Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus pre-orders shipping sooner than expected

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Juli Clover, writing for MacRumors:

Many customers who pre-ordered a Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus received shipping estimates ranging into October and November, but it appears Apple is working hard to overcome supply constraints and get shipments out earlier than expected.

Starting this morning, MacRumors began hearing reports from customers who originally had deliveries scheduled for a month or two out but will now be receiving their devices over the course of the next few days.

No early delivery love for my iPhone 7 Plus, at least not yet. Holding out hope, though. Glad to see this bit of news.

Find your missing Apple Watch

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Andrew Leavitt, writing for 17 Orbits:

Starting in 2010 Mobile Me enabled you to hunt down your missing iPhone (or iPad) with the Find My iPhone app. In 2011 OSX Lion added ‘Find My Mac’ to the mix. Beginning this week watchOs 3 enables iCloud to locate your misplaced Apple Watch.

And:

Until now real-time geolocation was only possible if your missing Apple Watch and iPhone were in Bluetooth range or on the same WiFi network. Since the watch does not have its own cellular signal that would seem to limit location tracking to within 10 meters or your home WiFi. Once out of range, however, iCloud now kicks in and reports the watch’s present location by GPS or WiFi triangulation. If the watch is turned off the last known location is reported. Accuracy is enhanced because the Apple Watch can still connect to previously known WiFi on its own (even when phone is physically far away).

Read the post and give it a try. You can track your Apple Watch (along with all your other Apple devices) and play a never ending (until you tap Dismiss) sound on your Apple Watch. Great for finding it when it slid between the couch cushions or when you are challenged, unwillingly, to a morning game of find your gear.

Before you install macOS Sierra

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Theoretically, sometime later today, Apple will officially release macOS Sierra. One way to tell is to fire up the Mac App Store. I suspect Apple will make it big and obvious, with macOS Sierra presence right there on the front page. You can also type macOS Sierra in the search field or tap on the Updates tab to see what’s new.

[Read the main post for thoughts on getting ready…]

What’s new in the Maps app for iOS 10

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Serenity Caldwell digs into the iOS 10 Maps app, focusing on the new look, search improvements, directions, and finding your parked car. Definitely worth a read.

Jean-Louis Gassée: Apple’s debt to bloggers

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Jean-Louis Gassée, writing for Monday Note:

For months, tech bloggers declared that the upcoming iPhone 7 would be boring, lacking creativity, a flop waiting to happen. “So unless something crazy happens in the next few months, the iPhone 7 will look and feel a lot like the 6s.”

Steve Kovach, The iPhone 7 is going to be boring, Tech Insider

And:

Unprayed for but a godsend nonetheless, the months of deprecation lowered expectations for the unborn iPhone 7. One could say that the pundits did for Apple what the company should have done on its own: Underpromise as an easy path to overdelivery.

With this response to Steve Kovach:

Yes, something crazy did happen, and it was right under your nose: The widely rumored dual camera. Apple did underpromise and overdeliver, after all…

Great piece by Jean-Louis, covering Steve Jobs’ rollout of the original iPhone, the resulting devastation of the camera market, and other musings.

iPhone 7 vs Galaxy S7 in deep water test

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[VIDEO] This is a pretty cool test. No spoilers, save to say that the phones were dropped several times, at successive depths, until the final drop to 35 feet. Suffice it to say, this is way more water exposure than most folks will subject their phones to, but good to know how they fare.

My iPhone 7 Plus is emitting noise from its logic board

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Stephen Hackett, writing for 512 Pixels:

As my iPhone 7 Plus was restoring from iCloud, I thought I noticed some sound. After picking the device up from my desk, it was clear the sounds are coming from back of the phone, possibly from the CPU. It seems to get worse if the iPhone is under load. It’s loud enough to be heard even if the iPhone is just sitting on the table. I don’t have to put it up to my ear to hear it.

Follow the link if you want to hear the hissing for yourself.

I’ve heard from several other people with similar experiences, and others who are saying past iOS devices have displayed this issue. I’ve handled more devices than most, and haven’t come across this.

I’m not saying this is some widespread problem; I just wanted to share my experience with others who may be having it too.

I’ve never heard of this sort of thing before. The only self-moving part inside the iPhone is the taptic engine, and that wouldn’t make a hissing noise. Is this a big deal? Definitely for Stephen, since he’s got to jump through the hoops to replace his phone.

For the rest of us? I don’t get the sense this is a widespread issue. And if it’s true that this has happened with previous models, sounds like a manufacturing defect, a sporadic issue at best.

As to me? I’ve still got my phone on order, not changing a thing.

10 cool little things to try in iOS 10

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This is a nice little collection, definitely worth a read. My favorite is to tell Siri:

Show me pictures of my cats

Obviously, you’ll want to replace “my cats” with something that makes sense for you. This was a bit hit-or-miss for me, but I like the direction. Asking Siri to search for cats worked flawlessly for me. Other searches were way off or prompted Siri to turn to the web, which was not what I intended.

But this one also worked flawlessly:

Show me pictures of food

I had no idea I took so many pictures of stuff I like to eat. And now I’m hungry.

NeXT-era Steve Jobs photos

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This is a small collection of 8 NeXT-era photos, each with a detailed caption. I thought these were worth a look.

My favorite is this one, taken in Palo Alto in 1986.

Here’s that caption:

NeXT design director Eddie Lee said that Steve had a way of “smiling shit at you” when he was getting mad. His head would go down and he’d make this sort of uncomfortable half smile, and you knew you were about to get crushed. Decisions in early team meetings such as this one were fraught with tension because the team was writing its business plan as it went along. One pivotal decision made was to build both the hardware and the software for the NeXT computer, a vastly harder prospect than their original idea to build only software. While still shaping every detail of NeXT in early 1986, Steve also had the incredible foresight to recognize that something amazing was happening with digital animation at Lucasfilm. He capitalized a new spin-off company with $10 million of his own money. They named it Pixar.

He looks so very young.

The iFixit iPhone 7 Plus teardown

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A few things really struck me while making my way through this teardown of the iPhone 7 Plus.

The iPhone cover/display flips to the side, like opening a book. Good to know this if you ever plan to open yours.

The edge of the iPhone cover is rimmed with a caulk-like adhesive, which acts like a gasket to keep liquids out, aid waterproofing (water-resistancing?)

The iPhone is filled with lots of tri-point screws, similar to the ones used inside the Apple Watch.

Finally, I found this to be an incredibly good looking design, at least to my untrained eye. Good stuff.

Apple surveying users about the headphone jack on their MacBook Pros

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Juli Clover, writing for MacRumors:

In recent weeks, Apple has been sending out surveys to users asking about MacBook Pro features, most notably the headphone jack. A survey question shared by MacRumors reader Blake asks “Do you ever use the headphone port on your MacBook Pro with Retina display?”

There are several other reports on Twitter from users who have been asked similar questions about the headphone jack, suggesting Apple is exploring the removal of the headphone jack in a future version of the MacBook Pro.

If there is a MacBook Pro update coming this year, I suspect it will have a headphone jack. This sort of market research would typically be done during the design phase, not in preparation for product rollout. I suspect the headphone jack will, ultimately, go away, as wireless becomes the standard. On the iPhone 7, waterproofing and case real estate are often quoted as two driving reasons for the removal of the headphone jack. Neither of these is a big issue for the MacBook Pro.

How to add an app to your Apple Watch dock

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The dock is new to watchOS 3. This lays out the process of adding apps to the dock. Pretty simple, but worth walking through the process. Removal is just as easy – click the “-” instead of the “+”.

100+ new iPhone and iPad features in iOS 10

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This is a monster of a post, with a wealth of detail, lots of images and embedded videos. I’m bookmarking this one (I already made my way through it) so I can search it later. Well done.

iPhone 7 worldwide launch day

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CNET covers Apple’s iPhone 7 launch at various locations around the world. Even with the news that there would be no iPhone 7 Plus and no iPhone 7’s in Jet Black, there were still plenty of people in line, perhaps hoping against hope that those shortage announcements were not true.

As to the shortages, there seems to be two complementary explanations: One is due to the extra time required to achieve the jet black finish using a technique Jony Ive refers to as “rotational 3D polishing.”

The second issue is apparent supply chain constraints for the iPhone 7 Plus dual camera, which requires more precision and calibration during assembly.

“Even if you uninstall Google Maps, Google Play’s background service is tracking your location 24/7”

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Mustafa Al-Bassam tweets:

Yesterday I almost had a heart attack when I entered McDonald’s and I had a notification on my phone asking me to install their app.

And:

It seems that with the latest versions of Android, Google Maps is on 24/7, waiting to send you notifications, with no way to disable it.

And:

Even if you uninstall Google Maps, Google Play’s background service is tracking your location 24/7.

As proof, that last tweet includes some screen shots with the details.

Is this a bug? Intentional? Is this info saved on your phone? Does your location data ever leave your phone, headed for Google’s servers?

On the flip side, Apple exposes Location Services with a switch in Settings > Privacy > Location Services. That switch controls location data for my iOS device and my tethered Apple Watch. According to Apple, if that switch is off, the only time my location is used is when I place an emergency call.

Interestingly, the tweet above was retweeted by Edward Snowden.

Watch tonight’s NFL game on Apple TV, via Twitter

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17 Orbits:

Tonight’s Thursday Night Football game features the Buffalo Bills hosting the New York Jets at 8:25 Eastern time. For the first time you can watch an NFL game on Twitter via Apple TV (4th gen) or other set top box.

And:

Just yesterday the Twitter app became available for Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and xBox. The app does not require an account and therefore no log in is necessary. It allows one to view the original CBS broadcast of the game alongside curated Tweets – but you cannot Tweet, Like, Follow or view your own timeline. Its like a “second-screen experience” without the second screen.

The cord-cutting wheel is turning.

Apple’s packaging game still good

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In the middle of Jason Snell’s iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 writeup is this nugget:

One pulled tab and the plastic wrap around the iPhone box unravels. Inside there’s a little paperboard package that features the shockingly tiny Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter, pinned like it’s smiling at you, and on the flip side of the same bundle, your Lightning EarPods. It’s adorable, compact, and plastic free.

Follow the link (Jason’s writeups are always worth the trip), check out the image. Just look at that packaging design. And it’s all made out of recyclable cardboard. Apple is the Steph Curry of packaging.

Apple’s iPhone 7 will be super limited in stores and all jet black and Plus models are sold out

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Someone better go let all those folks camped out in front of the Apple Store know. And if someone paid them to camp out, do they still get paid?

Apple’s official statement:

We couldn’t be happier with the initial response to iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and we are looking forward to beginning sales through our retail stores and partners around the world.

Beginning Friday, limited quantities of iPhone 7 in silver, gold, rose gold, and black will be available for walk-in customers at Apple retail stores. During the online pre-order period, initial quantities of iPhone 7 Plus in all finishes and iPhone 7 in jet black sold out and will not be available for walk-in customers. Availability at partner locations for all finishes may vary and we recommend checking directly with them.

Customers can continue to order all models in all colors on apple.com. We sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience as we work hard to get the new iPhone into the hands of everyone who wants one as quickly as possible.

I can’t ever recall Apple releasing such a statement before an iPhone launch. Walk-in stock was always limited, but I don’t remember there being zero stock in the most popular models. Wonder if this is the new normal. It certainly will drive a lot of on-line orders as word of this gets out. And that will give Apple a lot of valuable sales information.

tvOS adds Dark Mode and more

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Josh Centers digs into the latest tvOS release. One notable addition:

Those of us blinded by the bright-white look of tvOS 9 will appreciate the new Dark mode, which you can enable in Settings > General > Appearance. Dark mode not only turns the Home screen dark, but also darkens the user interface elements of many apps.

I’ll definitely be switching to Dark Mode.

Callblock: block calls from telemarketers

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Callblock represents the start of an interesting new app category. Apple supports something called CallKit, similar to the content-blocking API that allows ad-blocking in Safari. CallKit allows you to build filtering rules to block calls by name and number.

The team that built Callblock spent most of their development time compiling a directory of telemarketers and setting up the infrastructure to keep the directory up to date.

So far, since I’ve had this installed, I have not gotten a single telemarketing call. Coincidence? Perhaps. But I’ll keep Callblock enabled, just in case.

28 hidden iOS 10 features

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Serenity Caldwell presents her list of under-the-hood iOS 10 features. Worth a look.

Just Press Record

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My review of Just Press Record. Read the review, try out the app. I think it’s a fantastic app.

Apple’s new iPhone 7 ad

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[VIDEO] This is a bit of a departure for Apple. The ad does a lot of visual hinting, without being specific. More of a dark, impressionistic painting than their usual bright, airy on-the-spot ads.

See for yourself.