Mitchel Broussard

Mitchel is a Contributing Editor at MacRumors. Southern Louisiana-born, he lives off of bad TV, good books, and great video games. Despite a few close calls, he has yet to forget the face of his father.



Apogee Launches $160 Jam+ for Studio-Grade Audio Recording on macOS and iOS

Tuesday October 9, 2018 5:44 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apogee today announced the Jam+, an updated version of its portable USB instrument input and output device that connects an electric guitar, bass, keyboard, or any acoustic instrument with pick-up directly to an iOS device, Mac, or PC for recording audio. The launch of the Jam+ comes eight years after the original Jam debuted in Apple stores worldwide. The new Jam+ has a rugged metal chassis and soft touch base with enhanced PureDIGITAL circuitry for better true-tone audio resolution, stereo output to connect headphones or powered speakers, low latency monitoring with a Blend feature, and an "Overdrive" mode that makes virtual amplifiers and effects pedals sound more realistic. Those who buy the Jam+ will also get the BIAS FX Jam software bundle from Positive Grid, including a premium selection of three amplifiers and six essential pedal effects. Otherwise, Apogee promises pristine sound quality, easy plug in and play set-up with no configuration required, 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution audio, and included Lightning, USB, and USB-C cables. Apogee's Jam+ launches today for $159.00 online and at Apogee dealers worldwide, including Apple
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iPhone XS 'BeautyGate' Test Tricks Viewers to Challenge Preconceived Notions

Monday October 8, 2018 7:57 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Following the launch of the iPhone XS and XS Max, owners began pointing out that the selfies captured on the new devices appear to apply a sort of smooth effect on the user's skin in certain lighting scenarios. This was quickly dubbed "BeautyGate," with some users accusing Apple of building the new iPhone models with an internal "beauty filter" for better-looking selfies that aren't 100% honest. Photos via @tldtoday on Instagram In an effort to combat the BeautyGate claims, YouTuber Jonathan Morrison posted a series of selfies on Instagram and Twitter over the weekend. In captions, Morrison said these were captured on the Google Pixel 2's Portrait Mode, and asked his fans their thoughts on how the images came out, particularly if they were better than the iPhone XS. Commenters said that the images rivaled DSLR shots and that the Pixel 2 was still among the best smartphone cameras, based on the pictures. Some even commended Google for producing high-quality selfies without the need for having a so-called make-up effect, and argued that the Pixel 2 had the best Portrait Mode of any smartphone. After all of this, Morrison on Sunday revealed that both images were not taken on a Pixel 2, but instead captured on an iPhone XS Max. BeautyGate talk starts at around 3:00 So I just wanted it to be a little bit of a lesson out there: don't let a preconceived notion or headline skew your judgement. Because clearly, everyone who thought that it was a Pixel automatically assumed it was much better than the iPhone, when in fact that was the same iPhone XS Max that apparently
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Apple May Strike Pay-TV Partnership With UK's British Telecom, Pre-Loading Apple TVs With BT Apps

Monday October 8, 2018 6:43 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple is reportedly holding discussions with United Kingdom-based British Telecom (BT) over a partnership that would make BT's mobile brand EE a "major distributor" of Apple TV devices. Specifically, the telecommunications brand would offer Apple TVs to EE customers, coming pre-loaded with apps that deliver pay-TV content like BT Sport and channels from other broadcasters (via The Telegraph). For Apple, the deal would get Apple TVs into the hands of more customers and increase the potential viewership for its upcoming slate of original TV programming, expected in 2019. While BT has invested in building its own set-top boxes to compete with Apple, Amazon, and Sky, BT consumer chief Marc Allera kicked off a new strategy earlier in May to begin "forging deeper partnerships with technology giants." Apple's partnership with BT is said to be similar to the company's existing deal in Switzerland with telecoms operator and pay-TV provider Salt. Apple has also partnered with Verizon, which will offer customers an Apple TV 4K as part of its residential broadband package coming to four cities this year. In regards to Apple's original programming, the first of Apple's television shows could debut as soon as March of 2019, potentially through a new video streaming service subscription. The company is also reportedly considering a single subscription bundle offering customers access to TV, Apple Music, and digital magazines (through its Texture
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Facebook Debuts Video Conferencing Device 'Portal' Starting at $200

Monday October 8, 2018 6:30 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Facebook today announced "Portal," a new communications device for the home aimed at connecting friends and family members through video chat. There are two models of Portal: the 10-inch base model and a 15-inch "Portal+" model with a display that pivots between portrait and landscape modes. Each device includes AI technology, a Smart Camera, and Smart Sound. The Smart Camera follows where you move around a room and automatically pans and zooms to keep everyone in view, while Smart Sound minimizes background noise and enhances the voice of who is talking. Portal connects to your friends list on Facebook Messenger, and you can call them even if they don't have a Portal. Calls made via Portal will also be sent to Messenger apps on iOS and Android smartphones, and Portal supports group calls of up to seven people at the same time. The video calling device supports hands-free voice control, so you can start a video call by saying "Hey Portal" and following up with who you want to call. Alexa is built into the device, so you can also ask about the weather, news, traffic, control smart home products, and more on Portal. With Portal, you can listen to music together with a friend or even watch a television show with another Portal user, through connected partnerships with Spotify Premium, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Facebook Watch, Food Network, and Newsy. Portal video calls also support AR effects, filters, and stickers. In terms of audio, Facebook says Portal has two full-range drivers, while Portal+ has two tweeters with high-range frequency and a single 4" bass
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Apple Stores in Europe Offering Free Coding Sessions for Code Week

Friday October 5, 2018 8:25 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
EU Code Week runs from October 6-21, and during the event Apple will offer more than 2,000 free coding sessions, with at least one free session every day in every Apple store in Europe. Like previous Today at Apple events, these sessions are open to all customers, and Apple says they are designed to help people of all ages and skill levels learn to code. Sessions include "How To: Get Started with Coding," "Teacher Tuesdays: App Design & Coding Basics," and "Kids Hour: Sphero Maze Challenge." “Coding is a critical skill that gives people of all ages the chance to create and share their ideas with the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Apple has long believed coding is the language of the future, and we’ve created a range of tools to make it fun and accessible for everyone. We’re thrilled to offer thousands of sessions in Apple stores for EU Code Week, and can’t wait to share our love for coding with young people and educators across Europe.” Additionally, schools and coding organizations across Europe will be able to offer their own Swift workshops through Apple's Everyone Can Code curriculum and the new coding challenges created for EU Code Week. One Swift Playgrounds app challenge is the "Incredible Code Machine," and is designed for entry-level coders. In the press release announcing its participation in EU Code Week, Apple touted a few milestones in the Swift coding language and Today at Apple coding sessions. According to the company, over 75,000 attendees have taken part in more than 14,000 coding sessions at Apple stores in Europe over the past year.
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Review: Scosche's Magic Mount Pro Charge Refuels iPhone in Your Car or on Your Desk

Thursday October 4, 2018 12:02 pm PDT by Mitchel Broussard
I've never been a fan of magnetized iPhone mounts in cars because they require special iPhone cases that stick to the base of the mount to keep the smartphone in place. Since I enjoy using Apple's own leather and silicone cases, I haven't had the urge to ditch a case for one that would be compatible with a car mount. Although Scosche's Magic Mount Pro Charge still requires a few unruly magnetic accessories to use, it's come close to convincing me that I need to make a few concessions so that I can get the advantages of hands-free iPhone use in my car. The Magic Mount also doubles as a Qi-enabled charging platform, so it will work with any compatible smartphone or case. The Magic Mount comes with two options for installation: a suction cup with an extended reach (for the upper dash board or lower windshield) and a shorter arm with a sticky pad (for the infotainment center area). The initial unboxing and setup for the Magic Mount is a bit overwhelming, with nearly a dozen different parts and accessories making up the process: a metal case mount, metal smartphone mount, wire clip cable organizers, suction mount, sticky mount, charging pad, 12V car power adapter, micro-USB to USB charging cable, and even cleaning wipe to prepare the intended area for the mount. The charging pad itself attaches easily to the two mount attachments with a ball and screw "tension collar" system. You then can attach the micro-USB cable into the charging pad, and feed the cord into the car adapter to enable wireless charging when you place your phone on the pad. As a note, Scosche also
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Deals: Save on the 2017 MacBook Pro and Shop Flash Sales With Belkin and RAVPower Chargers

Thursday October 4, 2018 7:16 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
B&H Photo has launched savings on Apple's 2017 line of MacBook Pro models, both with and without the Touch Bar. A few of the MacBook Pros in the sale are seeing lowest-ever prices for both 13-inch and 15-inch models, and in general all are beating out rival prices from Best Buy, Adorama, and Amazon. We've listed a few of the MacBook Pros on sale below, but be sure to visit B&H Photo to see the full collection. As a note, B&H Photo's sale includes both Apple's basic models and a few custom configurations. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. 13-inch MacBook Pro Touch Bar, 3.1 GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $1,499.00, down from $1,799.00 Touch Bar, 3.1 GHz, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $1,549.00, down from $1,999.00 No Touch Bar, 2.3 GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $1,649.00, down from $1,849.00 Touch Bar, 3.1 GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $1,799.00, down from $2,199.00 15-inch MacBook Pro No Touch Bar, 2.8 GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $1,899.00, down from $2,499.00 Touch Bar, 2.8 GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD - $1,999.00, down from $2,399.00 Touch Bar, 2.9 GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD - $2,099.00, down from $2,799.00 Touch Bar, 3.1 GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD - $2,699.00, down from $3,399.00 In other sales, Best Buy today has a one-day sale on a few of Belkin's chargers, including the USB-C to USB-A cable for $8.99, down from $29.99. The retailer is also offering Belkin's universal vehicle charger for the same price, $8.99, down from $29.99. Amazon also
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BBC Radio DJ Charlie Sloth Leaving Company After 10 Years, Reportedly Headed to Apple Music

Thursday October 4, 2018 5:44 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
BBC Radio DJ Charlie Sloth has announced this week that he is leaving the company, and according to various sources speaking to Music Business Worldwide, Sloth is headed to Apple Music. On the BBC, Sloth's last appearance on "The Rap Show" will be on November 3. Image via BBC News On an Instagram post announcing his departure, Sloth said that he "seeks a new challenge," and he will be announcing what comes next soon. After almost 10 years of dedicating my life to BBC radio 1xtra & Radio 1 and achieving everything I set out to I’ve decided the time has come to leave the BBC and seek a new challenge. At Apple Music, the DJ is expected to host a new worldwide show on Beats 1, while also contributing to the creation of exclusive playlists, similar to existing Beats 1 hosts. Sloth's "Fire in the Booth" franchise is coming with him to Apple Music, since he owns the brand and licenses it to the BBC. Fire in the Booth on BBC Radio 1Xtra features music and interviews with numerous artists, including the Wu Tang Clan, Logic, and Drake. Sloth is known for promoting the hip-hop and rap genres, so his Beats 1 radio show is expected to continue to focus on this area of music. Sloth's departure from the BBC to Apple Music would also be similar to Apple's hiring of Zane Lowe in 2015, who left a job at the BBC to help steer the launch of Beats 1 radio on Apple Music. If Sloth does come on to Apple Music, the number of former BBC employees who now work for Apple Music would reach at least four known names (Sloth, Lowe, former head of music at BBC Radio 1 George Ergatoudis, and
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Apple Earns Top Spot as World's Most Valuable Brand for Sixth Consecutive Year

Thursday October 4, 2018 5:10 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple remained the world's most valuable brand this year, according to Interbrand's Best Global Brands Report for 2018. With its position at the #1 spot again, Apple has topped Interbrand's annual rankings for the sixth consecutive year. Apple's brand value grew by about 15 percent and increased to $214.5 billion, up from $184.1 billion in 2017. Apple beat out Google ($155.5 billion), Amazon ($100.7 billion), Microsoft ($92.7 billion), and Coca-Cola ($66.3 billion), rounding out the top five spots. Apple and Google have remained the #1 and #2 spots for several years, and this year Amazon rose from #5 to #3 on the rankings. “A decade after the global financial crisis, the brands that are growing fastest are those that intuitively understand their customers and make brave iconic moves that delight and deliver in new ways,” said Charles Trevail, Global Chief Executive Officer of Interbrand. Because of this, Amazon led the Top Growing Brands category with 56 percent growth, followed by Netflix (45 percent), Gucci (30 percent), Salseforce.com (23 percent), and Louis Vuitton (23 percent). Facebook held the #1 spot as the Top Growing Brand for five years in a row, until this year, as it declined six percent and disappeared from this category. On the main list of 100 most valuable brands, other companies include Samsung (#6), Facebook (#9), Disney (#14), Philips (#42), Netflix (#66), PayPal (#73), Spotify (#92), and Nintendo (#99). To determine a brand's cumulative value, Interbrand considers the financial performance of branded products products and services, the role
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Amazon Announces Fire TV Stick 4K With Dolby Vision, Atmos, and HDR10+ for $50

Wednesday October 3, 2018 6:33 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Amazon today revealed its latest streaming TV device, the Fire TV Stick 4K, which includes support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10+. The device also comes shipped with a revamped Alexa Voice Remote, all packaged together for $49.99. Amazon says the 4K stick is over 80 percent more powerful than the previous generation, with a new quad core, 1.7GHz processor for quicker load times and enhanced picture quality. With 4K support, users can watch Amazon's catalog of thousands of 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ titles. The company says this is the first time a streaming media stick has supported Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, the latter of which requires a compatible connected home audio system. The Fire TV Stick 4K also provides access to the usual array of apps and Alexa skills that users expect, like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Starz, Showtime, CBS All Access, and more. There's also over 500,000 movies and tv episodes available directly on Fire TV through Amazon Prime. The company announced new apps are gaining in-app voice control on Fire TV, including A&E, AMC, Sony Crackle, Hallmark Movies Now, HBO Now, HISTORY, IFC, Lifetime, and VH1. These join Netflix, Prime Video, and others, and the feature allows users to call up Alexa to play, rewind, fast forward, and navigate through menus with just their voice. “We’ve listened to our customers and pushed to deliver the complete 4K solution they are looking for, all within a compact stick form factor,” said Marc Whitten, Vice President, Amazon Fire TV. “The team invented an entirely new
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Philips Hue iOS App Updated With Siri Shortcuts Support

Wednesday October 3, 2018 5:37 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
The Philips Hue app for iOS this week updated with support for Siri Shortcuts, allowing users to add their lights to a Shortcut to turn on scenes like "Movie Time." Siri will also now learn when people are using their favorite scenes and suggest them for quick activation on the iOS lock screen, in Siri search, and on the Siri Apple Watch face (via 9to5Mac). The Shortcuts app launched to the public within iOS 12 in September, allowing users to create multi-step shortcuts using first and third-party apps that can be activated by Siri voice command. Shortcuts are deeply customizable, and third party apps like the Hue app are able to develop quick actions for Siri that can be incorporated into Shortcuts recipes. During the original announcement, the company explained how Hue shortcuts are compatible with other shortcuts, so you can have a whole "Dinner Time" setup that not only changes the lights, but also does things like turn on music and text family members that the food is ready. The launch of Shortcuts for Hue lights comes after the company revealed new light fixtures last August, aimed at providing light for an entertainment area. These include the Hue Play (seen above) and Hue Signe lights. Philips Hue also now sells a range of outdoor lights, including an Outdoor Lightstrip, spotlight, and path light. For the new Siri Shortcuts integration, Philips Hue version 3.6.0 is available to download now on the iOS App
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Ikea Trådfri Smart Plugs Appear on U.S. Online Store for $9.99, Not Available to Purchase Yet

Tuesday October 2, 2018 6:18 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Last month Ikea began rolling out the HomeKit-compatible Trådfri smart plug to Sweden and a few other countries in the European Union. Today, HomeKit News spotted the same smart plugs in listings on the United States Ikea website, suggesting a launch in the U.S. sometime later this month. Ikea's Trådfri smart plug connects to the company's existing Trådfri Gateway ($29.99), which connects a variety of other smart home products like light bulbs, dimmers, motion sensors, and more. Among the list of Trådfri products, U.S. shoppers can now see the "Trådfri Wireless Control Outlet" -- or smart plug -- near the bottom. At the time of writing, the smart plug is not available online and not sold in stores yet. In the U.S., the Trådfri smart plug will cost $9.99 for a single plug and $14.99 for one plug and a wireless remote control button. The price of a single smart plug at Ikea is far lower than the cost of rival HomeKit smart plugs, like Eve Energy ($49.21 on Amazon), Wemo Mini Smart Plug ($29.95), iDevices Switch ($28.40), and the iHome Wi-Fi Smart Plug ($22.86). The Trådfri Wireless Control Outlet was also spotted on the UK Ikea website for £9.00. When added to HomeKit, the Trådfri accessories can be controlled through Siri, scenes, and custom automations. For smart plugs, you can attach a regular lamp, coffee maker, tea kettle, or other household appliance to the plug and control it through Ikea's own app, or with Apple's Home app. Ikea first introduced HomeKit support for the Trådfri system in November
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MacRumors Exclusive: Save on Anker's Portable Batteries, Lightning Cables, Speakers, and More

Monday October 1, 2018 11:40 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
MacRumors and Anker have partnered up again this week in a new sale that nets our readers as much as 42 percent off the popular accessory maker's iPhone cases, portable batteries, headphones, Lightning cables, and more. There are twelve total items in this sale, and all of the accompanying promo codes will last for about two weeks, expiring on Sunday, October 14. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. To take part in the exclusive sale, add one of the below items to your cart on Amazon, proceed to checkout, enter the relevant promo code into the Gift cards & promotional codes field, and then click "Apply." Discount prices in this article don't include taxes or shipping costs, but Amazon Prime subscribers can get the typical free two-day shipping on their orders. Note that only one code can be used per order, so if you'd like to order more than one type of item, you'll need to place separate orders. iPhone Cases iPhone X Breeze Case - $3.99 with code RUMORS07, down from $7.99 iPhone X Shield Case - $3.99 with code RUMORS07, down from $6.99 Lightning Cables PowerLine+ Lightning Cable with Pouch (3ft, Red) - $9.49 with code RUMORS92, down from $13.99 Powerline+ II Lightning Cable with Pouch (6ft, Black) - $13.49 with code RUMORS53, down from $17.99 Wall and Wireless Chargers PowerPort Cube with 3 Outlets and 3 USB Ports - $20.79 with code RUMORS63, down from $25.99 USB-C Wall Charger with 5 Ports - $39.99 with code RUMORS56,
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Steve Wozniak's 'Woz U' Institute Faces Blowback, Former Student Calls it a '$13,000 E-Book'

Monday October 1, 2018 8:27 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
One year ago Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak backed a new online learning institute that is aimed at educating users in coding and other digital skills. Called "Woz U," the subscription-based platform is now facing blowback from participants who cite a lack of quality in the courses and experience offered. CBS News spoke to one student, Bill Duerr, who said that he expected quality from the $13,200 program (which lasts 33 weeks), but faced ongoing issues. Duerr said the system was full of problems, like live lectures coming pre-recorded and out of date, unqualified mentors, frustrations with typos while coding, and sometimes completely missing instructors for certain courses. Duerr compared Woz U to a "$13,000 e-book." "I feel like this is a $13,000 e-book," Duerr said. While it was supposed to be a program written by one of the greatest tech minds of all time, "it's broken, it's not working in places, lots of times there's just hyperlinks to Microsoft documents, to Wikipedia," he said. "When you're doing code and you're following along, and there's a typo, and you get an error, you don't have any idea why you got the error," Duerr said. "And you're like how can – did somebody not proofread this? Did somebody not make sure it worked?" Besides Duerr, CBS News interviewed more than two dozen current and former Woz U students and employees, all referencing similar complaints. One employee was Tim Mionske, an "enrollment counselor" who sold Woz U to prospective students. Even when he began to have second thoughts about Woz U and its validity, the company was focused
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Apple Offering T-Shirt Reward in New Mindfulness Monthly Challenge for Employees

Monday October 1, 2018 7:18 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple has a new employee challenge kicking off this month, this one focused on mindfulness and meditation. Apple is said to have partnered with the app 10% Happier [Direct Link] for the challenge, tasking employees to meditate for a specific amount of time per day for 25 days (via MacGeneration). While the challenge is focused on 10% Happier, employees can also use any mindfulness app that ties into Apple's Health app on iOS. One of the areas that Health measures is mindfulness, showing you how many "Mindful Minutes" you've accumulated over the past day, week, month, and year. This information can be filled by mindfulness apps like Headspace, Aura, Calm, 10% Happier, and Apple's own Breathe app for Apple Watch. Image via MacGeneration Employees who complete the challenge will be awarded with a T-shirt that displays the Breathe app's blue and green logo. Apple has held similar internal challenges for its employees in the past, although they have mostly focused on physical exercise of some kind. In April 2017, employees who completed the stand, movement, and exercise rings on the Apple Watch each day for a month received an Activity rings pin in gold, silver, or bronze, based on how many days in the month they achieved 100% ring completion. Another competition like this was held earlier this year, but the prize was an exclusive Apple Watch band.
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'Life is Strange 2' Coming to macOS in 2019

Monday October 1, 2018 5:44 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Feral today announced that the adventure game Life is Strange 2 will be coming to macOS and Linux platforms in 2019. The first episode of Life is Strange 2 was just released on September 27 for Windows PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and four more episodes will be out in the next few months. Feral's port on macOS and Linux is expected to be the full game with all episodes, similar to company's work on the port for Life is Strange: Before the Storm. Life is Strange 2 is the second main entry in the series (following the original 2015 game) and follows brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz as they go on the run to Mexico after a mysterious supernatural incident in their hometown of Seattle. Similar to the other games in the franchise, the sequel will force players to make difficult decisions throughout the adventure, leading to different story branches and even changing the way that lead character Daniel behaves. Although it is a sequel to Life is Strange, Life is Strange 2 features new characters and a different setting than the 2015 game. Feral Interactive today announced that Life is Strange 2, the next instalment in the much loved narrative adventure series, is coming to macOS and Linux in 2019. Originally developed by DONTNOD Entertainment and published by Square Enix on Windows and console, this is the much-anticipated sequel to 2015's BAFTA Award-winning Life is Strange. After a tragic and mysterious incident in Seattle, brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz run away from home and head for Mexico. Life on the road is tough, and responsibility for his much younger brother soon
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U.S. Justice Department Sues California for Reimposing Strict Net Neutrality Protections

Monday October 1, 2018 5:20 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
On Sunday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that will bring back strict net neutrality protections to users in the state, four months after net neutrality officially expired in the United States thanks to the FCC's vote to repeal the regulations last December (via USA Today). Now that California has renewed net neutrality in the state, the United States Justice Department has filed a lawsuit in attempt to strike down the bill. In a statement, the Justice Department says that California's Senate Bill 822 "unlawfully imposes burdens on the Federal Government’s deregulatory approach to the Internet." Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai also commented on the lawsuit: Sessions: “Under the Constitution, states do not regulate interstate commerce—the federal government does. Once again the California legislature has enacted an extreme and illegal state law attempting to frustrate federal policy. The Justice Department should not have to spend valuable time and resources to file this suit today, but we have a duty to defend the prerogatives of the federal government and protect our Constitutional order. We will do so with vigor. We are confident that we will prevail in this case—because the facts are on our side.” Pai: “I’m pleased the Department of Justice has filed this suit. The Internet is inherently an interstate information service. As such, only the federal government can set policy in this area. And the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently reaffirmed that state regulation of
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Apple Wins Appeal in Wisconsin Patent Lawsuit

Friday September 28, 2018 7:49 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Back in July 2017, U.S. District Judge William Conley ordered Apple to pay $506 million to the University of Wisconsin's Alumni Research Foundation for infringing on a patent related to computer processing technology in the company's A7, A8, and A8X chips. Conley had added $272 million on top of an existing $234 million in damages that a jury ordered Apple to pay in 2015, around when the lawsuit originated. Today, Reuters reports that Apple has managed to persuade a federal appeals court to throw out at least part of the lawsuit, namely the $234 million in damages. According to the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, no reasonable juror could have been able to find infringement based on the evidence that was presented in the liability phase of the trial in 2015, leading to its decision. It's unclear why the original $234 million damages award has been appealed, but without any mention of the $272 million extension being thrown out. Apple Inc persuaded a federal appeals court on Friday to throw out a $234 million damages award in favor of the University of Wisconsin’s patent licensing arm for infringing the school’s patent on computer processing technology. [The U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals] said Apple deserved judgment as a matter of law in the case brought by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. During the trial, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation originally asked for damages worth $862 million, but lowered the request to around $400 million. The patent in question, titled "Table based data speculation circuit for parallel processing
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eBay Debuts New Sitewide Coupon Letting You Take 15% Off an Order Today Only

Thursday September 27, 2018 8:04 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
eBay this morning has debuted a new 15 percent off sitewide coupon for its shoppers, which will last until 6:00 p.m. PT tonight. This means that for the next ten hours you can save 15 percent off a minimum purchase of $25 across eBay, although there are the usual exclusions of warranties and protection plans, coins and paper money, gift cards and coupons, and real estate. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with eBay. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. You'll have to use the coupon within a single transaction, and it will be capped at a maximum value of $100. To use the discount, head to eBay and browse, add items that total over $25 to your cart, and enter the coupon code PICKSOON in the checkout screen. eBay shoppers with an address located in the United States, Canada, Latin America, or the Caribbean are eligible for the coupon. eBay's sitewide coupons are a great chance to save on a huge variety of products, which can include Apple MacBooks, iPads, iPhone cases, Apple TV 4K, and more. Another good idea for the sitewide coupon is looking for discounts on HomeKit items, including the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm Smarter Kit, the iDevices Switch and Outdoor Switch, Philips Hue's range of products, and more. As with any eBay shopping, unless the item is being sold by an official retailer's eBay store -- like Best Buy's Nanoleaf Aurora kit -- it's important to remember that buying off of eBay does come with some risk. To be safe, remember to check the seller's item sold count and
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ECG Feature on Apple Watch Could Take Years to Be Approved in the United Kingdom

Thursday September 27, 2018 6:09 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Earlier this month, Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Series 4 with a new electrocardiogram (ECG) feature that measures the electrical activity of your heartbeat, providing you with a heart rhythm classification that can be shared with your doctor. The feature isn't out yet, but it will be limited to Series 4 models in the United States later in 2018. Today, 9to5Mac shared a potential time window for the launch of the ECG feature in the United Kingdom. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) explains that the process starts by examining Apple's documentation surrounding the ECG feature and performing an audit of the quality assurance system. While this step doesn't appear to be lengthy, the proceeding steps could make the process longer. MHRA says it would require Apple to perform a new clinical investigation to judge the effectiveness of the ECG on Apple Watch, but Apple would likely not be able to use any of the data from the studies it's already completed because MHRA requires companies to notify the regulator in advance of a study. Once the study is submitted, MHRA has 60 days to approve it (which may become longer if the regulators have further inquiries for Apple), and then Apple can begin the study. These last few steps are what the MHRA say "could potentially add years" onto the debut of the ECG in the UK.You may need to carry out a clinical investigation as part of the process to obtain a CE marking for your medical device. You must inform MHRA if you are planning to do this at least 60 days before starting your investigation
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