in Apple's range of iPhones and iPads. Apple has been a licensee and stakeholder in the company since at least 2008, and became a key investor in mid-2009 when it raised its stake in the firm to 10 percent. In 2014, Imagination announced an extended licensing agreement with Apple.
Imagination Technologies currently has a market capitalization of around £500 million ($714.5 million). The acquisition, if confirmed, would likely mean Apple could design future graphics architecture for its iOS devices in-house.
Update 8:25 AM: Apple tells CNBC it "did hold some talks" with Imagination but does not intend to make an offer to acquire it.
Despite earlier reports, Apple says it doesn't plan to make an offer to buy Imagination Tech. but it did hold some talks with the company.
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) March 22, 2016
Update 8:31 AM: Apple's full statement has been published by the London Stock Exchange.
From time to time, Apple talks with companies about potential acquisitions. We had some discussions with Imagination, but we do not plan to make an offer for the company at this time.
Apple announced the iPhone SE yesterday for $399 in the United States, which is the most affordable price point it has ever introduced an iPhone at. But in many other launch countries around the world, the new 4-inch smartphone carries a premium beyond foreign currency exchange rates and sales taxes.
In Australia, the iPhone SE starts at roughly $679 AUD for the 16GB model, despite $399 USD amounting to around $525 AUD based on the current exchange rate. The price equals about $617 before GST, so Apple is charging about $62 more beyond the exchange rate and Australian sales tax.
The price difference is similar in Canada, where the iPhone SE starts at $579 compared to a currency adjusted price of around $522. The 64GB model also carries about a $55 premium over U.S. pricing. Unlike VAT in some countries, Canadian sales tax is added to these prices at the time of purchase.
In the United Kingdom, customers will face around a £20 to £25 premium for the iPhone SE after accounting for VAT and the current $ to £ conversion. The forex market has been highly volatile in recent months, so these prices could change accordingly.
iPhone SE prices are inflated in a number of other European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, where the 16GB and 64GB models cost €489 and €589 or more respectively with applicable VAT and other fees added. Comparatively, $399 and $499 USD currently equal around €355 and €444 respectively.
Other countries with higher iPhone SE prices include China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and Singapore.
Apple, which reports its quarterly financial results in U.S. dollars, typically adjusts foreign prices based on currency exchange rates, while import charges and duties, VAT, taxes, licensing, and other fees can affect global prices. But even when accounting for those factors, the iPhone SE still appears to be priced higher in many countries.
Apple's new 9.7-inch iPad Pro carries similar premiums in countries around the world.
At its media event on Monday, Apple kicked off by discussing its efforts to reduce waste and improve its renewable energy infrastructure, marking a heightened focus on the company's environmental responsibilities.
As part of the presentation, the company also unveiled a robotic system it has developed that can disassemble old iPhones and recover recyclable materials.
The robot, called 'Liam', was introduced in a video showing how it deftly deconstructs an iPhone in order to repurpose a range of materials.
Liam is seen in the video rescuing cobalt and lithium from the battery, separating gold and copper from the camera, and extracting silver and platinum from the main logic board.
Apple revealed that the Liam system went into full-capacity service last month after nearly three years in development. It consists of 29 robotic modules on a single site near Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, and is capable of taking apart an iPhone every 11 seconds. A second robot is being installed in Europe.
The company said that Liam will initially focus on recycling junked iPhone 6 handsets, but Apple plans to modify and expand the system to deconstruct different models and recover more resources.
The robot appears to be a response to criticisms that components used in Apple's devices can be difficult to disassemble, refurbish and reuse. However, according to Reuters, Liam can likely handle no more than a few million phones per year, which is a small fraction of the more than 231 million phones Apple sold in 2015.
Greenpeace welcomed Apple's initiative as a good example of the company's environmental commitments, but the group questioned how much of an impact the Liam robot would actually have on overall iPhone recycling volumes. The bulk of discarded iPhones go through independent e-waste recyclers, which will not have access to Liam.
"If it's easy for a robot, that's great," said Greenpeace IT analyst Gary Cook, speaking to Reuters. "But making it easier for a human, who will be doing most of this, is part of the solution."
Last May, Apple received a perfect scorecard in Greenpeace's Clean Energy Index report, topping Amazon, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and Yahoo for its commitment to renewable energy initiatives.
Yesterday's media event also saw the debut of new products, including the iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch updates.
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.
As Apple's battle with the FBI and Department of Justice appears to have hit a crescendo, with the Tuesday hearing between the DoJ and Apple having been postponed, Reuters has published a new report outlining how a team of "policy czars" has impacted Apple's data collection policy and restricted Siri and iAd in the process.
Unlike Google, Amazon and Facebook, Apple is loathe to use customer data to deliver targeted advertising or personalized recommendations. Indeed, any collection of Apple customer data requires sign-off from a committee of three "privacy czars" and a top executive, according to four former employees who worked on a variety of products that went through privacy vetting.
The three "policy czars" are Jane Horvath, a lawyer who served as global policy counsel at Google, Guy Tribble, a member of the original Macintosh team and the vice president of software technology who spends a significant amount of time on privacy, and Erik Neuenschwander, who reviews lines of engineer's code to confirm that they're following policy.
Product managers start collaborating with the privacy task force early, steering complicated privacy issues to senior vice presidents or Tim Cook himself when needed. Key principles behind many of the data decisions for Apple's services and products include keeping data on the hardware rather than in the cloud or Apple's servers and isolating data so it cannot be used to form a profile of a customer.
However, Apple's privacy stance has resulted in restrictions to products like Siri and iAd. Employees had wanted to use iTunes' user base to sharpen iAd targeting, hoping to create anonymous identifiers so advertisers could figure out which users had seen its ads. The pitch was denied by the policy czars and the iAd team was only allowed to show advertisers how many people had seen an ad rather than who. "It was so watered down, it wasn't even useful," a former Apple employee told Reuters. Apple dismantled the in-house iAd sales team in January 2016.
Shortly after Apple purchased Siri in 2010, the company began integrating it into iOS. However, policy czars insisted that voice data from Siri be stored differently than personal identifiers for customers. The insistence meant the Siri team had to perform a "major back-end surgery" on the feature to both make it work and comply with privacy policy. Similarly, the team updating Spotlight in 2014 had to figure out a way to keep users' search logs private while on Apple's servers.
Apple has continually stressed how important its customers' privacy is, and numerous reports over the past several years have suggested that, despite Apple's enthusiasm to innovate, the company could continue to struggle with services like Siri and Maps due to its privacy and security policies.
Apple today provided members of the press with hands-on time using the iPhone SE and 9.7" iPad Pro, and first impressions of the new products are beginning to surface across the web. Below is a roundup of some of the more interesting observations and opinions about the new smartphone and tablet.
iPhone SE
The Verge said the iPhone SE "finally makes a small phone feel powerful," which is unsurprising given it is essentially an iPhone 6s shrunk down into an iPhone 5s form factor. The 4-inch smartphone is powered by a 64-bit A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor, which is up to twice as fast as the iPhone 5s. Other features are outlined in our iPhone SE announcement coverage.
Usually, getting a small phone has meant getting a phone that skimps on power or on the camera (or, most likely, both). That's absolutely not the case with the iPhone SE. It feels every bit as fast and modern as an iPhone 6S, able to move quickly through screens and web pages. Obviously we weren't able to test the camera very extensively, but we can say that it launches quickly and takes photos just as fast.
TechnoBuffalo described the iPhone SE's top five new features as its 4-inch screen size, $399 starting price, 4K video recording, Live Photos support, and full Apple Pay support without needing an Apple Watch.
That’s going to be a nice bump for folks with the iPhone 5s who otherwise weren’t able to use Apple Pay due to the lack of an NFC chip in the smartphone. Also, Touch ID should be much, much faster than the sensor originally included in that device.
Business Insider highlighted how Apple used more scratch resistant materials for the iPhone SE shell, meaning it should not be prone to scratches and scuffs as easily as the iPhone 5s. This includes matte-chamfered edges and a slightly different aluminum backing with a color-matching Apple logo.
The good news: The iPhone SE gives you everything great about the iPhone 6s for $250 cheaper.
The bad news: Despite all those great features, it still feels a lot like the iPhone Apple unveiled 2.5 years ago.
As of today, Apple has started offering replacement tips for the Apple Pencil in its online store. A set of four Apple Pencil tips can be purchased for $19, with deliveries estimated to take place on Wednesday, March 23 at the earliest.
The $99 Apple Pencil ships with an extra tip in the box, but until today, there was no way to purchase additional tips from Apple. When the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil launched, Apple said it would add replacement tips in the future, a promise it has now made good on.
Apple Pencil tips can be replaced by unscrewing the old tip, inserting the new tip, and screwing it in place.
The launch of the new Apple Pencil tips comes as Apple debuts the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, a second iPad in the iPad Pro family able to take advantage of the Apple Pencil.
The United States Justice Department today asked the court overseeing its ongoing iPhone unlocking battle with Apple to postpone a hearing scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 22, reports Politico. The DoJ says new leads have been discovered that could provide it with a way to unlock the iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook without involving Apple.
"On Sunday, March 20, 2016, an outside party demonstrated to the FBI a possible method for unlocking [terrorist Syed] Farook's iPhone," federal prosecutors said in a filing Monday afternoon. "Testing is required to determine whether it is a viable method that will not compromise data on Farook's iPhone. If the method is viable, it should eliminate the need for the assistance from Apple Inc. ("Apple") set forth in the All Writs Act Order in this case."
"Accordingly, to provide time for testing the method, the government hereby requests that the hearing set for March 22, 2016 be vacated," government lawyers wrote.
The government has asked that the hearing be postponed for two weeks, instead taking place on Tuesday, April 5. The additional time will be used to determine whether or not the unspecified method can be used to break into the iPhone 5c in question. Sheri Pym, the judge presiding over the case, has not yet given word on whether or not the government's request will be granted.
Over the last several weeks, Apple and the United States government have been embroiled in a heated public battle over encryption and personal privacy that started when a court ordered Apple to help the FBI unlock the iPhone 5c of terrorist Syed Farook. Unlocking the iPhone would require Apple to build a new version of iOS that bypasses iPhone passcode restrictions and provides the FBI with a way to enter passcodes electronically, something Apple has staunchly refused to do.
Update: The judge has agreed to vacate the hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 22, and has requested that the government provide an update by April 5. The motion requiring Apple to help the FBI lock the iPhone has been suspended.
Update 2: In a conference call with reporters, Apple said it would insist on obtaining details about the exploit the FBI plans to use should the government keep the case going. If the case is dropped, Apple will not be able to ask for that information.
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.
Ahead of the launch of the iPhone SE, there were questions about just how closely it would resemble the iPhone 5s, but as it turns out, the two devices are almost identical physically aside from the matte chamfered edges on the iPhone SE.
Rumors suggesting the two devices would be close enough in design to share cases were correct -- existing iPhone cases designed to fit an iPhone 5 or 5s will also fit an iPhone SE.
Product listings for iPhone 5 and 5s cases, screen protectors, and other accessories on Apple's online store have all been updated to note their compatibility with the iPhone 5, 5s, and SE. Customers who previously owned an iPhone 5s and are planning to purchase an iPhone SE will not likely need to purchase new cases for the device.
The iPhone 5s has been discontinued in favor of the iPhone SE, and pricing on the new device starts at $399 for the 16GB model. Apple will begin accepting orders for the iPhone SE on Thursday, March 24, with an official launch coming on March 31.
At today's "Let Us Loop You In" event, Apple debuted the the 4-inch iPhone SE, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch bands, plus released new software updates for iOS, OS X, tvOS, and watchOS 2.2.
We've covered all of the main product announcements, but some smaller tidbits of information went largely unnoticed, including the launch of a new 256GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro, new iPhone and iPad cases, and details on iPhone and iPad sales. We've rounded up all of these lesser-known details below.
Find something new that should be included on the list? Send us Tips email and we'll add it.
256GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro - With the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, Apple introduced a new 256GB storage capacity, which has also been extended to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Apple is selling a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 256GB of storage for $1,079 for Wi-Fi only or $1,229 for Wi-Fi + Cellular.
9.7-inch iPad Pro USB 2 Transfer Speeds - According to the product description for the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is able to transfer data at USB 3 speeds, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro can only transfer data at USB 2 speeds. That implies the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is not using the same Lightning port as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which has a Lightning port able to support USB 3.0 transfer speeds.
At USB 2 speeds, iPads and iPhones can transfer data at around 25 to 35 MB/s, while USB 3.0 transfer speeds are much faster –- up to 625MB/s.
New iPhone and iPad case colors - Apple has introduced new spring colors for iPhone and iPad cases. New Silicone case colors for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus include Yellow, Apricot, Light Pink, Lilac, Royal Blue, and Mint. Apple has dropped the following colors: Blue, Turquoise, and Pink.
There are also new Leather Case colors for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, including Marigold, Storm Gray, and Marine Blue. For the iPhone SE, Apple has a Leather Case available in Black and Midnight Blue. Third-party cases available for the iPhone 5/5s also fit the iPhone SE, and Apple has updated product descriptions to note that its collection of third-party cases will fit both devices.
The Silicone Case for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is available for $69, while the Smart Cover is available for $49. Both are available in White, Stone, Yellow, Apricot, Light Pink, Midnight Blue, Lavender, Lilac, Royal Blue, Mint, Charcoal Gray, and Red. Spring colors – Yellow, Apricot, Light Pink, Lilac, Royal Blue, and Mint – are also new for the iPad mini Silicone Case and Smart Cover.
Smart Keyboard for 9.7-inch iPad Pro - Apple’s new 9.7-inch iPad Pro includes a Smart Connector, allowing it to connect to accessories like a new Smart Keyboard. Smart Keyboards are now available in 12.9 and 9.7-inch sizes, with the new 9.7-inch Smart Keyboard priced at $149, $20 less than the $169 price tag of the 12.9-inch Smart Keyboard. The 9.7-inch Smart Keyboard is identical to its larger sibling, available only in charcoal.
Classroom app - For teachers and students, there’s a new Classroom app [Direct Link] that’s available for download today. Classroom is designed to allow teachers to guide students through lessons, watch their progress, and make sure they’re on track. When used in conjunction with Apple’s educational tools, Classroom lets teachers launch the same app or website on every student device at the same time. It also includes options for locking screens into a single app, AirPlaying content to an Apple TV, reset student Apple ID passwords, and more.
Sales numbers - During the event keynote, Apple exec Greg Joswiak announced Apple sold 30 million 4-inch iPhones in 2015, which encompasses the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c. In total, Apple sold 231.5 million iPhones during the year. Apple also announced that it has sold 200 million 9.7-inch iPads since 2010.
True Tone display - Apple has introduced a True Tone display in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which uses built-in sensors to detect the ambient lighting in the room and adjust the display accordingly. The feature is unique to the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and can be turned off in the Settings app for those who want a display temperature that does not fluctuate.
iPhone 5s - Apple is no longer selling the iPhone 5s in the United States, having discontinued it in favor of the iPhone SE.
iPhone SE Touch ID - The iPhone SE adopts many features from the iPhone 6s, but it does not include the next-generation Touch ID sensor. The iPhone SE continues to use the Touch ID sensor from earlier iPhone models.
Embedded Apple SIM: The 9.7-inch iPad Pro includes an Embedded Apple SIM along with a regular Nano-SIM slot.
For more details on the products and updates Apple announced today, make sure to check out our recap post, which has links to all of today's event coverage.
Alongside OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan, Apple has released an iTunes 12.3.3 update, introducing support for the iPhone SE and iPad Pro. Following the update, those who purchase a 9.7-inch iPad Pro or an iPhone SE will be able to sync their devices with their computers once they are available for purchase.
In a recent interview, Apple iTunes chief Eddy Cue promised Apple would introduce a new version of iTunes with an improved Apple Music interface, but new Apple Music features are not included in the release notes so it's likely that iTunes update will be coming at a later time.
Today's 12.3.3 iTunes update can be downloaded from the Mac App Store.
With the conclusion of today's spring "Let Us Loop You In" event that saw the debut of the iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch updates, Apple has posted the full 63-minute video event recap on its website, and a YouTube version should be coming in the near future.
On YouTube, Apple has shared all of the videos that were shown during the event, including an overview of the 9.7-inch iPad, a look at ResearchKit, and an overview of "Liam," a robot that breaks down recycled Apple products to reuse as much of the raw materials as possible.
MacRumors posted extended coverage on all of the new products that were announced today, ranging from what's new in iOS 9.3, tvOS 9.2, OS X 10.11.4, and watchOS 2.2 updates to the features in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the 4-inch iPhone SE. A full list of our event coverage is below:
Following today's Apple event that saw the 4-inch iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and new Apple Watch bands and pricing announced, members of the press have been invited for hands-on time with the new products.
The new iPhone SE looks almost identical to the iPhone 5s, beyond the switch to matte-chamfered edges and a color-matched stainless steel Apple logo on the rear.
The new 4-inch smartphone retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, despite rumors that Apple will switch to an all-in-one Lightning connector on the iPhone 7 due later this year.
A closer look at the iPhone SE's new matte-chamfered edges (Image: The Verge)
iPhone SE is available in the same four colors offered across most of Apple's newer product lineups: Gold, Silver, Space Gray, and Rose Gold.
16GB and 64GB models can be purchased for $399 and $499 respectively. The 16GB model is also free when subsidized with a two-year carrier contract. Financing plans are available from $17 per month.
The new iPad Pro also looks virtually identical to its larger 12.9-inch sibling, with the only noticeable difference being the tablet's smaller 9.7-inch screen akin to iPad Air.
A side-by-side comparison of the new 9.7" iPad Pro (right) and 12.9" iPad Pro (left) (Image: The Verge)
The smaller iPad Pro has adopted many of the same pro-level features, including an Oxide TFT display, Smart Connector, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support, and the same positioning of other ports and buttons.
The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in four colors: Silver, Gold, Space Gray and Rose Gold. Pricing starts at $599 for 32GB of storage with Wi-Fi only, while 128GB and a new 256GB option will be available for $749 and $899 respectively. Pre-orders begin March 24 and shipments to customers will start March 31.
Apple has introduced a Lightning to USB-C Cable to its online accessory store that lets users connect their iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to a computer’s USB-C port for syncing and charging.
Significantly, the cable can be used with an Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter to take advantage of the fast charging feature on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but not the brand new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which lacks the fast-charge capability.
The new adapter will be a welcome option for iPhone and iPad owners who also own a 12-inch MacBook, which uses a 29W USB-C Power Adapter.
The cable comes in 1-meter and 2-meter lengths, costing $25 and $35 respectively, and both are shipping immediately. Apple’s 29w USB-C Power Adapter is separately available for $49.
Apple today released new software for the Apple Watch, upgrading watchOS 2 from version 2.1 to version 2.2. WatchOS 2.2, which has been in testing since January 11, comes more than three months after the release of watchOS 2.1 and brings a couple of important new features alongside bug fixes and performance improvements.
The 2.2 update can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.
WatchOS 2.2, along with iOS 9.3, introduces support for pairing multiple Apple Watches with a single iPhone. Both updates are required, and each watch paired with an iPhone running iOS 9.3 must have watchOS 2.2 installed.
There are few other outward-facing changes included in watchOS 2.2, but the update brings improvements and a new look to the built-in Maps app. Maps now supports the Nearby feature first introduced with iOS 9, allowing users to quickly locate local points of interest, and it has new buttons for quickly accessing directions to home and work.
Along with multi-watch support and a revamped Maps app, watchOS 2.2 also brings under-the-hood performance improvements and bug fixes to address issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 2.1.
Apple today released tvOS 9.2 to the public, marking the second major update to the tvOS operating system since the fourth-generation Apple TV was released in October. tvOS 9.2 has been in beta since January 11 and brings a slew of new features that were introduced throughout the testing period.
tvOS 9.2 can be downloaded over-the-air through the Settings app on the Apple TV 4 by opening the System section and choosing the Software Update option.
tvOS 9.2 brings two new text input methods -- dictation and Bluetooth keyboards -- to the fourth-generation Apple TV, making it much easier to insert passwords and search for content like apps, movies, and television shows. Bluetooth keyboard support is a major feature that was missing from previous versions of tvOS, a curious absence as the Apple TV 4 has supported Bluetooth gaming controllers since launch.
With dictation support, Apple TV users can dictate text for tasks like spelling user names and passwords instead of typing them in. Dictation capabilities are available in all countries where Siri is available on the Apple TV. Bluetooth keyboard support and dictation join the Siri remote and the Apple TV iOS app as ways to interface with the Apple TV 4.
In tvOS 9.2, apps can be grouped into folders, making it possible to create a more organized iOS-style Home screen, and there's also a new look for the App Switcher interface.
Full support for iCloud Photo Library is included, so Apple TV users can access all of their photos on the device, including Live Photos taken with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Photo Stream was the only available photo option prior to tvOS 9.2, and iCloud Photo Library can be turned on through the Settings app.
Siri's capabilities are expanded in tvOS 9.2, a change that may be the most welcome to most Apple TV users. Siri is now able to search the App Store, improving app discovery. Using Siri, searches can be made for specific apps or categories of apps, like social media or games.
After installing tvOS 9.2, Apple TV owners will be prompted to update their Siri Remotes with new firmware. The update will improve motion sensor performance within games and apps and it adds support for additional sound bar and receiver hardware.
Other new features in tvOS 9.2 include support for MapKit, so developers can incorporate maps into their tvOS apps, and additional Siri languages. Siri supports US Spanish (in the US only) and French Canadian (in Canada only). UK English, Australian English, and US English are available as options in the UK, Australian, and US Storefronts when English is set as the tvOS language.
With today's update, the fourth-generation Apple TV is gaining sorely needed features to improve the overall user experience, so Apple TV owners will likely want to install the new software right away.
Alongside 
