Apple is including a Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter with the iPhone 7, but what happens when you lose yours? Apple is happy to sell you another, and it’ll cost you US$9.
News
Apple Drops Prices, Bumps Storage on iPad Line
The iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 were in the spotlight Wednesday morning, Apple quietly lowered the prices on the iPad lineup while bumping up storage. The 16GB storage option is gone and a 256GB option is available, just like the iPhone 7.
iOS 10, watchOS 3 Available Sept 13
iOS 10 and watchOS 3 are finally getting the nod of approval from Apple and will move from beta status to official releases on September 13th. The free upgrade will come three days before the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 ship on September 16th.
macOS Sierra Coming September 20
Apple’s big focus today is the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2, but that doesn’t mean the Mac didn’t get any love—or more precisely, macOS Sierra. Apple quietly updated the Sierra website on Wednesday to say the replacement for Mac OS X El Capitan will ship on September 20th.
Apple goes Wireless with AirPods
Apple embraced wireless earbuds on Wednesday with the introduction of its AirPods earbuds. AirPods are designed to connect to the iPhone and Apple Watch over Bluetooth, and let you quickly switch between which device where they’re streaming audio.
iPhone 7 Coming Sept 16 with New Processors, Amazing Cameras
Apple unveiled the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus during its “See you on the 7th” media event Wednesday morning. The new models replace the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus as Apple’s top of the line iPhones with faster processors and improved cameras.
Apple Intros Waterproof Apple Watch Series 2 with GPS
Apple’s September 7th media event was about more than just the iPhone 7 because we also got our first look at Apple Watch 2. This is the first refresh of Apple’s smartwatch since it shipped almost 18 months ago and adds new features like a built-in “swim-proof” waterproofing, and a GPS.
Pokémon GO Coming to Apple Watch
Pokémon GO is coming to the Apple Watch later this month, fixing a glaring omission in the game when it first launched on the iPhone. The Apple Watch version gives you notifications your wrist, lets you track in-game activities, and ties in with fitness tracking, too.
Apple Leaks iPhone 7 Features on Twitter
Apple hasn’t officially announced the iPhone 7 yet at its “See you on the 7th” media event, but that didn’t stop the company from revealing some of its features on Twitter. The company’s Twitter feed is highlighting features like waterproofness, new cameras, stereo speakers, and longer battery life.
TMO "See you on the 7th" Live Coverage
Apple’s “See you on the 7th” event is set to start at 10AM pacific time today, and The Mac Observer will be on location at the Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco to cover the day’s big announcements. CEO Tim Cook and other company executives are expected to take the stage to show off the successor to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, and possibly the Apple Watch 2.
Apple Store Offline Ahead of iPhone 7 Launch Event
Apple’s online store went offline Wednesday morning ahead of the company’s “See you on the 7th” special media event. The Apple Store app now says “We’ve got something special in store for you,” which most likely is the iPhone 7.
Don't Count on Kaby Lake Processors in the New MacBook Pro
With Intel’s Kaby Lake processors shipping and the MacBook Pro woefully overdue for a refresh, Apple could skip over Skylake and roll out new laptops with the latest chips—except that isn’t going to happen. Instead, Apple will most likely retire the aging Haswell chips it currently uses and finally move on to Skylake, and the really significant processor change won’t come until 2018 with Cannonlake.
Apple Music gets $99 Annual Subscription via Gift Card
If an Apple Music subscription at US$120 a year is a little too expensive for you, try $99 instead. Apple is now offering the discounted subscription through a special gift card you can buy in the company’s retail stores.
Happy Labor Day
In observance of Labor Day, a U.S. holiday, The Mac Observer will be taking the day off for a little outdoor fun with friends and family, and we hope you are, too. We’ll resume our regular publishing schedule on Tuesday, September 6, just in time for Apple’s “See you on the 7th” media event. Enjoy the holiday!
Apple Cleaning House, Removing Abandoned Titles from App Store
Apple is about to start cleaning the App Store’s house by removing outdated and abandoned apps. The change should make it easier to find the apps you’re looking for, improve discoverability, and cut down on apps that aren’t compatible with current iOS versions. Developers trying to manipulate search results with long app names are in for a surprise, too.
Get Ready for the FBI's New Encryption Back Door Push
The FBI’s fight for government mandated backdoors into our encrypted data and devices is far from over, and Director James Comey says he plans to bring that back to the forefront next year. Mr. Comey says it’s time for an “adult conversation” on the topic, and that law enforcement needs an easy way to access our private data for criminal investigations.
Apple Patches 2 Critical Security Flaws in OS X Yosemite and El Capitan
Apple released separate security updates for OS X Yosemite and OS X El Capitan on Thursday. Both updates patch the same two critical security flaws. One flaw potentially exposed kernel memory, and the other allowed a maliciously crafted app to take over your system.
Judge Rejects Monster's Claims in Beats Lawsuit
Monster Cable founder Noel Lee got a double-dose of disappointment: first, he missed out on a big cash win when Apple bought Beats, and now his lawsuit alleging the headphone maker scammed him out of that deal is on the rocks. The judge overseeing the case tossed out his claims only days before the scheduled trial which is now focused on whether Monster should have to pay Beats’ legal expenses.
Apple's iCloud gets 2TB Storage Tier Ahead of iPhone Launch
Apple quietly added a 2TB storage option for iCloud subscribers, doubling the previous high end tier. The company quietly added the new level this week, leading to speculation that the company’s September 7th media really will include a new iPhone with 256GB storage.
Apple Updates HP Printer Drivers
Apple released new OS X printer drivers for HP printers on Tuesday titled “HP Printer Drivers v5.0 for OS X.” The patch notes for the update are sparse even by Apple standards, saying simply, “This download includes the latest HP printing and scanning software for OS X.” It’s a safe assumption the update improves performance across the line.
Sonos's Future: Opening Up Control to Alexa and Third-Party Apps
On Tuesday, wireless speaker manufacturer Sonos summoned the press to Manhattan to show off some new software features they’ve been working on and, in doing so, painted a picture of a more open Sonos experience. Demonstrating Amazon Alexa voice control and Spotify app integration, Sonos showed a not-too-distant future where customers have the ability to control their Sonos products in a variety of new ways without sacrificing any of the existing benefits of the Sonos platform.
EU Says Apple Owes €13B in Back Taxes, and the Fight is On
The European Union says Apple owes €13 billion (about US$14.5 billion) in back taxes because Ireland gave the iPhone and Mac maker illegal and unfair tax advantages. Apple and Ireland have both condemned the ruling maintaining they acted within the country’s laws, and are planning to appeal the ruling.
Fitbit Aims at Apple Watch Crowd with Charge 2, Flex 2 Fitness Trackers
Fitbit is aiming to draw in potential Apple Watch buyers with its just announced Charge 2 and Flex 2 fitness trackers. Now Fitbit users can track their cardio fitness level, link to their smartphone GPS, swap wrist bands, and more.
Apple Media Event Officially Set for Sept 7
Apple has been expected to host a special media event on Wednesday, September 7th, and now it’s confirmed because invitations are arriving in the media’s in boxes. The company isn’t saying what it’ll announce, but the smart money is on new iPhones.
