Deezer Music has announced that its iOS app will be updated today with CarPlay support, making the streaming music service's full catalog of 35 million songs available through Apple's in-dash software platform. CarPlay support will be limited to Premium+ and Elite paid subscribers.
Deezer on CarPlay allows subscribers to listen to their favorite songs, albums, artists and playlists, choose a Mix channel based on their mood, use Flow to discover new music and hear favorites, access music in offline mode and more. Flow can be intuitively improved by using the Like and Dislike buttons on CarPlay.
CarPlay provides hands-free or eyes-free access to Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts and other third-party apps including Spotify, Rdio, iHeartRadio, CBS Radio and MLB At Bat. The platform also uses Siri voice control and interfaces with your vehicle's knobs, dials and buttons for safer access to common iPhone features.
CarPlay is or will soon be available in a wide range of 2016 U.S. vehicles from Audi, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ferrari, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo. Apple lists over a dozen other committed CarPlay partners on its website.
The updated version of Deezer Music should be rolling out on the App Store later today. Deezer on CarPlay is compatible with iOS 7.1 and higher.
Rovio, the company behind the successful Angry Birds mobile franchise, today announced that its current CEO Pekka Rantala will be stepping down from the role after just one year in office. As Retuersreported, Rantala's time at the company included multiple job cuts and restructuring plans within Rovio, and his tenure coincided with the company's first reported profit decline since the launch of Angry Birds in 2009.
The company has now announced that chief legal officer Kati Levoranta will take the reins as CEO in the first quarter of 2016, after Rantala officially vacates the position. It also revealed a new initiative where "more independence" will be given its two biggest branches: games and media. Mikael Hed, former Rovio CEO, will lead the media branch while Wilhelm Taht, the current head of external products, will take the lead on the games side. According to the company, this corporate-wide policy change is what spurred Rantala to step down.
"We used to have a corporate model with centralized decisions, but that resulted into too slow reacting in very competitive markets," chairman and main owner Kaj Hed told Reuters in an interview. "As the CEO will not be so hands-on anymore, he (Rantala) felt that it wasn't for him anymore."
Earlier in the year, reports confirmed that 2014 included Rovio's first major profit decline due to a lessening interest by fans in the company's physical consumer products like clothing and toys. Rovio's profit decline from 2014 also led to the forecasting of impending decline this year, causing 213 jobs to be cut at the company back in October.
The Finnish developer's Angry Birds franchise brought the company huge success, but has seen diminishing returns recently. At the time of the decline in profit announcement, Rantala hung hope on the impending launch of Angry Birds 2 and next summer's The Angry Birds Movie as ways to bring the franchise back into the public consciousness.
Apple has confirmed that updating to iOS 9.2 should prevent an issue that caused some iPad Pros to become unresponsive after charging from continuing in the future.
Shortly after the launch of the iPad Pro, some early adopters began complaining about an issue that caused the 12.9-inch tablet to become unresponsive after charging, requiring a hard restart to restore functionality.
Apple acknowledged the problem in a support document on its website, stating that it was "investigating" the issue, and has now updated that support document to reflect that "iOS 9.2 or later" should prevent the issue from occurring again.
The issue affected both 32GB and 128GB iPad Pros on iOS 9.1, including Wi-Fi and LTE models, and some users speculated that restoring from an iCloud backup during setup may have contributed to the freezing issues.
Second-screen app Duet Display received a significant update today, introducing a new resolution option to support Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro and bringing significant performance improvements for both iPads and Macs that run the accompanying software.
For those unfamiliar with Duet Display, it's an app that is designed to turn the iPad or iPhone into a secondary display for a Mac. Duet Display was the first app to use a Lightning cable to allow an iPad or iPhone to interface with a Mac, thereby drastically cutting down on the lag that's typically present when an iOS device is used as a secondary display for a Mac over Wi-Fi.
Since its late 2014 launch, Duet Display has been updated several times to improve performance on a wide range of iPads and iPhones, but according to Duet Display developer Rahul Dewan, today's update brings "massive performance improvements." Improving performance was necessary to allow a Mac or PC to drive the high-resolution display of the iPad Pro while maintaining a lag-free connection, but the improvements also apply to all older iPads.
With the latest version of Duet Display, CPU usage has been reduced by over 80 percent on iPad and Mac or PC, thanks to a new algorithm that's more efficient and an intelligent refresh feature that's similar to the iPad Pro's own faster refresh technology, but on the software end. Extremely high CPU usage was one of our major complaints with Duet Display when it was first released and it's been a customer concern for some time, so this update should go a long way towards fixing one of the major pain points in the app.
Duet Display has proven to be a popular app with iPad owners as it gives the iPad the versatility to be used as a second display for a Mac. iPad Pro owners may find Duet Display to be especially useful given the large screen real estate of the device.
Continuing on with its Apple TV promotions, Apple today shared a new Apple TV ad entitled "The Future of Television." The ad, like other Apple TV ads, features brightly colored television test pattern bars that serve as a background for quick peeks at the TV shows and movies available on the device.
There are glimpses of television shows like The Muppets, The Simpsons, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Game of Thrones. Movies featured include The Martian, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ant Man, Inside Out and The Wizard of Oz.
The ad also highlights the search tools available on the Apple TV, its Siri capabilities, Apple Music, and the tvOS App Store. Several games are featured, including Disney Infinity 3.0 and Guitar Hero. The ad ends with the video title: "The future of television."
Apple has been focusing heavily on highlighting the array of content that's available through the device via its App Store, which is fitting as news just hit today suggesting its own streaming television plans have been shelved. Due to an inability to secure deals for its rumored web-based streaming service, Apple is said to be focusing instead on its tvOS App Store, which serves as a conduit for media companies to sell their content to Apple customers.
During the Black Friday holiday shopping event in the United States, Best Buy offered one of the best deals on the Apple Watch, discounting the stainless steel version by $100 and the Sport version by $50.
According to Re/code, Best Buy plans to top that with an even better deal starting this Wednesday, which will drop the price on both the stainless steel Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Sport by $100.
Best Buy offers several stainless steel and Apple Watch Sport models and the discount will apply to all of the company's stock. With the $100 price drop, the entry-level 38mm Apple Watch Sport will be priced at $249 and the entry-level 38mm stainless steel Apple Watch will be priced at $449.
Best Buy plans to offer discounted Apple Watch models through Christmas.
Speaking today at the Business Insider Ignition Conference in New York City, CBS CEO Les Moonves made some statements suggesting Apple may have put the development of its rumored television streaming service on hold.
"They've had conversations on it and I think they pressed the hold button," Moonves said, referencing prior talks CBS has had with Apple about joining its subscription service. Apple and CBS were reportedly negotiating prices before Apple paused the discussions.
Today, Moonves said that Apple and CBS were close to settling on a price point of between $30 and $40 per month for these bundles -- Moonves specifically mentioned the price point of $35 multiple times -- before Apple decided to pause and reconsider.
Apple's streaming television service was originally rumored to be launching alongside the new Apple TV, but Apple has had ongoing trouble establishing deals with content providers. Difficulty securing content deals has delayed and shifted Apple's television plans for years, but in 2015, it looked like a things were coming together for a subscription service.
In May, Moonves, who has been very open with his comments on CBS' negotiations with Apple, said Apple and CBS were still in talks and that CBS would "probably" ink a deal with the Cupertino company. At the time, he had recently met with Eddy Cue and said he was "very excited" about Apple's service. In October, he made similar statements, suggesting discussions between the two companies had not progressed further towards a deal.
Rumors have suggested Apple is aiming for a web-based streaming service that would bundle approximately 25 channels for $30 to $40 per month. Earlier this year, Apple was said to be in discussions with several content providers in addition to CBS, including ABC, Fox, Disney, Viacom, and Discovery.
Given Moonves' comments and the general lack of recent rumors, it is not clear when Apple will launch its streaming television service. An August report from Bloomberg suggested negotiation troubles had delayed its release until 2016, but there's been no word on Apple's plans beyond that. There are a lot of factors involved in the launch of the streaming service, as Apple needs to secure deals with dozens of content providers, including local affiliates.
Moonves believes Apple's streaming television service, or something like it, will launch in the near future. "This will happen," he told Business Insider. "People will not be spending money on channels they don't want to watch."
Update: Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberghas confirmed that Apple has suspended its plans to offer a web-based streaming television service and will instead focus on "being a platform for media companies to sell directly to customers through its App Store."
Apple is not "giving up entirely" on a TV service, but it has not been able to secure deals that would allow it to sell a package of channels for $30 to $40 per month as media companies want more money for content.
The second major update to iOS 9, iOS 9.2, was released this morning, with a long list of bug fixes and improvements to features and apps like Apple Music, News, Mail, Podcasts, Safari, iBooks, and more. There are quite a few outward-facing changes tweaks and changes to the operating system, and we've gathered up a list of the major new features below.
News - Apple's News app has been updated with features that are designed to make it more attractive to users and publishers. As outlined by Re/code, News will now include lists of top stories curated by Apple editors and published a "couple of times a day." For publishers, Apple is also implementing integration with Comscore.
AT&T NumberSync - iOS 9.2 adds support for AT&T's NumberSync service, which is an expansion of Wi-Fi calling. As outlined in Apple's updated Wi-Fi calling support document, it is now possible for AT&T users to place Wi-Fi calls from their iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs (with OS X El Capitan) even when an iPhone is not nearby.
Continuity previously allowed a similar feature, but required an iPhone to be nearby as it used the phone's cellular connection. Similar advanced Wi-Fi calling features are also available to T-Mobile and Sprint users.
Apple Music - There are a lot of small tweaks to Apple Music to remove various pain points. When adding a song to a playlist, for example, it's now possible to create a new playlist instead of having to use an existing one, and playlists are ordered by most recent changes. There are also clearer indicators for which songs have been downloaded, and albums or playlists from iCloud Music Library can be downloaded by tapping the iCloud download button. The classical music catalog in Apple Music has been improved with works, composers, and performers.
Mail Drop - For the first time, Mail Drop can be used on iOS to send attachments up to 5GB in size. Mail Drop is a feature that was previously limited to the Mac version of the Mail app.
iBooks - iBooks includes support for 3D Touch, allowing users to peek and pop into pages from the table of contents, notes and bookmarks, or search results with force press gestures. iBooks also includes support for listening to an audiobook while browsing a library, reading other books, or viewing the iBooks Store.
USB Camera Adapter - With iOS 9.2, iPhones are now able to support Apple's USB Camera Adapter and for importing pictures from a digital camera or DSLR. Previously, only iPads supported the USB Camera Adapter. The iPhone 5 and later appear to work with the USB Camera Adapter. The iPhone 4s with the iPad Camera Connection Kit and the iPod touch do not support it.
Safari View Controller - The Safari View Controller, which is what allows a pop-up Safari window to be used within third-party apps, has been improved. In iOS 9.2, the Safari View Controller supports third-party Action Extensions, letting apps like 1Password be accessed in the Safari view of other apps like Tweetbot. There's also a new ability to long tap on the Reload button to load content without content blockers, support for the request desktop site function, and an edge swipe feature for dismissing the Safari window within apps.
In the Hipchat app for iOS, clicking a link brings up an in-app browser. In iOS 9.1, seen on the left, there's no option for third-party extensions. In iOS 9.2, seen on the right, there's support for third-party extensions like 1Password.
Unresponsive iPad Pro Fix - Apple has updated its support document for unresponsive iPad Pros to indicate that iOS 9.2 or later may prevent the issue from continuing in the future.
We'll be updating this tidbits post should any new features in iOS 9.2 be discovered. Our dedicated iOS 9 forum is also a great place to get more details on the new update, as users are discussing all of the changes that have been discovered in iOS 9.2.
The new update is currently available to all users with an iPhone 4s or later and can be downloaded over-the-air by going to Settings --> General --> Software Update.
Today's tvOS 9.1 update for the fourth-generation Apple TV enables a feature that many have been missing - support for the Remote app on iOS devices and Apple Watch. Prior to today, the new Apple TV was not compatible with the Remote app that has long allowed iPhone and iPad users to control their second and third-generation Apple TVs with their iOS devices.
Apple likely skipped implementing Remote support for the new Apple TV initially because it includes a touch-based remote control that enables many of the same gestures, but users have expressed some disappointment that the app didn't work. The Remote app may mimic the touch-based interface of the physical Apple TV remote control, but it will be handy in a pinch should that remote become lost or misplaced.
Being able to use the Remote app will also remedy one of the most frustrating aspects of the new Apple TV -- text entry. Prior to today, it was necessary to use the swipe controls on the physical Apple TV remote with an on-screen keyboard to enter text. The Remote app will allow iPhone and iPad owners to use their devices to enter text much more quickly.
The Remote iOS app does not require updating to work with the fourth-generation Apple TV, but the set-top box does require tvOS 9.1 to be installed. Today's iOS 9.2 update is also not required and we have confirmed that the Remote app works with iOS devices running earlier versions of iOS 9.
Apple today released a new software update for the Apple Watch, upgrading watchOS 2 from version 2.0.1 to version 2.1. The update comes six weeks after Apple first released watchOS 2.0.1 to the public and two and a half months since the public launch of watchOS 2, the first operating system upgrade for the Apple Watch.
The 2.1 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 2.1 includes a range of bug fixes to improve the performance of the device and it also includes support for several new languages. There's now system language support for Arabic, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Malay, Portuguese, and Vietnamese, along with expanded dictation and Siri support for several languages. Bug fixes address issues in Calendar, Power Reserve mode, third-party apps, and more.
Apple today released iOS 9.2 to the public, marking the second major update to the iOS 9 operating system since its September launch. Prior to being released, iOS 9.2 was in testing since late October after being seeded to developers and public beta testers one week after the launch of iOS 9.1.
Today's iOS 9.2 release is available as an over-the-air update to all iOS 9 users. Though it is the second major update, iOS 9.2 is actually the fourth update to iOS 9 in total, following the launches of iOS 9.0.1, iOS 9.0.2, and iOS 9.1. Xcode 7.2 is also available today.
iOS 9.2 includes a huge list of bug fixes, which we've outlined below.
This update contains improvements and bug fixes including:
- Apple Music improvements --You can now create a new playlist when adding a song to a playlist --Your most recently changed playlist is now listed at the top when adding songs to playlists --Download albums or playlists from your iCloud Music Library by tapping the iCloud download button --See which songs have been downloaded with the new download indicator next to each song in My Music and Playlists --See works, composers, and performers while browsing Classical music in the Apple Music catalog - A new Top Stories section in News so you can stay up to date with the most important news of the day (available in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia) - Mail Drop in Mail for sending large attachments - iBooks now supports 3D Touch to peek and pop pages from the table of contents, your notes and bookmarks, or from search results inside a book - iBooks now supports listening to an audiobook while you browse your library, read other books, or explore the iBooks Store - iPhone support for the USB Camera Adapter to import photos and videos - Improved stability of Safari - Improved stability of Podcasts - Fixing an issue that caused mail attachments to be inaccessible for some users with POP email accounts - Resolving an issue for some users that caused attachments to overlap text in mail - Fixing an issue where Live Photos could have turned off after restoring from a previous iCloud backup - Addressing an issue that could cause search in Contacts to display no results - Resolving an issue that could have prevented Calendar from displaying all seven days in week view - Fixing an issue where Camera screen on iPad could be black when attempting to capture video - Addressing an issue that could cause instability in the Activity app when viewing the day of Daylight Savings Time transition - Fixing an issue that could prevent data from appearing in Health - Fixing an issue that could prevent Wallet updates and Lock screen alerts from displaying - Addressing an issue where updating iOS could prevent an alarm from going off - Fixing an issue where some users were unable to login to Find my iPhone - Fixing an issue that prevented some manual iCloud Backups from completing - Addressing an issue where using the iPad keyboard could unintentionally trigger text selection mode - Improved keyboard responsiveness when using Quick Reply - Improved punctuation input on the 10-key Chinese (Pinyin & Stroke) keyboards with new expanded view of punctuation symbols and better predictions - Fixing an issue on Cyrillic keyboards where caps lock would be enabled when typing in URL or email fields - Siri support for Arabic (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) - Accessibility improvements --Fixing issues with VoiceOver when using Camera face detection --Adding support for VoiceOver to wake up the screen --Adding support for VoiceOver to invoke app switcher with 3D Touch gesture --Fixing an issue with Guided Access when trying to end phone calls --Improved functionality for Switch Control users when using 3D Touch --Fixing an issue with speech rate of Speak Screen
Beyond bug fixes, iOS 9.2's biggest change is a tweak to the way the Safari View Controller works within third-party apps. The Safari View controller is what allows a pop-up Safari window to be used within third-party apps, and with iOS 9.2, the Safari View Controller supports third-party Action Extensions, letting apps like 1Password to be accessed in the Safari view of other apps like Tweetbot.
In the Hipchat app for iOS, clicking a link brings up an in-app browser. In iOS 9.1, seen on the left, there's no option for third-party extensions. In iOS 9.2, seen on the right, there's support for third-party extensions like 1Password.
The Safari View Controller has also been updated with the ability to long tap on the Reload button to reload content without content blockers and it now supports the request desktop site function and an edge swipe to dismiss the Safari window.
iOS 9.2 also includes support for AT&T's NumberSync Wi-Fi calling feature, allowing AT&T users to accept calls on any device even when their phone is not nearby.
Apple today released tvOS 9.1, the first major update to the tvOS operating system that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV. tvOS 9.1 has been in testing since November 3, just a few days after the final version of tvOS was released alongside the new Apple TV in October.
tvOS 9.1 can be downloaded over-the-air through the Settings app on the fourth-generation Apple TV by going to System --> Software Update.
tvOS 9.1 betas introduced support for Siri search for Apple Music, allowing fourth-generation Apple TV owners to ask Siri to play content from Apple Music. Siri for Apple Music on the Apple TV works similarly to Siri for Apple Music on iOS devices, enabling queries like "What was the top song in 1980?" or "Play Adele's latest single." It is not yet clear if this feature made it into the final version of tvOS 9.1.
The tvOS update includes several bug fixes for issues discovered in the current version of tvOS, and according to beta testing notes, it features improvements to networking and scrolling.
tvOS 9.1 is the first major update to tvOS, but it's the second update overall. Apple previously released tvOS 9.0.1 with under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements.
Update: According to Apple's release notes for tvOS 9.1, the update includes support for the Remote app for iOS and Apple Watch and it introduces Siri support for Apple Music on the device.
This update includes general software and performance improvements and these features:
- Siri for Apple Music: Search, play, and control your music on Apple TV.2 - Remote app for iOS: Use your iOS device to quickly enter text on screen and navigate Apple TV. - Remote app for Apple Watch: Use your Apple Watch to navigate Apple TV.
Apple today released OS X 10.11.2 to the public, marking the launch of the second update to the El Capitan operating system that was first released on September 30. In testing since late October, OS X 10.11.2 follows the October 21 release of OS X 10.11.1, an update that introduced Office 2016 bug fixes and new emoji, among other improvements.
The OS X 10.11.2 update can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store. It is currently rolling out to all users who are running OS X El Capitan and should be available soon.
Throughout the beta testing period, OS X 10.11.2 did not appear to include any outward-facing changes, instead focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements to address issues discovered since the launch of OS X 10.11.1. Bug fixes introduced in today's update were outlined in Apple's release notes and are listed below.
The OS X El Capitan 10.11.2 update improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.
This update:
-Improves Wi-Fi reliability -Improves the reliability of Handoff and AirDrop -Fixes an issue that may cause Bluetooth devices to disconnect -Fixes an issue that prevented Mail from deleting messages in an offline Exchange account -Fixes an issue that prevented importing photos from an iPhone to a Mac using a USB cable -Improves iCloud Photo Sharing for Live Photos
OS X El Capitan has only been available for two months, but it has already received multiple updates to address bugs and other issues. Apple will continue to push regular updates to El Capitan to keep it running smoothly until the next major operating system update, expected in late 2016.
Apple continues to ramp up promotion of the new Apple TV, building on its series of advertisements focusing on the television shows and games available to users on the set-top box. As noticed by MacRumors reader Jordan, the company has begun to expand its previous colorful billboard campaign by featuring content available on the new box, including an ad themed after The Simpsons.
The billboard is similar in theme to the multi-colored advertisement campaign Apple introduced following the launch of the new Apple TV. Over the weekend, the company used its official App Store Twitter account to continue the campaign and share a few new tie-in ads. So far it has promoted various games, apps like Nat Geo TV, and television shows including Veep and Game of Thrones.
Apple began its new Apple TV campaign in the middle of November, a few weeks after the device launched in late October. Some of the earlier commercials included promotions of Crossy Road, Orange is the New Black, and The Muppets, all playing on the fourth-generation Apple TV.
Apple may be planning to host an event in March of 2016 to unveil the next-generation Apple Watch, reports 9to5Mac citing sources with knowledge of Apple's plans. The updated device could then ship a month later in April, marking one full year between Apple Watch releases. Apple released the first-generation Apple Watch on April 24, 2015.
Rumors about the second-generation Apple Watch started leaking out well before the original Apple Watch launched, as there were health-related features Apple was forced to shelve because of inconsistent performance. Apple experimented with sensors for measuring things like skin conductivity, blood pressure, and blood oxygen, and some of these could make their way into the next-generation device following a year or work on improving the technology.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said the company's efforts in the health arena would be conservative, because it does not want to deal with the FDA. "We don't want to put the watch through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) process," he said.
Other features rumored for the next-generation Apple Watch include a front-facing FaceTime camera to allow Apple Watch users to make and receive FaceTime calls and a new Wi-Fi chip that may allow the Apple Watch to do more without a connection to an iPhone.
Today's report on the Apple Watch also says the much-rumored iPhone 6c could also be unveiled at the event, in line with rumors that have pointed towards an early 2016 launch. The iPhone 6c is a next-generation lower-budget 4-inch phone designed to follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 5c. It's rumored to include an aluminum shell, an upgraded A8 or A9 processor, Touch ID and Apple Pay support, and a curved edge cover glass like the iPhone 6.
Apple has released a new Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader with support for up to USB 3.0 speeds on iPad Pro, and USB 2.0 speeds on all other iPad and iPhone models, as spotted by iDownloadBlog. The dongle retails for $29 on the Apple Online Store in the U.S. and is available to ship for delivery within approximately one week.
Last month, it was discovered that the iPad Pro's Lightning port supports USB 3.0 transfer speeds, allowing for data transfer speeds upwards of 60MB/s to a theoretical max of 625MB/s. All other iPads and iPhones can only transfer data at USB 2.0 speeds of around 25 to 35MB/s, since only the iPad Pro has the necessary hardware -- a Fresco Logic FL1100 4-port USB 3.0 Host Controller.
Apple has not updated its Lightning to USB Camera Adapter or other accessories to support the iPad Pro's USB 3.0 speeds, but multiple sources have previously confirmed that adapters are in the works. It remains unclear, however, if Apple plans on introducing new Lightning cables that will enable USB 3.0 speeds when transferring files from a computer to an iPad Pro.
Apple's new Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader is also available for £25 in the U.K. and $35 in Canada. Prices vary in other countries.
French audio company Devialet has reached a partnership with Apple that will see its high-end Phantom speaker sold at the top fourteen Apple Stores in the U.S. starting today, reports TechCrunch.
The 750-watt Phantom will sell for $1,990, while the 3000-watt Phantom Silver will cost $2,390, the same prices as purchasing either speaker directly from Devialet.
The Phantom and Phantom Silver, along with the $149 remote and the $329 Dialog bridge for connecting multiple phantoms, will initially be available at five NYC Apple Stores, two in Los Angeles, and one each in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Portland, Chicago, Dallas, Miami and Washington, D.C. They’ll cost the same as buying straight from Devialet.
Devialet's Phantom is a high fidelity wireless speaker that emits "implosive sound" based on patented technologies called Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH), Heart Bass Implosion (HBI) and Active Cospherical Engine Loudspeaker (ACE).
The single speaker system, capable of producing "20X the power of speakers the same size," has received positive reviews from Bloomberg, TechCrunch, Wired and dozens of other media publications since launching in 2014.
By expanding and contracting its walls, it produces 1.2 tons of pressure to produce 20X the power of speakers the same size. The device required 10 years of development and $25 million in R&D. Devialet has scored over 77 patents and 37 awards for sound and design since it released its first amplifiers in 2010.
Devialet product manager Romain Salzman told TechCrunch that the company's "dream was to find an important partnership to deploy Phantom quickly all around the world."
Luckily, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff was a big fan and hooked them up with a meeting with Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of retail and online stores. During their meeting at 1 Infinite Loop, Salzman tells me Ahrendts exclaimed "I love it, I want it, and we’re going to bring you all over the world."
Phantom display models will be paired with iPhones at select Apple Stores in the U.S., accompanied by a special Devialet app for testing high fidelity music.
Apple's new first party iPhone 6s Smart Battery Case launched quietly overnight onto the company's online store, and now this morning a handful of sites around the web are publishing reviews for the new accessory. Most reviewers agree that it's time Apple acknowledged the lesser battery life of the 4.7 inch iPhone 6s, when in comparison to its 5.5 inch iPhone 6s Plus alternative, but some still aren't convinced that the case's design, power, and price point are justified.
Image via Engadget
The Verge appreciated Apple's attempts at expanding the case's functionality beyond a simple battery extension, like its built-in antennas to improve cellular performance or the iOS integration that showcases the accessory's current battery level. Still, the site had issues with the protruding lump on the back of the case and the fact that it doesn't fully charge a dead iPhone from 0 to 100 percent due to its slightly weaker (when in comparison to comparable third party cases) 1,877 mAh battery.
The Verge also noted that the Smart Battery Case doesn't allow users to choose when the case begins or ends charging, it just starts the moment you plug the iPhone 6s into the case's Lightning adapter, perhaps a downside for more intensive iPhone users. In the end, they noted that casual, passive users who want to stay within the Apple family will get what they need out of the case, but that there are cheaper alternatives with more battery life selling points on the market.
Apple’s smart battery case is good, then, if you want a softer case or a "passive" battery charging experience, with zero control over or understanding of how the case actually charges your phone. Maybe that’s what Apple is hoping: that buyers of this thing will slip it on and never take it off, charging their iPhones entirely through the case’s Lightning port going forward, forgetting about its big ol’ bump in the back. They will be pleased, finally, with their iPhone 6’s or 6S’s battery life, and the memory of spending an extra $99 for it, rather than having it just work that way in the first place, will eventually fade away.
It’s fine if you don’t want exterior indicator lights, or a even a case that gives you a 0 to 100 percent charge. After all, this one was designed for the iPhone, by the same company that made your iPhone. For some people, that’s a big draw.
As opposed to The Verge's dislike over any lack of outward LED indicator lights regarding the Smart Battery Case's charge level, The Wall Street Journal appreciated Apple's attempt at discreetness. The site was overall more positive on the new product, noting that while the case's fully charged battery only brought an iPhone from 0 to 83 percent, it still provided about 5 hours more use time in a standard looping video battery test and alleviated most battery life quibbles the reviewer had with the iPhone 6s previously.
After five days of living with the Smart Battery Case wrapped around my iPhone, I no longer feel so powerless. Even better, Apple fixes many of the issues I’ve had with cases over the years. It uses the same Lightning cable as the iPhone to charge, and it tells you how much power is remaining right on the phone’s screen. Besides, the case doesn’t feel like the stuff plastic forks are made of.
For all its virtues, the Smart Battery Case is still a Band-Aid for Apple’s iPhone battery problem. We need longer-lasting batteries and easier ways to charge them—not silly battery backpacks. I plan to spend the $99, but I hope one day the Smart Battery Case will just be an artifact from a time before iPhones could run for days.
Engadget admitted to disliking the design of the case's battery bump upon initially viewing it, but grew to become familiar with the battery protrusion. The site noted that while some may dislike the visual design of the accessory, it "isn't cumbersome" to hold for extended periods of time and is "actually pretty comfortable," although the usual stickiness of silicone in tight jean pockets will remain an issue for some. In a similar vein to other reviews, Engadget ended with stating that those tied into the Apple ecosystem will benefit from the Smart Battery Case's iOS integration, but most others can find cheaper alternatives.
Image via Engadget
Apple's first battery case works, and it works well. Here's the rub, though: There are plenty of cheaper, more capacious options, and some of those are prettier too. What the Smart Battery Case offers over its rivals is a sense of cohesiveness that stems from Apple controlling both the hardware and software experience. The convenience of a Lightning pass-through for easy data transfers and power reminders in iOS might make the case's $99 price worth it for some of you, but everyone else could spend half that on a third-party case.
Those interested in trying out the iPhone 6s Smart Battery Case for themselves, or purchasing it for someone as a Christmas present, can visit the Apple online store to order the new accessory. Shipping estimates currently sit at 1-3 business days, and those who live near an Apple Store will be able to select a personal pickup option, as well.
Apple has 
During the Black Friday holiday shopping event in the United States, Best Buy offered one of the best deals on the Apple Watch, discounting the stainless steel version by $100 and the Sport version by $50.
Today's tvOS 9.1 update for the fourth-generation Apple TV enables a feature that many have been missing - support for the 
Apple today released iOS 9.2 to the public, marking the second major update to the 
Apple has released a new 
French audio company Devialet has reached a partnership with Apple that will see its high-end Phantom speaker sold at the top fourteen Apple Stores in the U.S. starting today, reports 
