News

5 things to know for Apple’s September 10th Event

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The invitations have been received, and their colorful presentation and playful opening statement, “this should brighten everyone’s day” have the tech world buzzing. Is it possible that Apple’s choice of design and phrasing is a hint that they’ll be confirming rumors of the cheaper iPhone 5c, available in multiple colors, at their September 10th event? In just a day, we’ll know for sure.

As usual with all things Apple, there have been countless rumors circulating since the last batch of products was released about what the next models will be. So, what can we expect on the 10th? Here are five important things to know about Apple’s next event.

1. Expect surprises. While much of the leaked information and predictions from credible sources about upcoming iPhones and other new Apple products will likely prove to be true, it’s not unrealistic to assume that Apple has some unexpected news to share as well. It could be different iPhone specs than what we’re expecting, or an entirely new product or feature altogether. As Apple has been criticized recently for no longer being as innovative as they once were, the September 10th event is a prime opportunity for them to wow us once again and prove doubters wrong.

2. Surprises or not, the new iPhone will be the primary focus. So much of Apple’s media attention recently has been centered on the rumored iPhone 5s and 5c, and September 10th will be the day all is revealed. Features to expect include new internal components such as a robust, proprietary A7 chip. Some sources are even hinting that fingerprint scanning may be utilized on the new iPhones. At present, the technology will primarily be for unlocking the phone, but offers the capability to be used as a biometric scanner or to make secure online payments in the future.

3. Extensive information about iOS 7 will be provided. The first major mobile operating system update from Apple in a while, it is rumored to completely upgrade the user interface, predict app usage in order to preserve battery life, do automatic updates in the background, give all apps the ability to multitask and provide a useful new “iOS control panel” for tweaking settings.

4. iTunes Radio will be promoted. Given the neat features that come with this addition to the music management program, it’s somewhat surprising it hasn’t received more buzz. Launching soon in the USA and then in other countries worldwide, it offers streaming radio similar to services like SoundCloud, with a choice of 200 different genre-based radio stations. What sets it apart is its ability to bring together all the stations you’re likely to enjoy, based on your listening preferences and the type of music you tend to purchase. The more you listen, the more personalized your stations will become. Though it will be overshadowed by the new iPhone announcements, iTunes Radio is really a neat offering by Apple.

5. iPads won’t receive as much attention. While it’s not sensible to rule out any tablet-related news, it’s unlikely that the iPad and iPad Mini will be touched on in a significant way during the September 10th event. With new versions of the iPad being offered in fairly quick succession over the last few years, they have received a lot of coverage. While still an incredibly popular and important device, they will take a backseat to the iPhone and other announcements this fall.

News

Why Apple stock continues to fall

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There is no doubt that Apple products are hot sellers. With loyal customers and new Mac fans alike lining up overnight to buy the latest products, the company has experienced a significant surge in popularity over the last few years. Their ingenuity and innovation have earned them a massive fan base, not to mention billions of dollars.

However, recently the technology giant’s stocks have been decreasing in value, and despite Apple stores everywhere being packed, they’re continuing to drop. So just why are stock prices lower? And will they continue to fall, or will they regain their once incredible value?

In a recent article, USA Today blamed Apple’s declining stock prices on the fact that the company is “too popular for its own good.” As products like the first iPhone and iPad were introduced, investors were lured and stock prices skyrocketed. This was great for as long as the company’s sales and overall growth were increasing while they also maintained industry-leading profits. Unfortunately, when Apple’s growth margined suffered – ever so slightly – economic reality set in and the same investors who had priced the stock for perfection started having second thoughts.

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YCharts – AAPL

Lately, Apple stock is being repriced for reality. The hype has settled down a little and people are realizing there are other companies with innovative products out there, too. I liken it to the real estate market in some parts of North America. Prices skyrocketed and people were flipping houses, investing and getting rich. But when economic reality set in and things weren’t quite so easy, values dropped significantly. Now in many areas they’re experiencing a “correction.” Once inflated prices that dropped too low are starting to return to a reasonable rate.

This may be what’s happening with Apple’s stock. After all, it’s been based largely on excitement over unveiling new products. And as growth slowed and the company experienced a lull in the pace of innovation, stock prices suffered. Group that with sinking profit margins and a disappointing sales forecast from a key supplier and it’s no wonder they’re in the position they are now.

Growing competition from Android smartphone and tablet manufacturers doesn’t help either. Consumers have more choice now then they did when the first iPhone was released, especially from manufacturers like Samsung who offer a wide range of smartphones, tablets and phablets in varying sizes and prices. In 2012, Samsung actually overtook Apple, with 30.3% of the market share compared to Apple’s 19.1%. This fear of weakening demand for the iPhone and greater competition also has investors spooked and has lead to falling stock prices.

Furthermore, some in the industry feel that the company has lost its way since the death of iconic founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who was such a force with leadership, common sense and innovation. Some of the changes and choices made under the reign of Tim Cook have not gone over as well, and speculation over falling stock prices has largely occurred since Jobs’ passing.

While rumors about hot new Apple products like the stunning Mac Pro, OSX Mavericks, the iPhone 5s and even the fabled iWatch are circulating, critics still feel the company has yet to regain its “mobility mojo” and likely won’t do so until the fall. Apple is certainly experiencing lull and transition, and the initial mania over smartphones and tablets may have passed, but in the long run I believe stock prices will remain valuable as the company finds its feet again and continues to provide consumers with quality electronics and computing solutions. Over time, this dip in stock value will likely be seen as no more than a mere bump in the road.

iPhone

Top 5 Features of iOS 7

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The latest Apple operating system is due to be released shortly, and like everything Mac, iOS 7 is generating a lot of buzz. Compared to previous updates, there are some substantial additions and changes. Apple has promised it’s their most advanced mobile operating system yet, that will make usage “easier, faster and more enjoyable.” The top 5 updates we’re excited about are:

Apple - Updated built-in apps
Apple – Updated Built-in Apps

1. Upgraded pre-loaded apps:

While the Apple store offers lots of alternatives to the standard apps, the iPhone’s default apps will get a makeover with iOS 7.

The weather app is now reportedly similar to Yahoo! Weather and has beautiful graphics that capitalize on the crisp retina display.

The calendar has a cleaner interface and allows users to swipe and zoom through their schedule.

Safari comes with new 3D tabs, enhanced bookmarking capabilities and Twitter integration. And perhaps best of all, the Mail app now includes better photo sharing capabilities, so you’ll no longer be limited to emailing four pictures at a time through the photos app.

 

Apple - Updated Siri App
Apple – Updated Siri App

2. Significant upgrades to Siri:

The integrated virtual assistant now comes with the ability to choose between male and female voices and interact in other languages, such as French and German. It also has enhanced voice control features so you can speak up to change the brightness of your display or enable and disable Wi-Fi. You can even ask to have Twitter and Wikipedia entries read to you!

 

Apple - Updated security
Apple – Updated Security

3. Better Security:

Smartphones are a common target for thieves, with iPhones being among the favorites to steal. To protect against theft, Apple has included a new security feature, called Activation Lock, with iOS 7. In the unfortunate event your iPhone is stolen, unless the thief can enter your iCloud user name and password he won’t be able to reactivate your phone. That’ll give you time to back up your data to iCloud, attempt to locate your phone through the GPS-enabled Find My Phone app and rest assured that at least a giant bill isn’t being accumulated with your service provider.

 

Apple - New iTunes Radio
Apple – New iTunes Radio

4. iTunes Radio:

Previously known as iRadio, the streaming music service is similar to Pandora and lets listeners access inbuilt stations. The service has smart features such as the ability to learn which songs you like and which you don’t. And because it works in conjunction with iTunes, if you hear a song you like you can purchase it.

 

Apple - Home Screen Transparency
Apple – Home Screen Transparency

5. Home screen Transparency:

iOS 7 has been designed to track motion, making it possible to view what’s behind your app icons. What does this mean for you? When you’re viewing your apps, your wallpaper will still be visible. While not a significant chance with regard to functionality, it is the newest feature of the iPhone and makes for a cleaner, simplistic look.

While other operating system updates have come and gone without generating significant buzz, iOS 7 will have more impact on users. In addition to our top five favorites, it boasts a host of other features, too, with yet more rumored to surface by the release date. Overall, this significant update will make for a cleaner look and even more user-friendly experiences certain to please Apple fans.

iPhone

iPhone 5s rumored to come in gold

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The big day is drawing ever nearer; soon, the next batch of iPhones will be released to the world, and we can find out which of the rumors are truths and which were Apple folklore. Until then, they’ll continue to be passed around online. Whether it’s big iPhone phablets, cheaper iPhones available in a variety of colors or reported features of the new operating system, there is no shortage of speculation about what will come out on release day.

One of the most persistent rumors is that, in addition to the standard black and silver iPhone 5 models, a new gold iPhone will be produced. Recently, photos have surfaced online of it next to the existing iPhone 5s, and credible inside sources are stating it could be released as soon as September 10th.

If the idea of a gold iPhone conjures up images of something flashy and gaudy best suited to a flamboyant pop star, then you may be pleasantly surprised to discover that the leaked photos show something more chic and refined. Instead of a shiny, tacky phone reminiscent of a thin gold brick, it’s more of a muted, brushed champagne hue.

Industry insiders are offering varying opinions on just why a gold iPhone may be offered, with two “educated guesses” being among the most popular. One is that gold was chosen to capitalize on current trends in the Asia Pacific market, as gold and orange are currently the most popular colors in the region. Another is that gold will play a part in a new hierarchy of iPhone models, with it being top of the line, silver being the mid-range option and black the budget choice. In addition to that, the cheaper, plastic iPhone 5c may still be released in a variety of colors, much like iPods.

There are also other rumors that the new iPhone will just have gold trim as opposed to being solidly metallic, although the leaked photos circulating online seem to dispel that idea. Furthermore, there has even been the suggestion that instead of a gold iPhone there will be a purple model with silver trim, to tie in with the launch of the new Saints Row IV game. Below are iPhone 5s parts taken by the website ASCII Plus from the manufacturer Moumantai.

gold-iphone-1
ASCII Plus
ASCII Plus
ASCII Plus

Other reports are suggesting that Apple has come up with the idea to go with a gold iPhone because of the process involved with the manufacturing. Tech experts have recently stated that gold is an easier color to anodize onto the iPhone than black, leaving some to wonder if, come September 10th, the newest iteration of the iPhone 5 will only be available in gold or silver.

It is expected that the new iPhones will not have any other design variations, with the locations of buttons, the SIM card and speakers all identical to that of the current iPhone 5. However, it is possible that a new 128GB storage option may be available for those keen to keen a lot of data close at hand.

Despite credible-sounding rumors and leaked photos, all we can do is wait a few more weeks to see what pans out and what doesn’t. It’ll be interesting to see which colors the newest Apple smartphones come in, and what the most popular sellers end up being.

Mac

What is the most expensive Mac?

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It’s a popular misconception, amongst non-Apple computer users and even some Apple fans that purchasing anything Mac will automatically cost more than a PC or Android product. While some Apple devices do cost a bit more, the difference is often not extreme when specifications, technology and quality workmanship are all taken into consideration.

That being said, if your computing needs exceed the average consumer, it is possible to build an extremely powerful (and extremely expensive) Mac in the Apple Store. For those who are wondering what the ultimate in professional-grade Mac computing looks like and costs, a Mac Pro can be ordered for a base price of $3799.00 USD. Add in enough extras for it to keep up with video producers, photographers and other super-users and you can expect to nearly triple that price.

Here is how the configuration of the ultimate Mac Pro came together:

  • Processor: Make that two processors. For an extra $2400.00, upgrade to two 3.06 GHz six-core Intel Zeon processors, offering 12 cores in all.
  • Memory: If the standard 12GB just won’t cut it, for $1950.00 bump up to a whopping 64GB of DDR3 EDD SDRAM spread out over eight slots.
  • Storage: For the ultimate in storage, utilize the four bays in the Mac Pro tower and fill each with a 512GB solid-state hard drive. The first will cost an additional $600.00 with the remaining three at $750.00 a piece.
  • Graphics: For the latest in graphics work, ideal for designers and producers, two state of the art ATI Radeon 5770 1GB graphics cards fan be powered by the Mac Pro. Affordable compared to the other upgrades, they’ll cost an extra $250.00.
  • Optical Drive: While the Mac Pro comes equipped with a 18x SuperDrive that burns and plays both CDs and DVDs, for times when a second drive is essential, an extra $100.00 will buy two.
  • Display: The incredible computing ability of the Mac Pro, especially the quality of the graphics cards, can only be truly appreciated with the right display. A 27-inch LED flat panel Apple Cinema Display pairs with the computer nicely, for an additional $999.00.
  • Peripherals: For just $69.00, include the tremendously useful Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad with the Mac Pro. An additional $20.00 will buy the matching wireless mac compatible keyboard.
  • Additional Storage: For those whose job requires connecting to a fiber channel-based or Xsan storage network, order the computer with a quad channel 4GB fiber channel PCI Express card for $1000.00.
  • Software: Instead of ordering it from the App Store later, have iWork’s Pages, Numbers and Keynote pre-installed for $19.99 each.
  • Support: Such a significant investment needs protection. For $249.00 purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan. An additional $99.00 annually will provide One to One care, offering assistance with setup, file transferring and even training from the nearest Apple Store.

Without adding in other accessories, this incredible, full-featured Mac Pro comes in at $13,844.97 USD. Surprisingly enough, despite its level of customization the Apple Store online still claims it can be ready to go within two to four business days. Shipping is free, too.

While the price of this Mac Pro may seem astronomical, for its capabilities it’s not unreasonable. It’s not the most expensive Mac of all time, either. In 1983, one year before the production of the original Macintosh, the Apple Lisa was released, featuring such advanced technology as protected memory and cooperative multitasking. At the time it cost $9,995.00, which with inflation would be approximately $21,600.00 today.

With Apple, the saying “you get what you pay for” usually applies. Whether you’re configuring the ultimate Mac Pro or picking up a Mac Air, their computers may cost more initially but their durability and technological advancements make them excellent investments.