Yearly Archives: 2015

Apple Inc’s financing plan for its new iPhones is likely to force U.S. carriers to work harder to win and retain customers.

Apple has done great things for customers when it comes to the carrier relationships.

Malicious apps that disable Android phones until owners pay a hefty ransom are growing increasingly malevolent and sophisticated as evidenced by a newly discovered sample that resets device PIN locks, an advance that requires a factory reset.

The has to be the most fucked up OS in history.

September 9 was a massive day for Apple. As I sat in the audience watching Tim Cook and Phil Schiller launching product after product, it struck me that Apple had really focused on the details with all of its latest releases—both software and hardware. That’s important for Apple because I believe that’s where one of the company’s main competitive advantages lies. […]

Fortune:

There are lots of things people wonder about Ahrendts. Why did she, the celebrated architect of Burberry’s turnaround, give up her post as CEO and uproot her family to become, at best, the third or fourth most powerful executive at the $183-billion-in-sales tech giant?

Here’s another: What does Apple think Ahrendts—whom it paid an astounding $73.4 million in stock and cash in her first year—brings to a company that has redefined the technology and retail sectors, one that, at this point, seems not to need a whole lot of anything? And a third: What has she accomplished so far?

A lot of people don’t understand Ahrendts role at Apple, assuming she’d be as high profile at Apple as she was at Burberry. It’s the curse of short term thinking and not realizing that both Ahrendts and Cook are, as usual, playing the Long Game.

I used my 20 megapixel DxO One camera connected to my iPhone 6 Plus to take the photos at the Apple Event today. I ran them through Pixelmator to cut down the size—I think they turned out really good.

ZDNet:

Apple has a new iPhone Upgrade Program that’s worth the look. And it may be even more disruptive than the technologies found in the company’s next iPhones.

At this point, all of the four major U.S. carriers have installment plans available for handsets. Enter the iPhone Upgrade Program.

It’s very similar to what the carriers offer today but it might actually be a bit cheaper.

This has the potential to not only save the average consumer a little bit of money but also to undercut (and possibly upset) the traditional carriers. It will have the added benefit of getting the iPhone into many more hands, not just in the US but around the world.

If you couldn’t watch the event live this morning, Apple has posted the video on Apple.com. Apple hasn’t yet added it to iTunes but it will appear shortly. I think this was one of the strongest product launches in a long time.

Ars Technica:

Apple officially announced iOS 9 at WWDC in June, and adventurous users could start playing with the public beta in July, but today the company announced a public release date for the finished version of the operating system: Wednesday, September 16.

The software update will arrive a couple of days ahead of Apple’s latest iPhones, which was to be expected given Apple’s past behavior. An unexpected benefit of this release is that it won’t drop support for any device currently running iOS 8—iOS 9.0 will run on iPhones as old as 2011’s 4S, iPads as old as 2011’s iPad 2 or 2012’s iPad Mini, and both the fifth- and sixth-generation iPod Touch.

I’m really looking forward to iOS 9 and the new features, especially split screen. Apple also quietly announced the release date for OS X 10.11 El Capitan – September 30th.

Polygon:

In a blog entry posted shortly after today’s event, Activision announced its slate of games headed to Apple TV. Among them are Skylanders SuperChargers, Guitar Hero Live and Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved writes communications manager Scott Lowe.

“We’re continuing to offer new ways to play Skylanders and other games,” Lowe wrote, “whether you’re at home or on the go.” The titles will also be available on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.

We’ll see more and more of these announcements in the coming weeks. It’s an exciting time for gamers, casual and otherwise. Less so for makers of dedicated consoles.

Bloomberg:

Apple has made many things over the years, but its process has remained essentially the same: Find something ugly and complicated and make it prettier and easier. Prettiness, in brushed aluminum, is more or less a permanent state. Ease, however, is constantly evolving, which is why a few days before the geek hootenanny known as Apple’s September Event, Jony Ive’s focus isn’t on a new version of Apple TV or an iPad the size of a doggy door, but on a feature. It’s called 3D Touch, and it makes using an iPhone even easier. “Ultimately, this is our focus,” says Ive, squeezing a new iPhone 6S. “This is what galvanizes our efforts right across the company.” And 3D Touch, he adds with emphasis, “is something we’ve been working on for a long time—multi, multi, multi years.”

Some great insider details in this piece. I know people at Apple who work behind the scenes and they’ve told me the months before an event like this are stressful, nerve-wracking, exciting and exhausting – and they love it.

CNET:

The new Apple TV, which ships in October and costs $149 (32GB) or $199 (64GB), comes with a Siri Remote that doubles as a game controller, with the Touch surface acting as a virtual directional pad.

It also has a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, much like Nintendo’s motion-sensing Wii remote.

However, Apple says, “For serious gamers, the new Apple TV supports MFi-based controllers that let you run, jump, shoot, kick, throw, punch or just about any other verb you can imagine.” (MFi is Apple’s Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod licensing certification program).

I can’t want to see how game developers take advantage of the ability to use third-party game controllers.

Apple: iPad has always offered a uniquely simple yet immersive experience. And now with its expansive 12.9-inch Retina display, nearly double the CPU performance of iPad Air 2, and refined Multi‑Touch technology, iPad Pro adds another dimension to that experience. … Continued

Apple:

TV is a major part of our lives. We gather together around our big screens to watch big shows and big events. Yet somehow, the overall experience of TV has continued to stagnate. Until now. It all starts by recognizing that apps are the future of television. HBO NOW, WatchESPN, Netflix, Hulu, iTunes — apps are quickly becoming how we watch today. So we built a new foundation around this vision — with a new operating system called tvOS, innovative ways to connect with your screen, and a smart use of Siri to search for something to watch. This is the new Apple TV. This is where television is headed.

As expected, Apple finally gave us a significant upgrade to the Apple TV. While not many will say it’s the end of traditional TV and the ways we view it, I certainly believe this might be a step along that path. And I think most will agree apps and games will be a huge driver for Apple.

Apple:

The moment you use iPhone 6s, you know you’ve never felt anything like it. With just a single press, 3D Touch lets you do more than ever before. Live Photos bring your memories to life in a powerfully vivid way. And that’s just the beginning. Take a deeper look at iPhone 6s, and you’ll find innovation on every level.

The Financial Times asked this morning, before the Apple Event had even started, “Is Apple running out of innovation for the iPhone?” I think that question has been answered. Plus, the new installment plans are going to put iPhones in the hands of even more people.

Wristly on Tuesday released its market research report on Apple Watch “era 1.0,” which is the time before WatchOS 2.0 is released. There are some fascinating findings in the report that tackle everything from whether or not respondents will purchase another band to their satisfaction with the watch. Interestingly, satisfaction for the watch is higher than that of iPad or iPhone.

Thanks to SVALT for sponsoring The Loop this week. SVALT D Performance Cooling Dock unleashes your productivity through active cooling that increases the performance of Apple Laptops.

Polygon:

For many arcades, though, it’s a balancing act between old technology and modern business models. To stay afloat, the money has to come from somewhere, and arcades are adapting in different ways to continue to survive in the ever-changing economic landscape. By looking at four arcades — a traditional arcade, two arcade bars, and a national chain — we were able to see how well that balance is maintained, and how sometimes it isn’t quite balanced at all.

It must be the very definition of “labour of love” to run an arcade in 2015. I spent far too much time in them as a kid and still, when I see one in a mall, I wander in to see and remember.

Little Things:

How to convince eager drivers not to text while driving? Prove it to them in an unexpected way. See how these student drivers react when they’re told they can only pass on one condition.

The only way they’ll earn their license? “You must prove you’re able to use your mobile phone while driving.”

Great video proving to new drivers that they can’t do what they think they can do. As a motorcyclist, I see texting and driving all the time and it literally puts my life in danger. Anything anyone can do to prevent it is generally OK with me. Thanks to my friend Vito Mori for the link