MacRumors

Apple and Staples have agreed to a deal to sell various iPad and iPod models on the Staples online store in the U.S., reports 9to5Mac. The deal will potentially expand to Staples' retail stores as well if the company is able to sell a certain amount of iPads per week.

The source says that if each Staples store refers one iPad sale per week in October, two per week in November, and five per week in December, Apple will be willing to sell iPads in physical Staples locations.

If Staples is able to meet Apple's sales goals it could see its brick-and-mortar stores selling iPads and iPods by early 2014, according to 9to5Mac. It would also be the second successful Apple test for Staples, as it appears that Apple and Staples' deal to sell accessories was a "testbed" to see whether Staples' customer base and Apple's products were a good fit.

In March, MacRumors revealed screenshots of training materials for Staples' sales associates that educated them on Apple's various products, including Macs, Apple TV, iPhones, iPads and more.

Currently, Staples sells iPads on its online store in Canada. Expanding into Staples' 1,500 United States retail stores would be a significant expansion of Apple's distribution chain. Staples also offers an appealing channel for businesses that already have billing accounts and existing relationships with the retailer for office supply needs.

U2 singer Bono, who heads up the (Product) RED charity Apple has collaborated with since 2006, today announced (via TechCrunch) Apple has raised more than $65 million to fight AIDS in Africa.

Since it first debuted a special edition (Product) RED iPod nano in 2006, Apple has released a number of (RED) devices, including several iPod nanos and shuffles. The company has also produced a (RED) iPad Smart Cover, iPad mini Smart Cover, and an iPhone Bumper, along with a new (RED) iPhone 5s case. For every (RED) product bought, Apple donates a portion of the purchase price to the charity.

(RED) works with companies like Apple to fight for an AIDS-free generation by 2015 by creating (PRODUCT) RED merchandise. A percentage of gross profits from the sale of those products goes to the Global Fund to help fund AIDS programs in Africa.

(Product) RED is affiliated with several other companies in addition to Apple, including Starbucks, Nike, and American Express, raising more than $200 million to date.

Apple today added a new page to its website featuring reviews of the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c from a number of prominent publications and sites. Carrying the tagline "It seems we've given people a lot to talk about," the review page is currently being featured on Apple's main iPhone page.

The feature page contains quotes from and links to reviews from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Time, CNET, USA Today, Esquire, Engadget, Daring Fireball, AnandTech, and TechCrunch. Most of the quoted and linked reviews cover the iPhone 5s, although several address the lower-cost iPhone 5c as well.

Most of those reviews for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c were published on Tuesday, September 17, several days before the devices launched to the public. Apple introduced the devices at a September 10 media event, and provided review units to several publications in advance of the public release, allowing them to publish their reviews in a coordinated release late on the 17th.

Apple has just released iOS 7.0.2, a minor new update delivering several changes including a fix for a lock screen passcode vulnerability. The new version arrives as Build 11A501 for all devices.

- Fixes bugs that could allow someone to bypass the Lock screen passcode
- Reintroduces a Greek keyboard option for passcode entry

Apple has detailed the two passcode issues fixed in this update in a new support document.

The iOS 7.0.2 release follows the launch of iOS 7 on Wednesday, September 18. That day also saw a special release of iOS 7.0.1 specifically for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, which launched on Friday, September 20.

While numerous leaks have shown that the next-generation iPad will be adopting smaller form factor based on that of the iPad mini, a new piece of evidence pointing to a launch in the relatively near future has surfaced in the form of a video from Unbox Therapy showing new Smart Covers in a variety of colors designed to fit the new form factor.

The video shows the new Smart Covers in gray, black, red, pink, orange, blue, white, and green. The video also shows the new Smart Covers attached to a fifth-generation iPad assembly of the rear shell and front panel, demonstrating how they fit the new design.

With the upcoming iPad measuring significantly narrower than the current-generation model, Apple will be shifting from the current four-panel Smart Cover to a three-panel design similar to that used for the iPad mini Smart Cover. As with existing Smart Cover products, the cover can be folded behind the iPad to act as a stand.

Apple is expected to launch its redesigned iPad and a Retina iPad mini in the near future, perhaps at a media event as soon as next month. Apple also has several updates to its Mac products still to come before the end of the year, and they may make an appearance at that same event.

Update: 9to5Mac has discovered that the alleged Smart Covers are actually being offered for sale on Chinese marketplace Alibaba for just $5 each, strongly suggesting that these are fake/knockoff Smart Covers not from Apple or its official suppliers.

Continuing its expansion of content offerings on the Apple TV, Apple today rolled out two new channels for the set-top box: MLS (Major League Soccer) and Disney Junior.

The MLS channel offers scores, standings, and video content from Major League Soccer, while also offering access to the MLS Live subscription program for live video of matches. MLS Live is priced at $24.99 for the season and a subscription can be used not only on the Apple TV but also on iPhone and iPad.

The new Disney Junior channel is similar to Disney Channel and Disney XD offerings added last month. All three channels require authentication through a participating cable provider for access to live and on-demand content.

Today's additions are the latest in a long line of new channels introduced to the Apple TV in recent months. In June, WatchESPN, HBO GO, Sky News, Crunchyroll, and Quello were added, and last month Apple debuted channels for Vevo, the Smithsonian, and the first two Disney channels. Deals with TWC and The CW are also said to be in the works.

Activist investor Carl Icahn, who recently purchased around $1-2 billion in Apple stock, has a date for his meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook to discuss the company's stock buyback plans and other issues, according to CNBC. The two will reportedly meet in New York City next Monday, September 30.

Activist investor Carl Icahn will meet with Apple CEO Tim Cook in New York City next week, where the billionaire may discuss the company's prospects, and the possibility of adding to his sizable stake in the technology giant.

Apple announced a stock dividend and buyback program in March 2012 as part of an effort to boost shareholder return as the company's cash and investment holdings have rapidly grown in recent years. Apple increased and accelerated the stock buyback program earlier this year, issuing debt to take advantage of a drop in the company's stock price.

Icahn believes that Apple should accelerate its buyback plans even further, arguing that it is a prudent move given the company's financial position and his belief that the company's stock remains undervalued.

An alleged China Mobile poster promoting the upcoming release of the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c on the network has surfaced, reports Unwired View. The poster touts the theoretical 100Mb/s download speed that the new devices are set to support on China Mobile's TD-LTE network. Chinese officials approved the iPhone to run on China Mobile's network earlier this month.

The only thing that’s missing- is the permission from Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) [for China Mobile] to light-up the TD-LTE network for commercial use.

This permission is coming pretty soon. There is a lot of discussion about how soon exactly, but now we can stop speculating about the worst case scenario. According to MIIT minister Miao Wei, the first 4G licenses will most definitely be issued by the end of the year. Though the informed sources inside MIIT are whispering much earlier date – middle of October, with China Mobile’s 4G network going live soon after – in November.

A deal between China Mobile and Apple has reportedly long been in the works, with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua and Apple CEO Tim Cook meeting in July to discuss “matters of cooperation”, with the former indicating that he felt optimistic about a potential deal leading up to the announcement of the new phones. The introduction of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c earlier this month also brought band tweaks that combine support for US carriers AT&T and Verizon in one model, but also notably added support for China Mobile’s network.

Apple today released a support document detailing a newly implemented Apple TV setup feature that was introduced last week with its Apple TV 6.0 software update.

Users that have a third-generation Apple TV running the 6.0 software can use an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 7 to automatically transfer network settings, Apple ID information, and language preferences to the Apple TV, allowing for faster setup. The information exchange is done via Bluetooth by touching the iOS device to the Apple TV, taking advantage of the Bluetooth LE built into all Apple devices after the iPhone 4.

Apple's support article includes a detailed list of instructions on the process:

1. Connect your Apple TV to your television and power and wait until your Apple TV displays the setup screen.

2. Unlock your iOS 7 device and ensure that Bluetooth is enabled. Also ensure that you are connected to the Wi-Fi network you want to use with Apple TV.

3. Touch your iOS device to your Apple TV and wait for the prompts to appear on your iOS device and Apple TV.

4. Enter your Apple ID and password on your iOS device.

5. Choose if you want Apple TV to remember your Apple ID password, and if you want Apple TV to send data to Apple.

6. Your Apple TV will start the configuration process, including connecting to your Wi-Fi network, activating Apple TV, and setting up your iTunes Store account.

Prior to the implementation of the tap setup feature, entering Apple TV information was a tedious process that required connecting a Bluetooth keyboard or using the Apple TV remote to pick and choose letters.

As noted by Apple, the transfer requires an iPhone 4s or later, a third-generation iPad or later, an iPad mini, or a fifth-generation iPod touch. The feature does not work with the iPhone 4 or the iPad 2.