macOS Sierra now available for free

Apple® today announced that macOS™ Sierra, the latest major release of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, is now available as a free update. macOS Sierra brings Siri® to the Mac® with intelligent and helpful features users know and love from iPhone® and iPad®, along with all-new capabilities designed specifically for use on the desktop. Features like Universal Clipboard, iCloud® Desktop and Documents, Auto Unlock and Apple Pay® on the web help your Mac work even better with other Apple devices. And Photos gets an update with a new Memories feature that automatically creates curated collections of your favorite photos and videos.

I’ve been using Sierra since mid-summer and it’s been very solid, and improving over time. This is a great update for macOS.

Be sure to check out our earlier post on things to do before you install.

Apple joins global renewable energy initiative

“Apple is committed to running on 100 percent renewable energy, and we’re happy to stand beside other companies that are working toward the same effort,” said Jackson. “We’re excited to share the industry-leading work we’ve been doing to drive renewable energy into the manufacturing supply chain, and look forward to partnering with RE100 to advocate for clean-energy policies around the world.”

Apple has made some incredible strides in the environment over the past decade.

Apple acknowledges glitch with new iPhone Lightning EarPods

The issue, which I’ve also experienced a few times while testing the iPhone 7, happens after you’ve left the EarPods plugged into the iPhone 7’s Lightning port for a few minutes. Audio continues to play, but the volume control dongle stops working, meaning you can’t adjust the volume, activate Siri, or answer calls.

Samsung’s battery crisis

Samsung execs on hearing there would be no major design of the iPhone 7:

So the top brass at Samsung Electronics Co., including phone chief D.J. Koh, decided to accelerate the launch of a new phone they were confident would dazzle consumers and capitalize on the opportunity, according to people familiar with the matter. They pushed suppliers to meet tighter deadlines, despite loads of new features, another person with direct knowledge said.

Safe to say that it didn’t work out so good for them. Still it’s hard to tell if the battery problem would have been caught even without the tighter deadlines.

Florida man sues Samsung after Galaxy Note 7 explodes

The lawsuit by Jonathan Strobel may be the first in the United States by a Samsung phone user against the South Korean company over a battery defect linked to the Note 7.

You knew it was coming and here it is. The lawsuit said the man had severe burns on his legs caused by the Note 7.

Apple’s HR chief on allegations of sexism on campus

So, on the same day that it launched the new phone, Apple HR chief Denise Young Smith spent an hour with Recode responding to the issues raised in the articles as well as discussing the significant diversity challenges faced by Apple and other Silicon Valley companies.

U.S. formally recalls Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Federal consumer safety regulators on Thursday formally recalled 1 million Galaxy Samsung Note 7 smartphones after dozens of users reported the device caught fire while charging.

These things are clearly a hazard. How do you trust their next product?

Review: Apple Watch Series 2

I can’t help but smile every time I think about how Apple Watch has helped me over the past year. I’m healthier, more aware, and I can communicate easily, all using one device strapped to my wrist. […]

Fender stickers for iMessage

Have fun with your friends and celebrate the awesomeness of some iconic guitars and basses with the Leo Collection. 50 different styles and colors available, rendered in beautiful detail. If you have friends who like music, they’ll love the amazing selection of electrics, acoustics, and basses. A quick tap on the orientation toggle, and you can even swap from right to left-handed models, for all the south paws out there.

Everyone needs some guitar stickers.

Review: iPhone 7 and AirPods

After meeting with Apple following its iPhone event last week, I’ve been using a jet black iPhone 7 and a black iPhone 7 Plus. I’ve also been using the new AirPods wireless headphones with a number of devices. What strikes me about the new devices is how Apple is so meticulous with the details of its products. These devices, in conjunction with the software they’re running, truly show Apple’s commitment to the user experience. […]

A few thoughts on Apple’s iPhone 7 keynote

Apple had a big day, introducing a number of new products that I think will sell really well for them. I won’t do any type of a hands on review, because the press just doesn’t get enough time with the products to do a true review, but I will give you some thoughts of the keynote and the products that were introduced. I will post more detailed reviews after I have some time to spend with the individual products.[…]

iPhone, Apple Watch combination charging dock

Matching the low-profile floating design from our Apple Watch Dock, iPhone + Apple Watch Dock adds functionality with a place for your iPhone. A combo dock ensures less clutter in a beautiful package.

This looks really nice.

Ireland joins Apple in fight over EU tax decision

Ireland’s cabinet agreed on Friday to join Apple in appealing against a multi-billion-euro back tax demand that the European Commission has imposed on the iPhone maker, despite misgivings among independents who back the fragile coalition.

The EU clearly overstepped here.

NFL puts tracking sensors inside footballs

The sensors, which rest just under the ball’s laces, can capture information like velocity, acceleration and distance, and send that info back to computer monitors in just half a second. The League has been using the sensors during preseason games this summer, but hasn’t yet decided if the sensors will be used in the regular season.

It is amazing how much data leagues and teams can get.

A CSS smiley face with dynamic googly eyes

In the previous article I demonstrated how to make an element rotate to follow the position of a cursor or a touch on the screen. At the time, I explained that the technique was not necessarily limited to a single element: in this article, I’ll show how to apply the code to two elements simultaneously, in the form of eyes that follow the mouse / touch position.

Who doesn’t love googly eyes.

Winning

He attached a tiny remote controlled tugboat to his Kayak to tow him around.

This is awesome.

More App Store changes coming September 7

We love helping customers discover innovative, useful, and exciting apps on the App Store. With more than 2 million apps available and around 100,000 new and updated apps submitted each week, there’s something for everyone. To make it easier for customers to find great apps that fit their needs, we’re implementing two suggestions from the developer community starting September 7, 2016.

Phil Schiller continues to make improvements.

Steve Jobs was working on a TV set

Instead, Jobs was going to focus his energy on one very specific, secret project: Apple’s reinvention of TV — including the TV set itself.

Walt Mossberg, Recode’s editor at large and an executive editor at the Verge, says Jobs called him on the night he announced he was formally handing over control of his company to Tim Cook, and told him about his TV ambitions.

“I think we figured out a way to do it, and it’s going to be fantastic,” Jobs told Mossberg, and invited him to see what he was working on.

Steve said that he had “cracked it” to his biographer. I wonder how much he shared with Apple.

Our (un)reasonable expectations of Apple

Apple is in a very unique position in the tech industry in that expectations of the company are much higher than those of its competitors. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you heard someone talk about Dell or HP product releases with the exuberance that we talk about Apple. That also puts Apple in a tough position of meeting, what are sometimes, inflated expectations from Wall St. and consumers. […]