MacRumors

Apple authorized reseller B&H Photo Video has started its annual holiday sale with a number of discounts on Apple products, ranging from the new MacBook Pro to iPad. Some of the deals include a free download of Parallels 12 for Mac. B&H does not charge sales tax on online orders in all states except New York.

MacBook Pro

B&H Photo Video is discounting the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with no Touch Bar by $100, dropping the price from $1,499 to $1,399. The discount is available on both the Silver and Space Gray models.

The 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.7GHz processor, 128GB SSD, and 8GB RAM is available for $1,149, a discount of $100.

The 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.2GHz processor, 256GB SSD, and 16GB RAM is available for $1,699, down from $1,999.

Other configurations are also available:

- 15-inch 2.8GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD - $2,699, down from $2,899
- 13-inch 3.1GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD - $2,499, down from $2,599
- 13-inch 2.7GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $1,249, down from $1,499
- 15-inch 2.8GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $2,399, down from $2,499
- 15-inch 2.5GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $2,199, down from $2,499

12-inch MacBook

B&H Photo is offering most 12-inch MacBook models at a $100 discount, with specific configurations and pricing listed below.

- 1.1GHz, 8GB RAM 256GB SSD (Rose Gold) - $1,199.99, down from $1,299
- 1.1GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (Silver) - $1,199.99, down from $1,299
- 1.1GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD (Space Gray) - $1,199.99, down from $1,299
- 1.2GHz/8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (Gold) - $1,499, down from $1,599
- 1.2GHz/8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (Rose Gold) - $1,509, down from $1,599
- 1.2GHz/8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (Silver) - $1,499, down from $1,599
- 1.2GHz/8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (Space Gray) - $1,499, down from $1,599
- 1.2GHz, 8GB, 512GB SSD (Rose Gold - Early 2015) - $1,199, down from $1,599
- 1.2GHz, 8GB, 512GB SSD (Space Gray - Early 2015) - $1,149, down from $1,599

iMac

B&H has discounts on several iMac models, with prices and configurations listed below.

- 21.5-inch 1.6GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD - $999.99, down from $1,099
- 21.5-inch 3.1GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD - $1,349, down from $1,499
- 21.5-inch 2.8GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD - $1,179, down from $1,299
- 27-inch 3.2GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD - $1,599, down from $1,799
- 27-inch 3.2GHz/8GB Ram/1TB Fusion - $1,829, down from $1,999
- 27-inch 3.3GHz, 8GB RAM, 2TB Fusion - $2,049, down from $2,299
- 27-inch 4.0GHz/16GB RAM, 1TB Fusion - $2,349, down from $2,499
- 27-inch 4.0GHz, 32GB RAM, 3TB Fusion - $3,399, down from $3,499
- 27-inch 3.3GHz, 8GB RAM, 2TB Fusion - $2,049, down from $2,299

MacBook Air

All MacBook Air models are discounted by $100, dropping the price as low as $899.

- 13-inch 1.6GHz, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD - $849, down from $999
- 13-inch 1.6GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $1,039, down from $1,199
- 13-inch 2.2GHz, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD - $1,049, down from $1,149
- 13-inch 2.2GHz, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $1,449, down from $1,649
- 13-inch 2.2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $1,229, down from $1,349

iPad Pro

B&H Photo is discounting many WiFi only 12.9-inch iPad Pro models by $50, dropping the price on the entry-level 32GB model to $749, down from $799.

Many 9.7-inch iPad Pro models are also discounted by $50, dropping the price on the entry-level 32GB WiFi only model to $549 instead of $599. Some models, such as the 256GB 9.7-inch iPad Pro with LTE, are available for up to $100 off.

A full iPad Pro price list for B&H Photo Video can be found in our Apple Deals roundup, with links and specific pricing on each and every model.

Apple Watch

B&H Photo is discounting many now-discontinued first-generation 2015 Apple Watch models by a significant margin, offering savings as high as $550 on some models like the 42mm Space Black Apple Watch with Link Bracelet.

MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo Video and may sometimes get paid if you click one of the above links and purchase a product or service.

Apple authorized reseller MacMall has started its annual Black Friday sale and is offering some of the best discounts we've seen on 12.9-inch iPad Pro models this week. MacMall is also offering some decent savings on other iPads, and select 12-inch MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Apple TV models.

iPad

12.9-inch iPad Pro

- Wi-Fi + Cellular/128GB/Silver for $887 ($142 off, regular $1,029)
- Wi-Fi + Cellular/128GB/Space Gray for $887 ($142 off, regular $1,029)
- Wi-Fi/32GB/Space Gray for $675 ($124 off, regular $799)
- Wi-Fi/128GB/Space Gray for $767 ($132 off, regular $899)
- Wi-Fi/128GB/Space Gray bundled with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil for $988 ($278 off, regular $1,266)
- Wi-Fi + Cellular/128GB/Space Gray w/ Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil for $1,128 ($169 off, regular $1,297)

9.7-inch iPad Pro
- Wi-Fi/32GB/Space Gray for $491 ($108 off, regular $599)
- Wi-Fi/128GB/Space Gray for $583 ($116 off, regular $699)

Other iPads
- iPad Air 2 in Wi-Fi/32GB/Space Gray for $347 ($52 off, regular $399)
- iPad mini 4 in Wi-Fi/32GB/Space Gray for $359 ($40 off, regular $399)

Mac

12-inch MacBook
- Early 2016 1.1GHz/256GB/8GB RAM/Gold for $1,208 ($91 off, regular $1,299)
- Early 2016 1.1GHz/256GB/8GB RAM/Rose Gold for $1,172 ($127 off, regular $1,299)

MacBook Pro
- Early 2015 13" 2.7GHz/128GB/8GB RAM for $1,195 ($104 off, regular $1,299)
- Mid 2015 15" 2.2GHz/256GB/16GB RAM for $1,819 ($180 off, regular $1,999)

MacBook Air
- Early 2015 13" 2.7GHz/256GB/8GB RAM for $1,115 ($84 off, regular $1,199)

iMac
- Late 2015 21.5" 2.8GHz/1TB/8GB RAM for $1,208 ($91 off, regular $1,299)
- Late 2015 27" 3.2GHz/1TB/8GB RAM for $1,673 ($126 off, regular $1,799)

Mac mini
- Late 2014 2.6GHz/1TB/8GB RAM for $645 (save $54, regular $699)

Apple TV

- 4th generation/64GB for $159 ($40 off, regular $199)

Accessories

- Apple Pencil for $89 ($10 off, regular $99)
- Smart Keyboard for 9.7-inch iPad Pro for $139 ($10 off, regular $149)
- Smart Keyboard for 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $152 ($16 off, regular $169)

Keep track of other Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on Apple products and accessories by reading our Black Friday roundup.

MacRumors is an affiliate partner with MacMall and may sometimes get paid if you click one of the above links and purchase a product or service.

Apple's one-day shopping event is now live in Australia and New Zealand, offering customers free Apple Store gift cards worth up to A$200 or NZ$215 with the purchase of selected Apple products today only.

The offers are available through Apple's website in both countries and at Apple retail store locations in Australia. Each customer is limited to two gift cards per product category. Refurbished products do not qualify.

In Australia, Apple is offering a $35 gift card with the purchase of an iPhone SE, or a $70 gift card with the purchase of an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, at full retail price. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models do not appear to qualify.

Australian customers can also get a $140 gift card with the purchase of an iPad Pro, $70 gift card with the purchase of an iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 4, and a $35 gift card with the purchase of an Apple Watch Series 1 model or fourth-generation Apple TV.

The exact breakdown of Apple's one-day shopping event in Australia:

The exact breakdown of Apple's one-day shopping event in New Zealand:

Apple will be hosting similar one-day shopping events in the United States, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere on Friday.

A report from the Taiwanese supply chain emerged overnight claiming Apple will release a 10.5-inch "education and enterprise" tablet as part of its iPad line-up next year (via DigiTimes). The 10.5-inch iPad is said to be equipped with Apple's A10X processor, also expected in next year's refreshed line-up, with production slated to begin next month.

Apple is launching the 10.5-inch iPad mainly because 10-inch and larger tablets have been popular among enterprises and the education sector in the US, the sources said. Its existing 9.7-inch iPad may be too small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro too expensive for such procurement, the sources indicated.

A number of claims have emerged recently suggesting Apple plans to extend its iPad line-up with a new tablet dimension in the 10-inch range. Earlier this month, Barclays analysts claimed Apple will release a bezel-free 10.9-inch model alongside refreshed 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPads, citing its own supply chain sources, while in October Japanese website Mac Otakara said a new 10.1-inch iPad Pro would launch in early 2017.

However, today's report marks the second independent source to suggest Apple plans to introduce a 10.5-inch mid-tier iPad. In August, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the same thing and earmarked the same A10X processor for the tablet, suggesting there may be more substance to this particular rumor.

In addition, Kuo claimed Apple will also launch lower-price versions of the 9.7-inch iPad. Today's sources corroborate that claim also, citing Apple's apparent intention "to compete with Android models".

Shipments of the rumored 10.5-inch iPad are expected to reach two million units in the first quarter of 2017 and may reach 5 to 6 million units in the year, DigiTimes sources said.

More "revolutionary" changes to iPads, including a switch to OLED displays, are expected in 2018, according to Kuo's earlier report.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed new federal guidelines [PDF] intended to reduce distracted driving caused by smartphone use behind the wheel.

The voluntary guidelines recommend smartphone makers like Apple develop a Driver Mode, a simplified interface that would prevent access to non-driving-related tasks such as manual text messaging, social media content, automatically scrolling text, and viewing images and video not related to driving.

Driver Mode would not be initiated if the smartphone is already paired to a vehicle's infotainment system, while certain features such as maps and access to emergency services and alerts would not be locked out.

The NHTSA said technologies exist that could detect whether a driver is using a smartphone behind the wheel, and presumably enable Driver Mode, but refinements are still being made to ensure reliability. In the meantime, Driver Mode would have to be manually enabled by drivers who choose to use it.

Smartphone use while driving continues to be a major problem, despite the safety risks to drivers, passengers, and other drivers sharing the road.

The NHTSA said driver distraction was responsible for 10% of fatal crashes, 18% of crashes causing injuries, and 16% of all traffic crashes in the United States in 2014, the most recent year in which detailed distracted driving crash data is available. In total, the year had 385 fatal crashes that involved the use of a cell phone.

"Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic that has devastating consequences on our nation's roadways," said Secretary LaHood. "These guidelines recognize that today's drivers appreciate technology, while providing automakers with a way to balance the innovation consumers want with the safety we all need. Combined with good laws, good enforcement and good education, these guidelines can save lives."

Given the guidelines are voluntary, Apple and other smartphone makers are under no obligation to adhere to them.

The NHTSA is accepting public feedback about the distracted driving guidelines on the Regulations.gov website.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, President-elect Donald Trump said he received phone calls from Apple CEO Tim Cook and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates after winning the presidential election earlier this month.

I got a call from Tim Cook at Apple, and I said, ‘Tim, you know one of the things that will be a real achievement for me is when I get Apple to build a big plant in the United States, or many big plants in the United States, where instead of going to China, and going to Vietnam, and going to the places that you go to, you’re making your product right here.’

Cook acknowledged the proposition by nondescriptly saying "I understand that," according to Trump.

Trump said he is confident Apple will turn to U.S. manufacturing based on the incentives he plans to offer the iPhone maker, including a "very large tax cut" and "substantial regulation cuts" for corporations.

I said: ‘I think we’ll create the incentives for you, and I think you’re going to do it. We’re going for a very large tax cut for corporations, which you’ll be happy about.’ But we’re going for big tax cuts, we have to get rid of regulations, regulations are making it impossible. Whether you’re liberal or conservative, I mean I could sit down and show you regulations that anybody would agree are ridiculous. It’s gotten to be a free-for-all. And companies can’t, they can’t even start up, they can’t expand, they’re choking.

A recent report said Apple asked its Taiwanese manufacturing partner Foxconn to study the possibility of moving iPhone production to the United States, although Foxconn chairman Terry Gou is said to be less enthusiastic about the idea due to inevitably higher production costs compared to China.

While campaigning at Liberty University in Virginia earlier this year, Trump said "we're going to get Apple to start building their damn computers and things in this country instead of in other countries," while he has also threatened to introduce a 45% tax on products imported from China.

Cook previously said Apple manufactures iPhones in China because the country has put an "enormous focus on manufacturing," while noting the U.S. workforce has a smaller number of individuals with the "vocational kind of skills" needed.

China put an enormous focus on manufacturing. In what we would call, you and I would call vocational kind of skills. The U.S., over time, began to stop having as many vocational kind of skills. I mean, you can take every tool and die maker in the United States and probably put them in a room that we're currently sitting in. In China, you would have to have multiple football fields.

Apple also benefits from lower wages in China, where many of its suppliers are located within close proximity of each other. In Asia, Taiwan's TSMC makes A-series chips for iPhones, Japan's Sharp and Japan Display supply iPhone displays, and South Korea's SK Hynix and Japan's Toshiba produce memory chips for the device.

Apple does have a Mac Pro manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, operated by Flextronics, but it is a limited effort given the relatively low production volume of its high-end desktop computer.

Cook was personally a Hillary Clinton supporter, hosting a fundraiser for the Democratic presidential nominee in August on behalf of himself. In a company-wide memo issued following Trump's victory, Cook urged Apple employees to "move forward together" despite "uncertainties ahead."

Apple as a company showed support for both the Democratic and Republican parties during their respective campaigns, but it reportedly withheld support for the 2016 Republican National Convention due to Trump's controversial comments about minorities, women, and immigrants, among other subjects.

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.

Over the last few days, speculation has begun brewing over the potential winding down of Jony Ive's career at Apple, where he works as the company's chief design officer.

During an episode of "The Talk Show" podcast posted last Friday, John Gruber mentioned that he had recently heard Ive has been "checked out or not as directly involved with product design" at Apple, and instead focused on architecture projects for its campuses and retail locations.

Earlier this week, a couple of websites began sharing Gruber's words in stories angled with Ive's lessening involvement at Apple, backed up by the recent release of "Designed by Apple in California," which many look at as the designer's swan song within the company.

Rumors of Ive being "on his way out" of Apple have existed for a while, however, going back to his promotion to chief design officer last year. The position was described as allowing Ive to focus less on management and more on design, or as Gruber said, "the skeptic’s take is that this new arrangement allows Ive to be less involved, period."

Following all of this, Gruber yesterday posted a new blog to clear up his original statement. He reiterated on the second and third-hand sources speaking of Ive's status in the company, stating that no one has directly mentioned Ive has stopped overseeing Apple's day-to-day product design, but what he's heard is from sources who "think" he has. After addressing the nuance he meant to convey during his podcast, Gruber admitted that he's in fact heard from "well-placed sources within Apple" that Ive is as devoted and involved as ever.

Importantly, I’ve also heard from well-placed sources within Apple that there is nothing to this — that while Ive is devoting much of his time and attention to architecture recently (both for the new campus and Apple retail), every aspect of every new product remains as much under his watchful eye as ever. That his chief design officer title isn’t the least bit ceremonial, and instead is an accurate representation of his increased authority.

When I first started seeing these “Gruber thinks Jony Ive is on his way out” stories, I was appalled. It felt like a punch to the gut, because it wasn’t what I meant to convey, and I realize how influential my word is in such regards. But perhaps it was worth it. It shook a few well-placed little birdies out of the tree, all of whom emphasized that Jony Ive is as connected to product design as ever.

Gruber ultimately bet that Ive is "not going anywhere," because the arguments that state the designer is leaving Apple must also argue that he is giving up being a designer altogether, and "that doesn't sound right" to him. Addressing the recently released design book -- which covers all of Ive's history with Apple -- Gruber also mentioned that while it could be construed as a goodbye to Apple, "it feels to me like Ive's heartfelt goodbye to his best friend and colleague, five years gone. I don't think Jony Ive is going anywhere."

Check out the full blog post on Daring Fireball.

Apple will switch to an all-glass casing for next year's entire iPhone lineup in order to support wireless charging, with Pegatron being the exclusive supplier of the wireless charger. That's according to the latest research note by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo obtained by MacRumors.

According to Kuo, the transition from metal to glass casing is key if Apple is to introduce a wireless charging feature in the 2017 iPhone. While patented engineering solutions do exist for wirelessly charging devices with metal cases, issues with wireless frequency tolerances for metal alloys can limit the speed at which charging takes place. On top of that, it is widely believed that Jony Ive has wanted to introduce an iPhone that looks like a single sheet of glass for several years.

We believe one of the reasons why new iPhones will switch from metal casing to glass casing is to support wireless charging. In order to ensure a superior performance, we believe it is most appropriate for EMS suppliers to develop and make the wireless charger because then a comprehensive test can be conducted. As Hon Hai needs to deploy most resources to develop and produce OLED iPhone, we expect Pegatron will be the exclusive supplier of the wireless charger.

Kuo remains uncertain whether a wireless charger will be bundled with all new iPhones, but expects at least some models to be next year, with wider availability by 2018.

Kuo last week claimed that Apple will release 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch model iPhones with LCD screens as well as an all-new OLED model with a dual-lens camera. Kuo previously said Apple will launch a 5.8-inch iPhone with a curved OLED display and glass casing next year. He later said that model will have a 5.1-inch to 5.2-inch active touchscreen area. Barclays analysts said it will have a bezel-free design.

Multiple rumors have suggested Apple is set to introduce wireless charging into the "iPhone 8", despite the company downplaying the usefulness of the technology back in 2012. Last month it was reported that Hon Hai – better known as Foxconn – is testing wireless charging modules for use in the 2017 iPhone, although inclusion of the technology in the iPhone 8 was thought to be dependent on whether Foxconn can boost the yield rate to a satisfactory level.

Reports that Apple was exploring extended range wireless charging for the 2017 iPhone also appeared back in January. Extended wireless charging is considered superior to existing wireless solutions because it does not require the device to be as close to a charging mat or source.

Apple's 10th anniversary iPhone, which is expected to feature a major redesign with a glass body and edge-to-edge OLED display that integrates a Touch ID sensor and front-facing camera, is expected to arrive in September 2017.