MacRumors

Apple's first iPhone 6 and 6 Plus shipments are already landing on U.S. soil, reports CCAonline (via iPhone in Canada). According to the report, the first cargo pallets have been transported to Chicago in two "special cargo" batches from Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport via China Southern Airlines.

Shipping manifests show the cargo weighed a total of 93 tons and was broken into two parcels, one weighing 14.5 tons on September 6 and a second one weighing 78.5 tons on September 10. MacRumors had previously heard similar word that shipments would be beginning late last week as Apple begins staging units at central locations before distributing them around the country for launch.

As a very rough estimate based on the device weight supplied by Apple, these parcels could hold approximately 720,000 iPhone 6 units or 540,000 iPhone 6 Plus handsets. Apple is reportedly paying up to 200 million yuan for the freight in what may be a single-day shipment record for China Southern freight.

This shipment is one of many Apple has planned in the coming weeks with the company supposedly booking much of the available cargo shipping space coming out of China. Apple supposedly has a stranglehold on outgoing shipments, forcing some smaller manufacturers to delay the transport of their products out of the Asian country.

Intel is hoping Apple will turn to the California company for the cellular baseband hardware in future mobile products, says Intel Korea President Lee Hee-sung in a statement reported by the Korea Herald. The baseband manages the radio functions of an iPhone or cellular-capable iPad, allowing the device to communicate with the carrier's mobile network.

"Chances are high that global smartphone makers such as Apple and LG Electronics will use Intel’s baseband chips in their products down the road,” said Lee Hee-sung, the president of Intel Korea, at a press meeting on Thursday.

Such collaborations are highly likely given that the world’s largest smartphone maker, Samsung Electronics, has recently announced its midrange premium handset the Galaxy Alpha, which contains Intel’s XMM7260 baseband modem."

Apple had originally used Infineon baseband hardware in early models of the iPhone, but after Infineon was purchased by Intel in 2010 Apple shifted to using communication chips from market leader Qualcomm. Intel has, however, been hard at work at improving its baseband chips, as evidenced by the design win in the new Galaxy Alpha.

Apple and Intel are of course already partners for the complete line of Mac processors, but Apple will undoubtedly focus on technology and pricing considerations in weighing any potential switch for its mobile products.

Apple is aiming to ship a combined total of 80 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus units by the end of this year, reports Digitimes. To achieve this goal, the company has reportedly asked its supply chain partners to ramp up component production. Barring any production issues, Apple is aiming for 10 million units by the end of September with another 70 million units by the end of the fourth quarter.

The news follows a report from the Wall Street Journal report in July, which stated that Apple was preparing to manufacture a massive number of iPhone 6 units in anticipation of high demand. Apple was said to have produced a total of 60 million units for the iPhone 5 in the later half of 2012. Last year, Apple experienced significantly constrained supplies with the iPhone 5s, as supplies were not steady until nearly three months after its launch.

Rumors prior to the announcement of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus yesterday stated that Apple was experiencing major production issues with the larger model, which was said to be the reason behind a potentially delayed launch. However, with both iPhone 6 models up for pre-order on September 12 and available for purchase on September 19, it is possible that Apple has a steady supply to answer high consumer demand.

Capitalizing on Apple's much-talked about and publicized special event yesterday, Samsung has released a series of new web ads (via Engadget) poking fun at the live stream's struggles, the iPhone 6 getting a screen size upgrade, the Apple Watch and more. All six ads can be seen in the video playlist below.

All of the ads feature two actors dressed similar to Apple Geniuses in an environment that looks like the back area of an Apple Store. The first ad notes how the live stream for Apple's event intermittently cut out for some viewers while also experiencing odd production issues, like two songs playing over each other or a Chinese translator having her audio played over the keynote.

The second ad features the two eagerly anticipating "something groundbreaking" from the keynote until the larger-screened iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are unveiled, which has them excited until they compare it to large-screened Android phones. Another ad points out that the Samsung Gear S doesn't require a phone for all of its features, like the Apple Watch. The Samsung Gear S will launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 this fall.

The rest of the ads continue Samsung's effort to differentiate its Galaxy devices from the new iPhones, pointing out its Fast Charging Mode, Multi Window multitasking and the Galaxy Note's S Pen stylus.

Samsung often releases ads capitalizing on moves Apple makes with its iPhone line, most famously releasing a series of ads of people waiting in line for the latest iPhone while enviously looking at Galaxy devices.

Just a day after unveiling new pricing for iCloud, Apple has begun emailing existing iCloud subscribers to notify them that the company is upgrading their accounts to the new price points and will be refunding them the difference. However, users will be allowed to keep the same storage sizes.

For example, a user subscribed to the 25 GB plan, which is no longer an option under the new iCloud pricing, will have their price reduced from $40 a year to $11.99 a year. The discounted price is in line with the new $0.99 a month price for 20 GB, although established iCloud customers do get an extra 5 GB. However, once a user changes their plan away from "legacy plans" like the 25 GB, they cannot return to them.

Apple says the new price points are in effect due to iCloud Drive, which lets users store and access data from any of their devices. The launch of both iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite will see the launch of iCloud Drive this fall.

When Apple announced that the Apple Watch would be able to use Apple Pay, the company's new mobile payment initiative, many wondered how secure the payments would be if the device lacked the security of Touch ID, which is used in the iPhone 6's implementation. Now, several members of the press have confirmed how the system works.

Both Rene Ritchie of iMore and Cult of Mac report that when a user first puts on the Watch they must type in a PIN code to authorize Apple Pay. Once it's on, the Watch uses constant skin contact, which it can sense using the four sapphire-covered lenses on the underside of the device, to authorize payments. However, once the device is removed from a user's wrist, they must re-enter their PIN when putting the device back on their wrist.

Thanks to sensors on the Apple Watch’s back, the device can tell when it’s being worn and when it has been taken off. When you first put the watch on, you must enter a code. When the watch is removed from your wrist, the watch locks itself and can’t be used for payments unless the code is entered again.

MasterCard's mobile payment executive Ed McLaughlin also told Re/code that the Watch would use the four sensors on the back of the device as a security measure, while Visa CEO Charlie Scharf said that Apple understood the risks of contactless payments and has a solution.

The Apple Watch is due to arrive in early 2015 and will start at $350.

After yesterday's media event, Apple updated its website to provide additional information on its iCloud pricing ahead of the launch of both iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.

As of today, the company's updated storage plans are live, allowing users to purchase iCloud storage upgrades using the new pricing scheme. While customers will continue to get 5GB of cloud storage for free, Apple has dropped the pricing on the rest of its storage lineup across the board.

Users can now get 20GB of storage for $0.99 per month, 200GB of storage for $3.99 per month, 500GB of storage for $9.99 per month, and 1TB of storage for $19.99 per month. The iCloud upgrade options can be accessed in the Settings app under iCloud ---> Storage & Backup ---> Change Storage Plan.

The launch of iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite will see the official debut of iCloud Drive, Apple's new cloud storage initiative. With iCloud Drive, users can store any type of document, including presentations, spreadsheets, PDFs, images, and more, and then access them from any iOS device, Mac, or PC.

Apple may be implementing a new reservation system for customers who opt to wait in line outside of a retail store to purchase a new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, reports 9to5Mac. The company is said to be handing out training materials to employees on a new "virtual queue" system called Reservation Pass.

Reservation Pass will reportedly keep track of the line position of each customer, syncing with the store's inventory information to ensure customers waiting in line will be able to receive a device.

This new system is called Reservation Pass. It will sync with Back Of House inventory information in realtime so Apple doesn't handout too many product reservations. Customers will receive their digital reservation card via SMS or Email. A reservation allows the customer to come back at any point during the day to make their purchase. Customers could also leave line in the past but it was not encouraged since the physical card reservation system was not as accurate as the new Reservation Pass system.

Currently, Apple hands out paper cards to those standing in line, allowing them to reserve an available device, but the company often waits until just before purchase time to provide the cards. It is likely the Reservation Pass system will work similarly, with customers being registered shortly before the opening of the store, which actually provides little end benefit to those who wait in line overnight or longer.

Customers will, however, be able to reserve an iPhone after waiting in line and then purchase it later in the day should any issues arise, such as problems with carrier authorization or upgrade eligibility. This will also prevent people from selling the physical cards on release day.

Both the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus will be available for purchase beginning on Friday, September 19. Apple is accepting preorders this year, and will take orders starting on Friday, September 12, likely at 12:01 AM Pacific Time.

The iPhone 6 is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities starting at $199 with a two year contract, while the iPhone 6 Plus is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities starting at $299 with a two-year contract.

T-Mobile today hosted its 7th Un-carrier event where it announced plans for a "Wi-Fi Unleashed" campaign. According to the company, all smartphones going forward will be able to take advantage of the network's Wi-Fi calling and texting, including Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Wi-Fi calling and texting allow users to send and receive calls/texts over a Wi-Fi network, which is useful in areas where there are poor cellular connections. Apple announced Wi-Fi calling support for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus yesterday.

T-Mobile plans to offer Wi-Fi calling and texting at no additional cost. The company has also deployed a new product for customers who have bad cellular reception in their homes. The T-Mobile Personal CellSpot is a Wi-Fi router that can be used as a primary router or alongside an existing router, prioritizing voice calls and offering HD audio quality for calls. It has 802.11ac support, USB 3.0 ports, and covers up to 3,000 square feet.

T-Mobile plans to begin selling the Personal CellSpot on September 17. It is available to be leased for free with a $25 refundable deposit, but customers can also purchase it outright for $99. T-Mobile will also be allowing one time upgrades for customers to get a Wi-Fi enabled phone, even those who are not signed up for the JUMP program.

Along with support for Wi-Fi calling and the introduction of the CellSpot, T-Mobile announced that it's entered into a partnership with in-flight wireless provider Gogo, allowing T-Mobile customers to send and receive texts and picture messages on their phones on any flight that includes Gogo wireless service. Gogo in-flight wireless for T-Mobile customers is also free, and will begin on September 17 for compatible devices.

On stage, Legere announced that T-Mobile had 2.75 million gross adds in August of 2014, and 1 million postpaid adds, which represents its biggest postpaid net add in the history of the company. Legere also noted that T-Mobile is gaining subscribers from other carriers at a rapid pace thanks to its Un-carrier initiatives.

T-Mobile's Un-carrier initiatives are an effort to disrupt traditional mobile service. The company began with uncoupling device costs from service costs in 2013, and then went on to offer several additional incentives to encourage customers to switch to the carrier, including paying early termination fees, offering a JUMP! upgrade plan, unlimited texting and 2G data in 100 countries, free streaming music from Spotify, Rdio, iTunes Radio, and Pandora, and one week free trials to test the T-Mobile service.

Following yesterday's media event where Apple introduced the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, and its much-anticipated wearable device, members of the media were invited to go hands-on with the devices.

Yesterday, we published hands-on impressions of the Apple Watch from various tech-related sites, but this year's event also had top fashion editors and bloggers in attendance, who also published their initial thoughts on the Watch. We've gathered up some of their perspectives below, giving an overall picture of how the device was received in the fashion world.

Fashion magazine and blog InStyle said the Apple Watch was "well worth the wait," and published a list of "5 Reasons Why Fashionistas Will Swoon Over Apple Watch." The piece pointed towards the device's multitude of styles, its customization options, and its ability to send emojis, drawings, and heartbeats.

Most Apple Watch faces are extremely customizable. Meaning, you can change colors, choose design elements, and add functionality. You can have a traditional analog or a modern digitized face--plus you can choose the screen image.

Well-known fashion magazine Vogue was also impressed with the Apple Watch, highlighting its design and the "extra magic" of the Digital Crown control. The magazine said the Apple Watch is "a watch that looks like a watch" and that its "visual appeal is almost retrofitted to the traditional language of the analog Swiss-made timepiece."

British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman also told Reuters in an interview that the Watch is "immaculate in terms of how fashion meets function," and said "The issue is really about how much people want to wear something so clear, essentially an amazing gadget."

Roseanne Morrison, fashion director for The Doneger Group, told Reuters that the Apple Watch was unimpressive. "It's not pretty. It's very future techno as opposed to feminine sexy." Meanwhile, fashion-oriented site Cool Hunting disagreed, calling it "lovely and clever," and saying it "marries fashion and technology, wellness and data, and beautifully integrates the humanity of touch."

The tactile touches of the watch extend beyond the device itself--the Leather Loop strap option, for example, has magnets in each of its ribs so that the act of securing the strap feels like a luxurious zipper and consequently has an extremely secure closure. And the link bracelet has a butterfly closure that seamlessly folds into itself unlike anything we've seen on a watch band before.

Beyond fashion, leading wristwatch site Hodinkee had an opportunity to go hands-on with the Apple Watch, giving an in-depth look at the device from a design perspective, and the resulting overview is well worth a read. The site believes the Watch could pose a threat to existing brands, as "Apple got more details right on their watch than the vast majority of Swiss and Asian brands do with similarly priced watches."

The overall level of design in the Apple Watch simply blows away anything -- digital or analog -- in the watch space at $350. There is nothing that comes close to the fluidity, attention to detail, or simple build quality found on the Apple Watch in this price bracket.

Hodinkee also focuses on an aspect of the Apple Watch that many sites overlooked -- the bands -- which it says Apple "NAILED."

...the attention to detail on the straps and bracelets themselves is downright incredible, and when I mentioned above that nothing comes close in this price range, it is very visible when talking about straps.

According to the site, the closure of the Sports watch strap is impressive, and the leather of the leather strap is "super soft, super high quality."The metal link bracelet is "sizable with just your own hands," the "loop" style bracelet is "just fantastic" and the Milanese bracelet is said to be comfortable. "I promise you not a single other tech company in the world would've spent the time to make this admittedly outdated looking option," reads the overview.

Hodinkee also points out a few flaws with the device, including the fact that it doesn't fit under a shirt cuff because of its bulk, and that it is "not as cool as a mechanical watch, to real people."

Introduced yesterday, Apple's Watch is available in two separate sizes with an array of different bands and casing options. Pricing on the device will start at $349, and it will be available to the public in early 2015.

With pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus happening this Friday, many people who hope to get their hands on one of the new devices are going to be scrambling to find out their upgrade options. TUAW has assembled a helpful guide on to help users check their upgrade eligibility and purchasing options.

Users on all four major networks in the United States can type a quick code into their phones to get an immediate report on their upgrade status via text message. The codes are as follows:

- AT&T: *639#
- Sprint: 1311
- T-Mobile: #874
- Verizon: #874

These codes are a good way to get a quick look at upgrade eligibility, but some of them don't exactly tell the whole story. For example, AT&T's text message is pointing users towards a Next plan, even if they may have other upgrade options available. A second option for getting a clear picture of upgrade eligibility on the four major networks is going through Apple's own site.

Visiting the iPhone 6 pre-order page and choosing a model, carrier, and color will give an option to "Check your upgrade eligibility" with AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. T-Mobile works somewhat differently as Apple only gives T-Mobile customers the option to buy outright.

Checking upgrade options requires a user to enter a wireless number, billing zip code, and the last four digits of the social security number on the account, after which it displays all of the upgrade options available, including when an account might become eligible for an early or full upgrade.

For example, an AT&T user who purchased an iPhone 5s on release day on a two-year contract would be able to purchase an iPhone 6 for $649 on pre-order day, but would also be eligible for an early upgrade on September 21, which provides a $200 discount. This option also displays what Next monthly fees would be.

Many times, new purchasing fees can be cut by trading a device into an Apple Store, a carrier, or a third party service, all of which offer payouts for old Apple devices.

For those planning to upgrade, it's important to look into options immediately as there are only two days left until the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available for pre-order. Though Apple has not yet confirmed what time the two devices will go on sale, AT&T says that its pre-order sales will begin on September 12 at 12:01 AM Pacific Time, and it's likely Apple's own sales will start at the same time.

Apple on Tuesday unveiled its new Apple Watch, providing a number of details on the highly anticipated device but declining to address one critical issue: battery life. According to information obtained by Re/code, Apple's new Watch will require daily charging, keeping the device in line with similar smart watches from Samsung and Motorola.

“There’s a lot of new technology packed into Apple Watch and we think people will love using it throughout the day,” Kerris said. “We anticipate that people will charge nightly which is why we designed an innovative charging solution that combines our MagSafe technology and inductive charging.”

Sources tell Re/code that Apple is working to improve battery life before the product's 2015 debut, but the company still expects people will charge the device once a day.

The Apple Watch will go on sale in early 2015 with a starting price of $349. The smart watch will be available in two sizes with a variety of colors, materials and watch bands for personal customization.

Apple recently updated it Made for iPhone (MFi) program with a new set of specifications that allow for the transmission of audio through Apple's Lightning cable port instead of the traditional 3.5-mm headphone jack. As spotted by Pocket-Lint, one of the first manufacturers to produce this new category of Lightning cable-equipped headphones is Philips, which is preparing its Fidelio M2L headphones for launch later this year.

Pascal van Laer, headphones business leader, WOOX Innovations says: "We’re excited to launch the Philips Fidelio M2L, our first headphone that has a direct digital connection to your iOS device. This means we can deliver an incredible audio experience today, and also opens up exciting opportunities for innovation for the future."

The Fidelio M2Ls connect to an iPhone or iPad via a Lightning port and will support 24-bit audio using an internal DAC and amplifier built into the headphone unit. The closed headphones also feature two 40-mm high magnetic intensity neodymium speaker drivers and leather memory foam ear pads.

The Philips Fidelio M2L headphones will be available starting in December. They will debut in Western Europe and North America with a suggested retail price of €250/$320.

Apple is facing criticism from alternative rock band OK Go following the release of its promotional video, "Perspective," that promotes the company's philosophy of "seeing things differently." Showcased as the introduction to Apple's Phone 6 press event, the video pans around a room, using camera angles to align random shapes into words. OK Go is accusing Apple of lifting this visual trick from the band's recently released "The Writing's On the Wall" music video.

While the general concept used in the videos is not unique, there does appear to be more to this story. Speaking to Bloomberg Businessweek, OK Go manager Andy Gershon claims the band met with Apple to discuss the concept for its music video in hopes that Apple would collaborate on the project. Apple declined, and OK Go made the video along with production company 1stAveMachine. Released in June 2014, the video won a Video Music Award for best visual effects and has accrued over 10 million views on YouTube.

Following the talks between Apple and OK Go, Gershon claims Apple also hired 1stAveMachine and even employed the same director that worked with OK Go on its hit music video to produce the video for the company's iPhone launch event. As a result, Apple's latest promotional video has an uncanny similarity to OK Go's "The Writing's On the Wall".

“The videos speak for themselves and you can draw your own conclusions,” says Gershon, adding that the band is exploring its legal options.

OK Go may have a hard time proving a copyright violation or idea theft in court, but that isn't stopping them from complaining publicly about the perceived injustice. This isn't the first time Apple's advertising efforts have face scrutiny. In one high-profile case, the company faced a complaint over its Siri commercials that showcased an ease-of-use which the lawsuit claimed was not present in real-world usage.