At the beginning of the month, Apple debuted a new app analytics platform that gives developers a detailed look at app usage statistics. The feature was initially limited to those who requested access to the beta testing program, but as of today, Apple is giving all developers access to the App Analytics beta.
Developers are now receiving emails letting them now about the availability of the new feature, which is free with an iOS Developer Program membership and requires no additional coding or app updates.
App Analytics gives developers access to a number of different usage stats, letting them determine the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and promotions. The feature lets developers see which websites and blogs drive the most traffic to an app, and it determines how many app downloads a developer's App Store product page earns.
By creating unique links for each marketing campaign, a developer can determine what's effective and what's not, and detailed user engagement metrics let developers see how people are using apps. There's information active devices, number of sessions, and retention, so a developer can tell how long someone's using an app and how often.
Apple's App Analytics information is currently available to all iTunes Connect users who have an Admin, Finance, or Sales role. On the consumer end, customers need not worry about developers having access to personal info -- Apple only displays aggregated data, not personally identifiable information from customers. Users also need to opt-in to share their app usage data to Apple, which can be done via Settings --> Privacy.
For the past several weeks, high-end 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro shipping times have been quietly slipping, first to one to two weeks and then to two to three weeks, sparking questions from MacRumors readers about whether a 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro update is imminent.
While it's true we're approaching the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, where Apple often announces new products, Broadwell chip availability remains an issue that makes it unclear whether we might get a refresh announcement at the event.
We have heard no word on the status of Broadwell chips appropriate for the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro for several months. The last update on the chips came from a roadmap released in the summer of 2014, which suggested Broadwell chips appropriate for the notebook would be released in July or August of 2015.
In recent weeks, Intel has started shipping a small handful of desktop Broadwell chips, but chips that would be used in the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro and the iMac are not yet shipping out.
The desktop-class Broadwell chips that are currently shipping were also given prospective July/August 2015 release timelines, so their arrival does potentially herald the imminent release of Broadwell chips that would succeed the existing Crystalwell chips in the 2014 Retina MacBook Pro. If these chips are going to ship out earlier than the prospective July/August timeline, it's possible Apple could make a Retina MacBook Pro update announcement at WWDC.
If the chips are not shipping until July or August of 2015, however, WWDC seems a bit premature for an announcement of a minor chip refresh that would not ship for several months, making a WWDC debut unlikely.
It's possible the shipping delays on the high-end 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro are due to resource reallocation rather than an imminent refresh. Apple's suppliers that produce the Retina MacBook Pro are also responsible for assembling the Apple Watch and the MacBook, so the delays that we're seeing may be a combination of workers being rerouted to work on more pressing products and low demand for the high-end Retina MacBook Pro.
It's worth noting that the high-end iMac is also seeing similar delays, with a shipping estimate of one to two weeks. The high-end iMac is in the same situation as the Retina MacBook Pro -- chips appropriate for an update are not yet available. Furthermore, chip roadmaps call into question whether there will be Broadwell chips available for Apple's non-Retina 27-inch iMacs at all.
Given the significant delays with Broadwell chips, their release timelines merge with the release timelines of Intel's next-generation Skylake chips and an investigation into Intel's release plans suggests that the company may jump directly to releasing Skylake chips in the third-quarter of 2015, bypassing Broadwell chips for certain machines all together.
As an example, the successor to the Core i5-4670 chip used in the low-end 27-inch iMac is the Core i5-4690 used in the low-end 27-inch Retina iMac, and the successor to that chip appears to be the Skylake Core i5-6600, suggesting a potential refresh for the non-Retina iMac might use that Skylake chip rather than the older Broadwell chip. Any upgrades to the 27-inch Retina iMac will also use Skylake chips rather than Broadwell chips.
Processor upgrades for the 21-inch iMac are a bit murkier as the chips used in those machines have no Skylake equivalents at this point in time, so it's tougher to speculate about potential chip successors Apple could use. It's also worth noting that the close proximity of Skylake and Broadwell chip releases could see Apple waiting for Skylake chips not only for the iMac, but also for the Retina MacBook Pro.
The major takeaway from the increased iMac and Retina MacBook Pro shipping estimates is that the Broadwell delays have thrown Apple's upgrade cycle into disarray, making it difficult to determine when we might see an update due to all the variables involved. If Apple chooses to go with a minor Broadwell update for the high-end 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro and those chips ship soon, we could very well see an announcement at WWDC.
If, however, those chips are not ready or if Apple should choose to forego Broadwell in favor of Skylake for a more substantial update, it's unlikely we'll see a WWDC refresh announcement for the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro. iMac updates are even more difficult to pin down, but it seems unlikely a refresh is imminent.
Our iPhones and iPads are protected by Activation Lock, a security feature that prevents thieves from wiping and using a stolen Apple device with a new account, but the recently released Apple Watch has no similar security feature.
As pointed out by iDownloadBlog in a detailed post on the security of the Apple Watch, there is nothing that stops a lost or stolen Apple Watch from being wiped and paired with a new iPhone. The Apple Watch has a passcode option that requires a sequence of numbers to be entered every time it's removed from a wrist, but the passcode protects only data.
The passcode is also easily bypassed with a reset. Pressing down on the side button of the Apple Watch brings up the power down options and a force press on this screen brings up an option to Erase All content and Settings. Erasing the Apple Watch in this manner erases the passcode and allows the Apple Watch to be paired with a new device, with no hint of the original owner's information available.
Because there's no Activation Lock and because the Apple Watch is reliant on the iPhone, there's also no Find My iPhone option to locate a lost or stolen Apple Watch. Due to this lack of security, it's possible the Apple Watch will become a major target for thieves.
It's an expensive device (especially the higher-end Edition versions), it's compact, it's highly desirable, it has a high resale value like all of Apple's products, and it's easily visible on a wrist rather than hidden away in a bag or pocket like an iPhone. In short, it's an easy target for muggers.
iPhone theft in major cities like San Francisco and New York became such an issue that government officials called for Apple and other cell phone manufacturers to implement a "kill switch" that would disable stolen devices, leading to the eventual release of Activation Lock alongside iOS 7.
Activation Lock had a positive impact on smartphone thievery, dropping iPhone theft by 25 percent in New York, 40 percent in San Francisco, and 50 percent in London as of early 2015. If Apple Watch theft causes crime rates to spike like iPhone theft, it's possible lawmakers will once again step in to call upon Apple to improve the security of the wrist worn device.
As iDownloadBlog notes, Apple could potentially introduce stricter security measures in a future version of Watch OS. A simple solution would check the last known Apple ID of a paired device, refusing a new connection without a password or other authentication. Given the number of sensors in the Apple Watch, it's also not unimaginable that a future biometric solution could also be implemented for additional security.
Google has announced that it will be extending its policy that requires Chrome extensions to be hosted on the Chrome Web Store to all Mac users beginning in July 2015. Google says it is extending the policy, originally announced in May 2014, to protect users against unsafe Chrome extensions by malicious software developers.
"We originally did not enforce this policy on the Windows developer channel in order to allow developers to opt out," writes Google. "Unfortunately, we’ve since observed malicious software forcing users into the developer channel in order to install unwanted off-store extensions. Affected users are left with malicious extensions running on a Chrome channel they did not choose. As such, starting today we will begin enforcing this policy on all Windows channels. Mac will soon follow, with enforcement for all channels beginning in July 2015."
Google says it saw a 75% drop in customer support help requests from Chrome users inquiring about how to uninstall unwanted extensions since enforcing the policy for some Windows users. The company will continue to support local extension installs during development and installs via Enterprise policy. Developers with third-party extensions not currently on the Chrome Web Store can submit them for approval.
Facebook yesterday announced "Instant Articles," a new iOS-based platform designed to speed up the loading times of articles when browsing on the company's iPhone app.
Instant Articles offers publishers a new tool to host their stories on Facebook servers, negating the need to wait for a separate web app to load the content and in turn loading linked articles up to ten times faster than before. Publishers who take advantage of the feature will be provided with a suite of interactivity tools as well, including accelerometer-based photo zooming, audio captions, and the ability to like and comment on individual lines of an article.
The new feature is launching with nine partners: The New York Times, National Geographic, BuzzFeed, NBC, The Atlantic, The Guardian, BBC News, Spiegel and Bild. Facebook hopes that relegating full monetary control over an article to its publisher, including the ability to sell ads within Instant Articles and keep the full revenue, will entice more to support the service.
They're also allowing partners access to Facebook's Audience Network for a chance at beefing up ad spaces and giving them access to comScore and "other analytics tools" to track traffic data on articles. The new platform will also be malleable to each individual publisher, with Facebook introducing a tool set that will allow each specific brand to set its own customizable typeface, color, and layout to closer match what readers expect from each brand.
“Fundamentally, this is a tool that enables publishers to provide a better experience for their readers on Facebook” said Facebook Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. “Instant Articles lets them deliver fast, interactive articles while maintaining control of their content and business models.”
Facebook's new suite of publishing tools aims to provide a more streamlined, hassle-free experience for users of its mobile app, which is always a good thing for a company constantly trying to be forward thinking. However, as The Vergepoints out, Instant Articles essentially boils down to being "a new publishing format," which could spell doom for those unwilling to join the ranks of Facebook's partners in fear of losing creative control of their own stories.
Instant Articles is available now on the iPhone Facebook app, with special content produced by a few of its initial launch partners. The company hopes to launch to a wider range of smartphone devices in the coming months, as it attempts to gather more publishing partners and listen to user feedback to "help us improve the experience."
Apple and A123 Systems are close to reaching a settlement in an ongoing battery engineer poaching lawsuit between the two companies, according to The Boston Globe. A123 Systems, an advanced battery manufacturer, originally filed suit against Apple in February for poaching key battery engineering employees to join its own automative team, including former chief technology officer Mujeeb Ijaz.
"On Tuesday, a federal judge granted A123 more time to finalize the settlement with Apple," reports The Boston Globe. "In a court filing, the two sides reported that they 'have reached an agreement, signed a term sheet, and are in the process of drafting a final settlement agreement.'"
Apple's much-rumored automotive team reportedly consists of hundreds of employees, including several former Tesla, Ford and GM employees and other talent from smaller firms such as A123 Systems, MIT Motorsports, Ogin, Autoliv, Concept Systems and General Dynamics. The team is believed to be working on an auto-related project, possibly involving an electric and potentially autonomous vehicle.
Nearly five weeks after Apple Watch pre-orders became available on April 10, the first stainless steel Apple Watch orders with Space Black Link Bracelets, Leather Loops and Modern Buckles are now being prepared to ship. A growing number of users tracking their Apple Watch orders within the MacRumors discussion forums confirmed the shipping status changes within the past twelve hours.
Apple Watch with Space Black Link Bracelet preparing to ship in U.S.
The stainless steel Apple Watch with Space Black Link Bracelet, Leather Loop and Modern Buckle were the last three models of the wrist-worn device that had yet to see movement, remaining in the Processing stage on the Apple Online Store until late Tuesday. Now, some orders have been updated to Preparing for Shipment in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and likely other first wave launch countries.
Apple Watch with Leather Loop preparing to ship in Canada
During the Apple Watch pre-order window, many models were listed with 4-6 weeks shipping estimates, or May 13 to May 27. With today marking the start of that timeframe, it appears that Apple is on schedule to begin shipping these delayed models to customers for delivery as soon as today. Many customers have received credit or debit card charges for their orders, indicating that shipments should begin imminently.
Most 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch models now ship in 3-5 weeks or July respectively for new orders.
Update: Orders are now actually shipping, with delivery set for as early as tomorrow.
Continuing on with our series of keyboard reviews, we're taking a look at the portable, foldable Jorno keyboard. The Jorno made its debut on Kickstarter way back in 2012, and after years of refinements and design changes, the keyboard began shipping out to customers in March of 2015.
The Jorno's look is quite a bit different than the original concept presented in 2012, but the basic idea is the same -- it's a tri-fold Bluetooth keyboard that collapses down for better portability. The Jorno name heralds the design of the keyboard, which resembles a Moleskine journal when it's folded up for travel.
What's in the Box and Setup
The Jorno ships in a compact box that includes the keyboard itself, the cover/stand that holds it up, and a USB cable for charging. Setting up the Jorno takes just a few seconds. When it's unfolded, it's powered on (as indicated by a green light) and Bluetooth can be activated by holding down function and tapping the Bluetooth key (the "C").
From there, it pairs within the Settings menu of an iPhone or iPad like any other Bluetooth accessory.
Design
The Jorno is a two-piece accessory with a QWERTY keyboard and a separate stand rather than a keyboard case, so it's able to work with a wide range of devices, including the iPhone, the iPad, and other smartphones and tablets. The main component of the Jorno is the keyboard itself, which is collapsible and can be folded down into a 5.7 by 3.5 inch package that's then covered by the case/stand for travel.
When the Jorno is not in use, the black leather-like stand serves as a case, but when you need to type something, it folds into a triangle shape held together by magnets, much like an iPad Smart Cover. A small plastic lip at the bottom ensures an iPhone or an iPad stays in place, and the magnets that hold it all together are strong enough that nothing is in danger of falling over. Since it's just a simple stand, the Jorno's case can hold an iPhone or iPad in landscape or portrait mode for typing, watching videos, and more.
While several states and countries have laws in place that make operating a handheld device such as a smartphone or portable media player illegal, the release of the Apple Watch has created a gray area in terms of distracted driving legislation. Given that the Apple Watch is technically not a handheld device, the laws in many jurisdictions are left open to interpretation at this point.
Regardless of the laws in your local area, it is highly recommended that you keep your eyes on the road and remain focused on driving at all times. Using your Apple Watch while driving is dangerous for both you and the drivers sharing the road with you, no matter how skilled of a driver you may be, and distracted driving in general is still a punishable offense in many jurisdictions.
Anyone with an iPhone 4S or newer knows how to use Siri. Even if you've never used the "Hey Siri" feature on iOS 8, you can probably figure it out fairly easily. However, on a completely different device, like Apple Watch, accessing Siri may need a little bit of extra training.
If you are having trouble getting Siri to activate, we've got a tutorial that may help shed some light on how to get her attention. Plus with one simple question, you can find out everything that your personal assistant can help you with on Apple Watch
Using "Hey Siri"
You can get Siri's attention by raising your wrist and speaking the words "Hey Siri" within range of Apple Watch. You can also ask follow up questions the same way.
You can use Hey Siri while you are viewing an app, in the Notifications screen, or on the Home screen. But if you are having trouble getting her attention, try the steps above.
One other reason that you may be having trouble using Hey Siri is if the microphone is blocked. Apple Watch's microphone is on the side of the casing, so if you have a bulky jacket sleeve up against the side where the mic is, it may muffle your voice.
Apple continues to set the bar among technology companies for its commitment to running its worldwide operations on renewable energy, topping Amazon, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Yahoo and other large corporations in Greenpeace's Clean Energy Index included as part of its 2015 Click Clean Report [PDF].
"The report found that Apple continues to be the most aggressive in powering its data center operations with renewable energy. Despite continued rapid growth, Apple appears to have kept pace with its supply of renewable energy, maintaining its claim of a 100% renewably powered cloud for another year, followed by Yahoo, Facebook and Google with 73%, 49% and 46% clean energy respectively. Greenpeace found that Amazon’s current investments would deliver an energy mix of 23% renewable energy for its operations."
The annual report is based on energy transparency, renewable energy commitment and policy, energy efficiency and mitigation, and renewable energy deployment and advocacy, all categories in which Apple received an A, the highest score awarded. Apple was the only technology company with a perfect scorecard in the report.
Greenpeace has been evaluating the energy demand of the internet and internet-related companies since 2010. The non-governmental environmental activist group was critical of Apple's environmental record for several years, and remained skeptical about the company's early push into renewable energy sources, but started recognizing and commending the iPhone maker for its efforts beginning last year.
Apple shared its 2015 Environmental Responsibility Report in April, reflecting on the company's environmental progress during the 2014 fiscal year. The report highlights that 100% of the company's U.S. operations and 87% of its global operations are run on renewable energy. The report also reveals that Apple emitted 34.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during the 12-month period ending September.
Greenpeace's full-length 2015 Click Clean Report [PDF] offers in-depth information about environmental initiatives that Apple and other technology companies have been undertaking, renewable energy for the cloud, powering data centers with renewable energy, a road map to a green internet and more. It also explains the methodology behind its letter-based scoring system.
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.
Alongside the launch of the Apple Watch, many third-party businesses have found room to expand their organizations, or create completely new ones, with various collections of charging stands, band swapping websites, and even more rugged cases for Apple's new wearable. These cases, it should be noted, work in conjunction with Apple's previously existing band options.
One of the more notable accessory manufacturers to throw its hat into the Apple Watch case ring is Speck, with a line of multi-colored cases for the Apple Watch, called CandyShell Fit, launching later this month. Speck promises the CandyShell Fit is perfect for customers with an intensely active lifestyle, as it "provides full bezel protection to guard the smartwatch's glass screen, defend against shock, and allow complete access to the digital crown and side button."
The CandyShell Fit Case by Speck
"You only need to do a few things to protect Apple Watch, but you have to do them perfectly and minimally, and in a way that fully honors the design of the device," said Bryan Hynecek, Speck VP of Design. "Speck is about giving people the courage to live their life fully and completely with Apple Watch on, exactly as it was intended to be used."
The case combines a hard polycarbonate outer layer shell and a TPU interior to work in combination at providing exterior and interior shock absorption, respectively. The case includes a slightly raised bezel above the Apple Watch touch screen - about 1.5mm - in order to act as a protective bumper between the Watch and outside environment. As expected, the CandyShell Fit has been put through a test of basic high intensity activities to see its reaction to sweat, high temperatures and even basic sunscreens and lotions. Speck says the new Apple Watch case will launch in multiple colors "later this month" and be priced at $29.99.
Popular accessory manufacturer Spigen also has a range of Apple Watch accessories on its website, from stands to screen protectors. It also provides a diverse array of durable cases for the Watch, providing various degrees of thickness and protection to customers interested in protecting their Apple Watch. Ranging in price from $14.99 to $24.99, Spigen provides increasing degrees of drop and hazard defense to the Apple Watch in multiple color options - including a transparent "liquid crystal" version. The company also promises each case provides full availability to the Watch's heart rate sensor and two side buttons.
The Rugged Armor Case by Spigen
A few MacRumors forum members have postedscreenshots and short reviews on some models offered by Spigen. Most users note the general addition of bulk onto the somewhat slim basic Apple Watch case, but if true protection is desired it doesn't appear to be too bad of a trade off.
Another durability-focused Apple Watch case, called The Bumper, began taking pre-orders a few weeks ago and plans to begin shipping sometime in June. The Bumper's ultra-resistant rubber material allows for ease of use when inserting and removing the Apple Watch, with the 360 degree shock absorbing case providing full access to the touch screen, Digital Crown, contacts button, speaker, microphone, and heart rate sensor.
The Bumper by ActionProof
The case also appears to be the only third-party Apple Watch case that provides protection to the Digital Crown while still allowing Apple's new input device to be fully rotated and pressed. The Bumper will be available in white, black, and orange, and those interested can pre-order The Bumper right now for $35 on ActionProof's official website.
With the nascence of the Apple Watch, there will no doubt be more and more options for various protection-related Apple Watch accessories as we move further into the year, with other companies getting their hands on their own models of the wearable. Given that some of these manufacturers created useful accessories before even having an Apple Watch in hand, it'll be interesting to see what other third-party companies do moving forward.
Apple subsidiary FileMaker today announced FileMaker 14, a new version of its database development platform for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows-based PCs and the web. FileMaker 14 contains several new features for developers, including a new Script Workspace for faster automation of common business processes, a redesigned FileMaker WebDirect, new app-like Launch Center interface, an enhanced iOS experience and more.
The new Script Workspace for the desktop consolidates the creation, editing and viewing of scripts and calculations into one streamlined interface, with features such as auto-complete, favorites, in-line editing, shortcuts, script step descriptions with in-line help, automated command-lookup and more to help speed up development. The new workspace also has point-and-click simplicity and contextual guidance for non-developers.
A redesigned FileMaker WebDirect and Launch Center further enhance the desktop experience on Mac, Windows and the web:
A redesigned FileMaker WebDirect makes it easy to deliver desktop-style interactivity to mobile browsers on tablets. FileMaker WebDirect now supports FileMaker solutions running on the latest tablets. Business users can deliver a next-generation mobile browser experience. The redesigned toolbar automatically adapts to the screen size of users’ browsers on desktops or tablets, with larger tap targets, slide-in menus that dynamically optimize screen real estate, and menus that collapse and expand into logical groups as the screen size changes or the user rotates the device.
A Launch Center brings an app-like interface with big, bold icons (no more dialog boxes and pull-down menus) that allow users to visually organize all solutions at a glance. Users can choose from 29 pre-built icons or design custom icons to give solutions a personalized look. The Launch Center works across the entire FileMaker 14 Platform, providing a consistent experience on Windows and Mac with FileMaker Pro, on iPad and iPhone with FileMaker Go, and in a browser with FileMaker WebDirect.
FileMaker users on iPhone and iPad benefit from an enhanced iOS experience that includes new scripts and an iOS 8-style redesign. Developers can now make solutions full screen, lock in portrait or landscape views using the new set-screen orientation, enable touch keyboards, enable richer text formatting, use new video and audio playback controls and more. FileMaker Go 14 is free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
Just a few weeks after the Apple Watch launched to the public on April 24, a handful of start-up websites have begun Apple Watch band exchange programs (via Wired). These sites allow customers a range of services, from the ability to trade in their unwanted band for money to go towards a higher-priced model, to swapping out full bands for different colors in the same style.
That's the basis of iBandSwap, a new band exchange website that creator Alistair Barclay says around 530 users have signed up for, with approximately 148 "matches", or band swaps, taking place so far. iBandSwap not only allows for full band trades, but partial ones as well, with Barclay mentioning Black/White and Pink/Blue are the first and second-most popular swap configurations on the site respectively.
Interestingly, the site also allows for swapping individual links from the stainless steel Link Bracelet watch band. One user, for example, found he needed more links than Apple provided due to his large wrist, so on iBandSwap he's attempting to put up some of his extraneous bands to receive extra links from someone using a Link Bracelet with a smaller wrist.
All of these interactions happen independently from any input with the actual website, with both parties receiving one another's contact information upon a successful match, and any shipping process remains delegated to the users. No money is exchanged in the process.
“It’s a small risk,” Barclay says, “and I like to think that most people who are buying a Watch are good people and have no interest in duping someone, as there isn’t really any money involved.”
iBandSwap isn't alone in its Apple Watch band-swapping cause, with sites like StrapSwap and the France-based Band-Band providing similar swap meets and basic e-commerce band selling services to customers tired of their original strap. All of these sites were faced with the initial hurdle that was Apple's confusing description over exactly how many bands came with Apple Watch Sport models, but iBandSwap, StrapSwap, and Band-Band have kept chugging along and remained nearly identical in structure as initially planned.
BandSwapper, however, has taken a different approach as its Apple Watch Sport-focused swap site was hit hardest of all by the three-band interchangeability confirmed by Apple in the days leading up to the Watch launch. According to the team, they always had a back-up idea for BandSwapper and have decided to pivot to that plan B entirely. It's now called WatchDots, and allows customers to place small stickers on the top of the Digital Crown and contacts buttons, aiming to provide lower-end Watch models with a similar look to the Edition line of color-matched buttons.
Apple Watch Edition (left) and Apple Watch Sport with WatchDots (right)
“On the high-end gold model, the digital crown is color-matched to your band,” explains co-founder Adam Hoyle. “The Sport doesn’t have this, it’s just all aluminum.” Pricing hasn’t been officially announced yet, but WatchDots will be under $10.
WatchDots hasn't officially launched yet, but those interested can enter their email address on the official website for updates and a 25% off promo code on their first order. These sites are no doubt just the first wave of band swapping and selling services provided online, with new experiences to launch - and currently established ones to rise in popularity - as more Apple Watch units and bands become more widely available in the coming weeks.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a respectable track record at reporting on Apple's upcoming product plans, issued a note to investors today that offers eleven predictions for the next-generation iPhone in 2015. Kuo expects the new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones to enter mass production in mid-to-late August, and does not believe that a new 4-inch iPhone model will be released in 2015.
The main selling point of the so-called "iPhone 6s" and "iPhone 6s Plus" will be Force Touch, the pressure-sensitive display technology built into Apple Watch and new MacBook trackpads. Other predicted features for Apple's next iPhone, many of which have already been rumored, include an A9 processor with 2GB of RAM, improved 12-megapixel camera, a new Rose Gold color option, possible sapphire cover lenses and more.
(1) Force Touch will be the biggest upgraded selling point, but also one of the main bottlenecks of the supply chain. Force Touch can enhance user experience due to more input methods and support of handwritten signatures, which is beneficial for expanding in the commercial market; (2) Screen will remain at 4.7 and 5.5 inches, with resolution the same as existing models. There will be no new 4-inch model; (3) There will be an additional casing color, rose gold, matching the rose gold Apple Watch Edition; (4) The camera will have a pixel upgrade, likely to 12 MP; (5) One microphone will be added near the speaker to enhance voice quality; (6) The A9 processor with upgraded 2GB LPDDR4 will be adopted; (7) The bending issue will be improved by using different casing materials and internal mechanical design changes; (8) If drop test issues can be resolved, the 5.5-inch model will have a limited number of units with sapphire cover lens; (9) The recognition rate of Touch ID will be improved further in a bid to promote Apple Pay; (10) Gesture control support; and (11) It’s expected that mass production will start in mid-to-late August. Total shipments will be 80-90mn in 2015, with a 2:1 ratio of 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models.
Kuo expects total shipments of between 80-90 million iPhones in 2015.
Though the Apple Watch officially launched on April 24, several of the stainless steel Apple Watch configurations have been unavailable to ship for weeks due to supply shortages. Customers who ordered Apple Watches with Link Bracelets, Modern Buckles, and Leather Loops right after pre-orders began are still without their devices.
As of today, the first orders of these rarer watches appear to be shipping out. Several customers on the MacRumors forums who ordered the Apple Watch with Stainless Steel Link Bracelets are seeing their credit cards charged and have begun receiving shipping information from Apple. The first orders should be arriving to customers tomorrow.
There are many customers who are still waiting for their Link Bracelet Apple Watch orders to ship, but it appears the wait may not be much longer now that the first shipments are going out. Customers who ordered the Space Black Apple Watch with Link Bracelet have unfortunately not yet seen order movement, and it also looks like Modern Buckle and Leather Loop purchases are not yet shipping out.
When Apple started accepting pre-orders on April 10, Apple Watch orders with Link Bracelets in Stainless Steel saw shipping estimates ranging from four to six weeks, while the Link Bracelet in Space Black had June shipping estimates. Apple Watches with Modern Buckle and Leather Loop bands also had four to six week shipping estimates right when pre-orders began, suggesting those models may ship out soon.
Standalone Link Bracelet and Leather Loop bands ordered separately have already begun shipping out to customers. The Modern Buckle band remains unavailable for purchase.
It is not clear why the Link Bracelet, Leather Loop, and Modern Buckle have been in significantly shorter supply than the Classic Buckle, Milanese Loop, and Sport Band, but manufacturing processes may be a factor. According to Apple's site, the Link Bracelet is crafted from 100 components, including links that take more than nine hours to cut, while the Modern Buckle and Leather Loop are made from leather sourced from small tanneries in France and Italy.
Apple's upcoming revamped music service may be coming at the perfect time, right as revenue from streaming music is beginning to surpass revenue from digital downloads.
Streaming music services have been growing in popularity over the last several years, and in an earnings call today (via Re/code), Warner Music Group CEO Stephen Cooper told investors that for the first time, the company earned more revenue from streaming music services than from digital downloads.
Warner Music Group saw a 33 percent increase in its revenue from streaming music services from companies like Spotify and YouTube during the second quarter of 2015, while revenue from digital downloads like those from iTunes grew only seven percent. During the call, Cooper said that the growth of streaming music makes it "abundantly clear" that in the future, "streaming will be the way that most people enjoy music."
"We experienced significant revenue growth this quarter across key segments of our business -- in particular Recorded Music, across the U.S. and international and across digital and physical -- capping off a strong first half of our fiscal year" said Stephen Cooper, Warner Music Group's CEO. "Notably, in this quarter we saw continued growth in streaming revenue which surpassed download revenue for the first time in the history of our recorded music business. Our commitment to being at the forefront of industry change as well as our ongoing investment in artist development is the foundation of our continued success."
Warner Music Group says that it expects streaming growth will continue, and it believes that declines in download revenue will be "a continuing trend." Apple too has seen a stark decline in digital revenue in recent years, with sales dropping 5.7 percent in 2013 and further declining 13 percent worldwide in 2014.
A decline in iTunes music sales may have been one of the major factors that spurred Apple to purchase Beats Music, giving it a foothold in the streaming music market that it was late to enter. Apple has seen some criticism for its failure to embrace streaming music early on and the somewhat lukewarm reception of iTunes Radio.
Beats Music has failed to draw a significant number of customers away from Spotify, which has 60 million subscribers, of which 15 million pay for the premium service, but with more than 800 million credit cards on file, Apple's upcoming revamped streaming music service has the potential to overtake competing services.
Rumors have suggested that the new service will be similar to the existing Beats Music service, but with a focus on exclusive content and deep integration into iTunes and Apple's iOS Music app. It will be priced at $9.99 and no freemium tier will be offered, but Apple is looking at ways to offer music for free, through lengthy trial periods, iTunes Radio, and possibly a SoundCloud-like music sharing platform.
iOS developer Nicholas Allegra, better known by his handle "comex" within the jailbreaking community, shared a short video on Twitter that shows a web browser running on the Apple Watch. The fifteen-second clip shows Allegra tapping, panning and zooming on the Google homepage on the Apple Watch, but the functionality is limited as to be expected because of the small screen size and lack of an on-screen keyboard.
"I always wanted a web browser on my wrist," tweeted Allegra, who later shared another picture of the iOS built-in dictionary running on the Apple Watch. Allegra stopped short of providing details about the hack, but a web browser running on the Apple Watch is an interesting proof-of-concept and fuels the possibility of an Apple Watch jailbreak or native apps with web browsing capabilities in the future.
Apple confirmed last November that fully native Apple Watch apps will be available later this year, but it remains unclear what restrictions Apple will place on them. Apple Watch apps are currently loaded from a paired iPhone via Bluetooth as WatchKit extensions, and developers do not have access to the Apple Watch's gyroscope, accelerometer, built-in speaker, microphone or Taptic Engine.
Allegra was an active member of the jailbreaking community in the early years of iOS devices, while attending Brown University in Rhode Island. Under the pseudonym "comex," he revived JailbreakMe.com in early 2011 as a one-tap jailbreaking solution for compatible iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices at the time. He later interned at Apple in 2011 and Google in 2013.
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.
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You can get Siri's attention by raising your wrist and speaking the words "Hey Siri" within range of Apple Watch. You can also ask follow up questions the same way.
Apple's upcoming revamped music service may be coming at the perfect time, right as revenue from streaming music is beginning to surpass revenue from digital downloads.
