An Apple filing with the FCC looks very much like it might be a new 4K UHD, 5th generation Apple TV just in time for the December holiday period. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that the old 4th generation Apple TV from October 2015 had been delayed. And now we may be getting what we really wanted all along just one year later.
Apple Hates Music Lovers Who Want to Own Their Music
John Kheit is in a frothing-at-the-mouth rage about iTunes in iOS and macOS Sierra. From missing ratings to iCloud downloads for songs that should be local, he’s fighting mad.
Read This Before You Install Any Point Zero OS
Dr. Mac has strong opinions about installing the point-zero release of an operating system. So, before you pull the trigger and install iOS 10 or Sierra, you might want to read Rants & Raves Episode #193, the descriptively-titled Read This Before You Any Point Zero OS.
My Marvelous Adventure Picking Up a Pre-ordered iPhone 7
On the morning of September 16th, John Martellaro went into his local Apple store, having pre-ordered on Sep 9th, to trade-in an iPhone 6s and pick up his new iPhone 7 (black/128). The experience wasn’t what he was expecting, but it all worked out in the end.
Things I Liked Most About watchOS 3. And a Nice Trick
It took two hours, but John Martellaro finally got his original Apple Watch upgraded to watchOS 3. Here are some of the things he liked most about this version. Plus, he discovered a nice trick when it comes to changing watch faces with a swipe.
My Take on Apple’s iPhone 7 Event
This week in Dr. Mac’s Rants & Raves, read Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus’ thoughts on Apple’s big event last week in San Francisco including big reveals of Super Mario, Pokémon GO, the Apple Watch Series 2, and the iPhone 7.
The Art of Smacking Apple Around as Entertainment Pays Handsomely
Numbers and facts are boring. Entertainment is fun. That’s true whether the subject is politics or technology. If you can entertain people who are bored with facts, light them up in fact, your publication will do well. For example, crafty editors know that there’s money to be made bad-mouthing Apple. It will never stop. And it will never cease to amaze us. Jonny Evans ponders and John Martellaro explains.
Hands-On with iPhone 7 Home Button: Disappointing Haptic Feedback, Increased Functionality
Apple had two major changes in iPhone 7 beyond incremental improvements. The first is the much-talked about lack of an auxiliary port for headphones, but the other will effect the way we do things far longer than the transition to Lightning audio. That’s moving from a physical Home Button to a touch-sensitive, stationary Home Button. Here’s what Bryan Chaffin thought about it during his hands-on session at Apple’s media event.
Free High Quality Software? You Betcha!
Dr. Mac has noticed a trend lately where software makers offer free, high quality basic versions, charging only those who wish additional features or services. Often known as “freemium” apps (think “free but still premium”), these days freemium isn’t just for games and entertainment anymore.
iPhones Are Now Faster than Macs
It’s official—well at least according to reported Geekbench scores spotted in the wild! iPhones are now faster than Macs! The latest, and most recently updated, 2016 12” MacBook is slower than the iPhone 7 Plus.
Hands-On with Apple Watch Series 2: Faster, Better, Prettier
Bryan checked out Apple Watch Series 2 at Apple’s hands-on demo, and was impressed. There’s a lot to like in this second generation device, and he’s gathered my hands-on impressions.
iPhone 7 Now or Updated SE Later? The 4-Inch iPhone Power User’s Dilemma
On March 31 of this year (2016), Apple solved the problem that existed since September of 2014: Power users that wanted an iPhone with the latest CPU but preferred the 4″ form factor could have their cake and eat it, too – again – with the introduction of the iPhone SE. Now, though, that problem starts all over again.
Apple’s Instincts About the Watch Buyer Mentality Prove Correct
In May of 2015, when the Apple Watch first shipped, a few observers opined that it would be wise to buy the cheapest possible version, the Sport Watch. That’s because Apple would, they claimed, come out with a new model in 2016 that would callously make the original painfully obsolete. It looks like Apple’s instincts, in contradiction to that notion, have proved correct.
Hands-On with Apple’s Impressive AirPods
Bryan Chaffin went into Apple’s hands-on press area a skeptic of the company’s new AirPods wireless headphones. He came out impressed. Here are his immediate impressions.
Even If You Don’t Need a New iPhone 7, You Should Still Get One
The art and science of sizing up the new iPhone each year is a formidable one, given the time between the announcement and the window for ordering. Apple provides just enough information to whet the appetite. However, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the state of the art isn’t advancing and decide to save some money, passing on the iPhone 7. That’s probably not a good way to go, given Apple’s track record.