Category Archives: News

News

Recently leaked iPhone 7 images may be the real thing

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There’s one thing that you can be sure of in the months leading up to the next iPhone: many images of the device will be leaked. The vast majority of these images end up being fake and ultimately disappointing those who hoped the iPhone would look just like the leaked image. However, it appears that a recently leaked image of the new iPhone 7 may, in fact, be the real thing.

iPhone 7 May Have Smart Connector

AppleInsider was first to report on and share the leaked image last month. Initially, many believed that this supposed leak was fake because of the 3 dots on the back of the iPhone. These 3 dots represent Smart Connector, a feature that was first brought to the iPad Pro. Smart Connector allows the iPad Pro to magnetically connect to Apple’s Smart Keyboard. The connection also draws power from the iPad Pro, which means that the keyboard does not have to be charged prior to using it with the iPad Pro.

Smart Connector seems like an odd feature to bring to the iPhone 7, given the substantial difference in size when compared with the iPad Pro. However, it is possible that the iPhone 7 will use Smart Connector for another accessory besides a keyboard–perhaps a headphones accessory with rumors that Apple will be doing away with the headphone jack on the new iPhone.

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iPhone 7 Design Is Nearly Identical to iPhone 6/6S

A recent report from Macotakara.jp, a Japanese blog that is typically very reliable, suggests that leaked image is actually the iPhone 7 Plus. They point to the outer shell/casing and the screen size as evidence that this is the larger version of the iPhone and not the 4.7″ iPhone 7. What’s more, the leaked iPhone 7 Plus is exactly the same size as the iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone 6 Plus before it.

This indicates that the new iPhone 7 Plus won’t be any thinner than the current model. It also indicates that the screen may be the same as the existing iPhone, with no upgrades to the resolution. For those hoping for a higher resolution screen like that which is found on the Samsung Galaxy S7, this may be a disappointment.

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iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus Will Have Some Upgrades

However, it does appear that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will have significant internal upgrades. In the leaked image, you can see what looks to be a dual lens camera. This is rumored to be exclusive to the iPhone 7 Plus and may lead to DSLR quality photos with the iPhone. While the existing iPhone’s camera is quite good, this new dual lens camera could put it far ahead of any other smartphone on the market.

Additionally, it is expected that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will come with faster processors. Apple has a habit of putting a new processor in each generation of the iPhone, so a new one in the iPhone 7 is pretty much a given. A new processor will make the phone faster and more responsive.

The iPhone 7 may also see an upgrade to the RAM. The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus had 2GB of RAM, which is still less than what many Android phones have, for example the Samsung Galaxy S7 is rumored to have 4GB of RAM. What remains to be seen is how much RAM the new iPhone will have.

iPhone 7 Will Debut In September or October 2016

As with previous years, it is expected that the new iPhone will be available to the public in either September or October 2016. More leaks and information is expected to come out as we get nearer to this date.

 

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Apple Watch 2 rumored to be expected late 2016 or early 2017

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It’s now been a year since Apple released the first Apple Watch. Although the Apple Watch sold roughly 10 million units in 2015 according to KGI Securities, some consider the first Apple Watch’s sales to be very underwhelming. Apple’s recent price cut of the Watch to $299 (compared to the original price of $399) and KGI’s forecast of shipments falling by 25% during 2016 are two more signs of the Apple Watch’s apparent “failure.” However, selling 10 million units of a new product type is nothing to sneeze at, especially considering how it took years for the iPhone to fully gain steam.

With these things in mind, it’s not surprising that Apple is already working on the Apple Watch 2. The recent price cut is a strategy they’ve used in the past with the iPhone and iPad months prior to releasing new models of these devices. Likewise, the plan to ship less units of the product on year 2 is something they’ve also done in the past with iPhones and iPads. All these signs point toward Apple getting ready to release a new Apple Watch later this year.

When Will The Apple Watch 2 Be Announced?

The current expectation among industry experts is that Apple will announce the Watch 2 in either June or September. Announcing the Watch 2 in June would make sense as this is when Apple has their Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Announcing the Watch 2 in September or October would also make sense, as this is typically when they announce new iPhones. September 2014 is also when they announced the first Apple Watch.

When Will The Apple Watch 2 Ship?

This is a bit more of a mystery. With the first Apple Watch, units of the Watch did not ship until April 2015, a full seven months after the initial announcement. Apple may take a similar route with the Watch 2 by announcing it in September alongside the iPhone 7 and then not shipping it until early 2017.

It is also entirely possible that Apple will ship the Watch 2 shortly after announcing it in September. Given the fact that Apple recently slashed prices of the first Apple Watch and they are planning to ship less units, it’s significantly more likely that they are getting ready to release another iteration of the Watch this year as opposed to 2017.

What Will Be Different About The Apple Watch 2?

As thin as the Apple Watch was, it is rumored that Apple will be releasing a new, much thinner version of the device. In fact, Apple Analyst Brian White believes that the new Watch will be 20-40% thinner.

The thinner design may be disappointing to those expecting better battery life with the Watch 2, as a thinner design almost guarantees that a larger battery will not be used. However, Apple could offset this by further optimizing the Apple Watch 2 OS.

Other rumored features include a FaceTime camera to make/receive FaceTime calls straight from the Watch, advanced WiFi capabilities, and the ability to use the Apple Watch without an iPhone or iPod. The latter would be particularly exciting to those who have held off on buying an Apple Watch because it is incompatible with their smartphone.

We here at MacMint will be closely following all of the Apple Watch 2 rumors and reporting on these in the coming weeks and months.

News

Apple Music Now on Twitter @AppleMusicHelp

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Apple’s first offering of free Apple Music trials is now over, leaving Apple needing to drive new customer to Apple Music, whilst keeping existing subscribers happy enough to retain the,m. Apple addressed this through a recent string of posts to their YouTube channel. Videos were provided detailing all the core features of Apple Music. Along with the release of these informative videos came a first for Apple Customer Services, a Twitter account dedicated to Apple Music.

@AppleMusicHelp Ready to Assist

@AppleMusicHelp provides a question and answer service between 6AM and 8PM, serving to resolve issues and answer questions directed at Apple Music. Apple appears to be working closely with the public to develop Apple Music. Apple is already asking Twitter subscribers to DM Apple with details of the devices used to access Apple Music. Apple are looking for any and all details concerning bugs encountered, problems needing attention and all general usage information. Apple Music has already encountered its fair share of bugs, including missing tracks, incorrect album art and even jumbled play-lists.

Apple Music Coming to Android

Even though bugs have cropped up, the majority of people using Apple Music have had a hassle-free experience, with most enjoying the service provided by Apple. Apple Music looks to have a firm future ahead with even an Android version on the horizon. Given the amount of attention to detail that has been placed into Apple music so far, fans are looking forward to extensive updates and error-free performance in the near future. If you want to help Apple out, give them a tweet @AppleMusicHelp

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Apple expands Homekit support for August Smart Lock

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Apple’s line of Homekit accessories for the connected household have experienced steady growth over past months. October 13th revealed the launch of the August Smart Lock, an upgraded version of their prior Blue-tooth enabled lock released last year. The Homekit platform enables you to lock or unlock your August Smart Lock using Siri. Extended voice commands are also supported, such as commands to disable the connected lighting.

Siri in conjunction with Homekit enabled devices vastly expand the voice capabilities of your device. Many Homekit compatible products are becoming readily available, allowing for voice control of your thermostat, lighting, locks and more with voice activated status reporting.

All New Smart Lock

August’s new Smart Lock has been upgraded with a modified industrial design, featuring a magnetic face-plate, new micro-patterns to facilitate a secure grip and easy rotation of the lock. A thin, chrome visual indicator is located atop the August Smart Lock, giving an indication of whether it is locked or not.

 

 

New Homekit Devices

August will be expanding it’s Homekit compatible line with a new August Doorbell Cam, as well as an August Smart Keypad. The keypad features pass-code protection, in case of your keys or phone not being present. In addition one-time automatic timed pass-code authentication is also possible. Their Smart Keypad is low-power and both Blue-tooth and Wi-Fi enabled. The new August Doorbell cam is a Blue-tooth and Wi-Fi capable, HD video quality , one-way camera with two way audio and motion detection.

Home Automation

August combined with Apple Homekit functionality is set to bring us to new levels of home automation. Homekit’s Siri-controlled automation is a perfect match to the modern home and with devices such as those in production from August we are likely to be surprised by what is coming next.

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iTunes reported to be unavailable

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iTunes functionality halted on Tuesday 13th and some users are still experiencing a disruptions to their iTunes usage, as reported by 9to5mac. The Apple System Status Page was recently updated, stating that tracking issues with iCloud, Apple stores and other Apple Service may ongoing for certain users. The message on the Apple System Status Page stated:

“Users are experiencing a problem with the service listed above. We are investigating and will update the status as more information becomes available.”

The disruption to service has yet to be resolved. Issues were experienced by users from the 12th, however the Apple System Status Page was not updated until the 13th. This comes as one of many recent Apple service outages, causing many disgruntled Apple fans.

iTunes Working for Most

The iTunes store is working for the vast majority of users, although certain disruptions have been reported including a non-functional Siri, non-responsive iTunes store and cloud services will not establish a connection for certain users. Even though the update was late it is likely that Apple has been attending to the problem since it originated, as service has been restored in the majority.