Thanks to a leaked health and safety report we have some clues into what projects Apple is working on, and it looks like augmented reality glasses may be on that list. Two employees suffered from eye injuries from lasers attached to some form of headgear, which sounds a lot like a wearable augmented reality device.
News
New JavaScript API Brings Apple Live Photos to the Web
Apple has created a new Javascript API so developers can bring Live Photos to the web. Live Photos are Apple’s way to bring your photos to life. A live photo is a cross between a video and a GIF, but on-demand animation for live photos was limited to iOS and Instagram’s Boomerang feature…until now.
Apple Buys Rights to Tribeca-opening Clive Davis Documentary for Apple Music
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives opened the Tribeca Film Festival, and now it’s headed to Apple Music. Apple bought the rights to the film based on music industry legend Clive Davis’s autobiography.
Apple Plans to Make iPhones Without Mining for Materials
Apple has a lofty goal to stop relying on mining for the raw materials needed to make iPhones, iPads, and Macs. There isn’t a plan for how the company will accomplish that, or at least there isn’t one yet.
Apple's 5th Avenue Store Glass Cube Dismantling is Only Temporary
A New York City building permit is making the rounds and raising eyebrows because it’s for removing the iconic glass cube entrance covering the 5th Avenue Apple store. The cube is coming down, but only temporarily, because it’s in the way of Apple’s renovation plans.
Adobe Amps Up Creative Cloud Video Professional Apps, Including Touch Bar Support
Adobe announced Wednesday new versions of video editing and effects tools in Creative Cloud. The company announced new versions of Premier, After Effects, Audition, and Character Animator, all of which are work more closely with one another. MacBook Pro owners will also get support for Apple’s new Touch Bar.
Apple's Augmented Reality Plans May Include iPhone 8 Smart Connector for Special Glasses
Apple’s iPhone 8 will reportedly include an iPad Pro-like smart connector that may be the link up for augmented reality and virtual reality headsets. The report is tenuous, but the idea that Apple is ready to introduce its augmented reality platform this fall is interesting.
Apple Makes iWork and iLife Apps Free and Easier to Download by Anyone
Apple made its iWork suite—Pages, Numbers, and Keynote—free on Tuesday, as well as two of the iLife apps*—GarageBand and iMovie. While they were already free to new Mac and iOS device customers (since 2013), making the price “free” makes them easier to download by everyone.
If You're Looking for Floppy Disks, Amazon's Got Them - Really
If you remember fondly the old days of passing files around by “sneakernet,” or using floppy disks, you might be amused at what Jeff Butts has discovered. Floppy disk drives and the diskettes you need for them are still widely available from at least one retailer.
Apple's Pro iMac to Compete with Microsoft Surface Studio
We know Apple has an iMac with pro features planned for later this year, and a new report says it’ll be designed to compete with Microsoft’s Surface Studio all-in-one PC. Apple also has updates for its current models coming, most likely in the second half of the year.
Apple Settles Unwired Planet's Patent Infringement Case Hours Before Trial
Unwired Planet’s patent infringement lawsuit against Apple is finally over because the two companies reached an undisclosed settlement just a day before they were scheduled to go to trial. The agreement most likely includes Apple writing a big check, and the patent holding company agreeing to leave the iPhone and Mac maker alone.
Bloomberg Backs Up iPhone 8 Big Screen Design Reports
Another report is out saying the iPhone 8 will sport an almost bezel-free display, and this time it’s from Bloomberg. This one backs up what we’ve already heard: A bigger display in an iPhone 7-size body, curved glass edges, OLED, and no physical Home button.
Logitech POP Smart Button Gets HomeKit Support
Logitech’s POP Smart Button is getting HomeKit support, and its POP Smart Button Kit will be available in Apple’s retail stores. The button supports a wide range of devices, so you can use it to control non-HomeKit gear, too.
A Full Screen 'iPhone X' Leak I Can Get Behind
KK Sneak Leaks has posted a leak of what’s supposed to be Apple’s full-screen iPhone, the so-called iPhone X. I don’t know if it’s real, but it’s a leak I can get behind. And for what it’s worth, KK gave it a 99% reliability. Bryan Chaffin takes us on a tour.
Apple Gets Permit to Test Self Driving Cars on California Roads
Apple now has a permit to test drive autonomous vehicles on public roads in California, which is a pretty clear sign the company is still doing something with its not so secret car project dubbed Titan.
Woz Says Apple Will Still be Here in 2075
Apple will still be here in 2075, according to company co-founder Steve Wozniak, and Google and Facebook will be alive and kicking, too. Woz made his prediction over the weekend ahead this year’s Silicon Valley Comicon and its “The Future of Humanity: Where Will We Be in 2075” theme.
iTunes Podcasts Now Called Apple Podcasts
Apple changed the name of its podcast app from iTunes Podcasts to Apple Podcast. The move includes branding within iTunes, in the Podcasts app, and the Listen on Apple Podcast badge that replaces Listen on iTunes Podcasts.
Hackers Dump Cache of NSA Tools Putting Millions of Windows Users in Danger
Hacker group Shadow Brokers dumped a new cache of NSA tools on Friday, and some are calling it, “the worst thing since Snowden.” Motherboard reported that the Windows tools released in the newest cache are the hacking equivalent of a bomb.
Apple Celebrates the Joys of Water Balloons in New Commercial
Apple launched three commercials in the company’s Shot on iPhone series. All three spots were released for the Turkish market on the Apple Turkey YouTube channel. They were shot by 11 year old children on iPhones, and were released to celebrate National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey.
New Images Show iPhone 8 with Touch ID in the Display
Apple reportedly has two iPhone 8 designs in the works: one with the Touch ID sensor on the back, and the other with it embedded in the display glass. Yesterday’s leak showed the backside Touch ID sensor, and today we get to see what the version with the sensor in the display looks like.
Apple Ready to Team with Foxconn for Toshiba Memory Business Bid
Apple is reportedly interested in bidding on Toshiba’s NAND flash memory business, and is looking into teaming up with Foxconn to make it happen. Apple is looking to invest several billion dollars in the company for at least a 20% stake that it would share with Foxconn.
New Apple Music Show Coming Called House Of Strombo
George Stroumboulopoulos, host for CBC Radio 2, will become the newest Apple Music Curator with new show House of Strombo. A spinoff of his radio broadcast The Strombo Show, a ten episode show featuring video segments, artist interviews and behind-the-scenes details.
T-Mobile Spends $8 Billion to Upgrade Its Wireless Network
T-Mobile recently won an FCC wireless auction for a chunk of the wireless airwave spectrum, spending US$8 billion to expand its network. It acquired over 1,500 wireless licenses in the 600MHz range, which is high-quality. Andrew Orr tells us what this means for the future.
Developers: Get Ready for iTunes Connect Down Time on April 22
Apple has scheduled iTunes Connect down time starting at 7AM pacific time on April 22nd that could last up to eight hours. That means anything developers need to do in iTunes Connect and related services need to be handled before the morning of the 22nd.