Apple introduced the new 9.7-inch iPad on Tuesday, and quietly discontinued the iPad Air 2 along with the iPad mini 2. The new iPad replaces the Air 2 and offers a newer processor along with lower pricing.
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Apple Targets Social Media Crowd with New Clips App
Apple teased a new video capture and editing app called Clips on Tuesday that targets social media app users. The app lets users snap videos, apply effects and edits, and upload their creations to popular social networks and video sharing sites.
Apple Adds (PRODUCT)RED to iPhone 7 Lineup
Along with new iPad models, Apple introduced a (PRODUCT)RED version of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus on Tuesday. The new models are called (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition and are available in 128 GB and 256 GB capacities.
Apple Unveils New 9.7-inch iPad Starting at $329
Apple introduced an updated 9.7-inch iPad on Tuesday with an A9 processor starting at US$329. The update was one of two new products and came after scheduled down time at Apple’s online store.
Drake Crushes Apple Music Record with 89.9 Million Streams, Beating Spotify
Drake set a new record for first-day streams with his new album, More Life, which was streamed 89.9 million times on the first day. That was not only a record-setting debut, it crushed Spotify’s first-day totals for the album of 61.3 million streams. That’s significant, because that was itself a record for the larger streaming service.
Lorek The Robot And The Future Of AI
Lorek the robot represents a big step in robotics because it can understand human language, as well as the gestures we make in conversations. Researchers from Brown University pulled off this feat of understanding by programming uncertainty into the robot. Andrew Orr explains why this is a big deal.
Planned Tuesday Morning Down Time for Apple Store has the Internet Flipping Over New Product Possibilities
Apple’s online store will be unavailable Tuesday morning until 8:30 AM eastern time, leading to speculation that a product refresh is about to happen. The company’s own System Status webpage was the tip-off, and since Apple always takes its store offline ahead of product releases the interent is flipping out over the possibility of something new showing up on the page.
Apple May be Interested in AR Glasses After All
It’s no secret Apple has a very real interest in augmented reality, and that it’s likely headed to the iPhone. Seems the company is exploring AR glasses, like Google did with Google Glass, and will target our eyes after tackling the iPhone.
For Your Next Coffee Table, How About a Smart Table?
Coffee tables are usually boring, but one company has developed a prototype that is far from it. Jeff Butts has discovered a “smart coffee table” that merges aesthetics with modern conveniences, including USB ports, electrical outlets, and more.
Mystery Device A1844 Is a lock for Apple Park, Not an Apple TV or Siri Box
Apple’s mysterious wireless device awaiting Federal Communications Commission approval turned out to be a door lock system for Apple Park, the company’s new campus that’s opening in April. That pretty much kills the idea that Apple was about to release a Siri-based Amazon Echo and Google Home competitor.
Apple Recruits UK Students With Music Ambassador Program
Apple has started an Apple Music Ambassador program this week to enlist the help of college students. In exchange for promoting Apple Music, students receive perks based on how many people they can sign up.
Amazon Shopping App on iPhone gets Alexa Support
If you use the Amazon app on your iPhone to shop you can use it to talk to Alexa, too, even if you don’t own an Echo or Echo Dot. The online retailer is rolling out in-app Alexa support for iPhone users over the next week which means pretty much everything you do with an Echo or Echo Dot can happen right on your smartphone.
Soverain Software Hits Apple with Patent Lawsuit over Device Security and Online Transactions
Apple has a new patent infringement lawsuit on its hands. This time it’s from the patent holding company Soverain Software and it targets pretty much every product Apple makes involving internet-related services.
New Report Backs Up iPhone 8 Flat OLED Display
More sources are saying Apple is giving the iPhone 8 a flat OLED display with curved edges. That’s in contrast to earlier reports that Apple would use a curved display for the new phone, but fits with my expectation for what Apple really has in store.
McDonald's Is Testing Mobile Orders from an App
Fast food chain McDonalds is testing a fancy new way to order using your smartphone, because, you know, that’s what we’re looking for from McDonald’s. Customers in Monterey and Salinas, California can use the McDonalds mobile app to order food from home and have it ready when they get there. Andrew Orr explains.
Pwn2Own Hackers Found Two Safari Zero Day Exploits
Yesterday was the annual Pwn2Own hacking contest, and also marks the contest’s 10th anniversary. Hackers compete in challenges to find security holes in popular software and mobile devices. This year, two Safari zero days were found by the white-hat hackers.
Apple, Other Tech Companies Aren't Openly Opposing Trump's Second Travel Ban
The second targeted travel ban to come from the White House has been temporarily blocked, but this time the fight didn’t include support from Apple, Google, Microsoft, or Facebook. They weren’t, however, alone in skipping out on signing the brief opposing the ban because less than half the companies that signed the previous brief participated in this one.
'Best-Preserved' Apple I Computer Up for Auction, Could Fetch $325,000
Team Breker announced this week that it had a Apple I computer up for auction. Not only is the device functioning, the auction house told The Telegraph UK it was “best-preserved example of an Apple-1 computer to appear on the market.”
Apple Just Hired iOS Security Researcher Jonathan Zdziarski
Apple recently hired a prominent iOS security researcher, Jonathan Zdziarski. Known as NerveGas in the jailbreaking community, Mr. Zdziarski is the author of several books about iPhone forensics and how to secure iOS apps. In light of recent events like the CIA Vault 7 leak, this move may improve Apple’s standing within security and privacy circles.
Apple to Unveil 10.5-inch iPad at Steve Jobs Theater in April
Apple’s new iPad launch event is coming in April instead of March, and it’ll happen at the company’s new Apple Park campus. The media event will give us our first look at Apple’s rumored 10.5-inch iPad model, according to the latest rumors.
Googlers Made This Social Video App For iPhone
Google released a new video app called Uptime. The release is significant, in part, because it’s the result of the company’s 20 Percent Time program that allows some employees to spend 20 percent of their time on other projects. Released through Google’s internal incubator Area 120, the app is part social media platform and part video viewer with hooks to YouTube.
![Bob LeVitus’s ‘Working Smarter for Mac Users’ Available Now [Update]](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/working-smarter-mac-users-cover-bob-levitus-wide.webp)
Bob LeVitus's 'Working Smarter for Mac Users' Available Now [Update]
Bob “Dr. Mac” Levitus released a new book Tuesday, Working Smarter for Mac Users. It’s a productivity book specifically written for Mac users, and it combines Bob’s own techniques for overcoming procrastination with his decades of learning how to get the absolute most out of his Mac. [Update: Working Smarter for Mac Users is now live on iBooks. – Bryan]
AT&T Adds Unlimited GoPhone Prepaid Data Plan
AT&T’s GoPhone prepaid phone plans just went unlimited, in a manner of speaking. The cell service provider just added a new US$60 unlimited data plan to its lineup, although it does have some limitations.
Apple Tops Laptop Mag's Tech Support List Again
If you’re looking for the best laptop tech support around, call Apple. That’s what Laptop Mag says for three years running in its Tech Support Showdown.