MacRumors

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a note to investors that claims the iPhone 6s Plus is facing supply shortages amid pre-orders due to backlight module production issues at Japanese supplier Minebea.

Kuo says that Apple is looking to resolve the problem by transferring backlight module orders to alternative supplier Radiant. The supplier will see its orders increase by 70-80% to 4-5 million units in September.

We believe Minebea’s (JP) backlight module production issues in supplying iPhone 6S Plus (6S Plus) is one of the main factors in the model’s supply shortage. To tackle this issue, we believe Apple (US) has been increasingly transferring high-ASP 6S Plus backlight module orders to Radiant (6176 TT, NT$106.5, OP), boosting its sales momentum.

While shipping estimates for the iPhone 6s Plus have slipped to 3-4 weeks or later for most models, Kuo believes the primary reason is because of supply chain problems rather than strong demand. The analyst expects Apple to prepare 1.5 to 2 million iPhone 6s Plus units for sale on September 25 launch day.

The switch from Minebea to Radiant should help improve iPhone 6s Plus supply through September.

To accelerate availability, we believe Apple has been transferring substantial 6S Plus backlight module orders to Radiant. As such, we estimate the company’s iPhone 6S Plus backlight module orders to increase by 70-80% to 4-5mn units in September, boosting its order allocation from 35-45% to 70-80%.

Apple informed the media this morning that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders are "on pace to beat" last year's record-breaking 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus units sold on launch weekend in September 2014.

Apple has informed the media that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders are "on pace to beat" last year's record-breaking 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders sold on launch weekend in September 2014.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders started on Saturday at 12:01 AM Pacific. While most iPhone 6s Plus and Rose Gold models are now shipping in 2-3 weeks or later in the U.S., many iPhone 6s models remain available for delivery on September 25.

Apple:

Customer response to iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus has been extremely positive and preorders this weekend were very strong around the world. We are on pace to beat last year's 10 million unit first-weekend record when the new iPhones go on sale September 25.

As many customers noticed, the online demand for iPhone 6s Plus has been exceptionally strong and exceeded our own forecasts for the preorder period. We are working to catch up as quickly as we can, and we will have iPhone 6s Plus as well as iPhone 6s units available at Apple retail stores when they open next Friday.

Last year, Apple announced the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus received a record-breaking 4 million pre-orders on the first day alone, and later confirmed that opening weekend sales topped 10 million. A month later, it was reported that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders topped 20 million in China through carriers and e-commerce site Jingdong Mall.

After being sold at a few high-end boutiques around the United Kingdom in the Spring, it was recently announced that the Apple Watch would begin hitting some more mainstream UK-based department stores, including John Lewis (via Wareable) and Currys. Besides the high-end locations, prior to this announcement the only place for UK customers to purchase an Apple Watch was in an Apple Store.

Currys' impending sale of the Apple Watch was discovered in late August, but no specific date was known at the time. With the announcement of the Apple Watch coming to John Lewis department stores, it appears that Apple's new wearable will launch at both locations on the same day, September 18. Thirty-seven of John Lewis' forty-four stores in the UK will be getting the Apple Watch, with four more confirming availability by Christmas.

"We believe Apple Watch will be one of the most sought after gifts this Christmas," said Will Jones, head of buying communication technology at John Lewis. We expect a couple more British retailers to follow but Apple isn't going to rush to remove the air of exclusivity around the Watch it is still just about maintaining.

Currys is a bit more proliferated in the UK than John Lewis, with 295 superstores and 73 high street stores located in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. Both John Lewis and Currys will also provide online support for Apple Watch sales, with Currys letting customers put in a pre-order for the device on their website right now. As of writing, the John Lewis website just has a simple placeholder page with information for customers about the new device.

The expansion of the Apple Watch has been growing since its launch in April, with Best Buy stores now widely selling the device -- and even AppleCare and a few of its accessories -- in the United States and Canada. Fnac locations in France also began selling the Apple Watch in late August. The recent confirmation of John Lewis and Currys locations joining in the support of selling the wearable device on September 18 will come just two days after the release of watchOS 2, as well.

Apple development tool Xcode seemingly confirms the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus each have 2GB of RAM, while the iPad Pro has 4GB of RAM, as discovered by iOS developer Hamza Sood.

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have long been rumored to have 2GB of RAM. Meanwhile, Adobe issued a Creative Cloud press release earlier this week that stated the iPad Pro had 4GB of RAM, but removed the mention just hours later.

As usual, Apple itself did not mention how much RAM the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus or iPad Pro have during its "Hey Siri" media event, nor does it include RAM on the tech spec pages for any of the devices.

Pre-order supplies of the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus in the United States are starting to dwindle a bit since pre-orders kicked off at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, with several of the new iPhone models now displaying shipping estimates of 2-3 weeks. Models in the new Rose Gold color are the most heavily affected, particularly in the United States.

In the United States, Rose Gold T-Mobile iPhone 6s Plus models in 64 GB and 128 GB capacities slipped to 2-3 weeks very soon after pre-orders began, and more recently the following models have also moved to 2-3 weeks as of 2:00 AM Pacific Time:

- Rose Gold AT&T 64 GB iPhone 6s Plus
- Rose Gold AT&T 128 GB iPhone 6s Plus
- Rose Gold Verizon 64GB iPhone 6s Plus
- Rose Gold Verizon 128 GB iPhone 6s Plus
- Rose Gold T-Mobile 16 GB iPhone 6s Plus
- Rose Gold T-Mobile 64 GB iPhone 6s
- Rose Gold T-Mobile 128 GB iPhone 6s
- Space Gray T-Mobile 128 GB iPhone 6s Plus

Slipped shipping estimates in Apple's online stores for other countries such as the UK, Australia, and Germany are a bit more varied, with a few more models in other colors moving to 2-3 weeks, although Rose Gold is again the most common variety to see the later estimates. The UK in particular is seeing extended shipping, as nearly all iPhone 6s Plus models with the exception of a few 16 GB models are now listed at 2-3 weeks.

Customers placing orders for one of these models with 2-3 week estimates could see their deliveries pushed into October considering transit times of several days following shipment.

While pre-order supplies of some models of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are beginning to sell out, it may still be possible to get one of these iPhones on launch day by visiting an Apple retail location on Friday, September 25, depending on stock levels.

The iPhone 6s is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities in the United States for $199, $299, and $399, respectively, with a two-year contract. Contract-free pricing begins at $649. Apple’s higher-priced iPhone 6 Plus is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities for $299, $399, and $499, respectively, with a two-year contract. Contract-free pricing on the larger-screened device starts at $749.

Update 2:00 PM: In the United States, essentially all iPhone 6s Plus models are currently listed with shipping estimates of at least 2-3 weeks, with some at 3-4 weeks. The smaller iPhone 6s remains in much better supply, with only Rose Gold models at T-Mobile and Verizon being pushed beyond the September 25 launch date.

Apple is now accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus through its online storefront and through the Apple Store app. Pre-orders are available in first wave launch countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and Singapore.

All of the major U.S. carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, are accepting pre-orders for the new devices, but online pre-orders are not available from retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

We haven't heard rumors pointing towards supply constraints for the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, but it's best to make an order right away if possible. In past years, iPhone supplies have dwindled significantly following the kickoff of pre-orders, and with last year's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, 6 Plus supplies sold out quickly.

Both the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus come in 16, 64, and 128GB configurations, with four color options: Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold.

iPhone 6s pricing in the U.S. starts at $199 with a two-year carrier contract, with the 64 and 128GB models priced at $299 and $399, respectively. Without a contract, the iPhone 6s in 16/64/128GB is priced at $649/$749/$849.

iPhone 6s Plus pricing in the U.S. starts at $299 with a two-year carrier contract, with the 64 and 128GB models priced at $399 and $499, respectively. Without a contract, the iPhone 6s Plus in 16/64/128GB is priced at $749/$849/$949.

Customers who wish to make a purchase through Apple's new U.S. iPhone Upgrade Program will need to make an online reservation for an in-store appointment. Reservations are available now.

In-store sales of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will begin on Friday, September 25, which is the official launch day for the new devices.

Despite not arriving until the end of October, YouTuber Andru Edwards has gotten ahold of the fourth-generation Apple TV and unboxed it on video. The video, which appears to be the first unboxing of the device, offers a glimpse at the new packaging for Apple's new set-top box.

The new Apple TV's packaging is all-black and features a picture of the top of the device on the top of the box. Once opened, the user is presented with the Apple TV box and the brand new Siri Remote. Underneath those are a Lightning cable to charge the new remote and a power cable.

Edwards, who says he received his Apple TV on the day of Apple's "Hey Siri" event, then provides a closer look at both the set-top box and remote.

The fourth-generation Apple TV will be available at the end of October. It'll be priced at $149.99 for the 32 GB option and $199.99 for the 64 GB option.

Just under a week after Apple's "Hey Siri" event, Tim Cook will appear on the new Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, September 15, the late night host revealed on Twitter. Colbert's announcement included a picture of him "using" Siri on his Apple Watch to remind him of the interview.

Colbert's Late Show has made an effort to not only speak with celebrities like George Clooney, but also politicians like Vice President Joe Biden and tech CEOs like Tesla's Elon Musk and Uber's Travis Kalanik. Thus far, Colbert's interviews with tech luminaries have seen him ask both pointed questions, like why Uber is pursuing self-driving vehicles if it claims to be creating better jobs for taxi drivers, and sillier ones, like if Musk is a super villain. It's likely Cook's interview will broach Apple's newly announced products: the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the new Apple TV and the iPad Pro.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs every weeknight at 11:30 p.m. on CBS, with the show uploading both interviews and extended interviews on its YouTube channel the morning after.

Apple has taken its online storefront down in order to prepare for the launch of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders, which will begin at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time or 3:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, September 12. Pre-orders will be available on Apple's site, via the Apple Store app, and on several carrier sites.

Ahead of when pre-orders kick off, people planning to make a purchase should check their upgrade eligibility and pricing options on Apple's website, using the new "Get ready for pre-order" tool.

Apple will accept pre-orders in first wave launch countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, and the United States.

The iPhone 6s is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities in the United States for $199, $299, and $399, respectively, with a two-year contract. Contract-free pricing begins at $649. Apple's higher-priced iPhone 6s Plus is available in 16, 64, and 128 GB capacities for $299, $399, and $499, respectively, with a two-year contract. Contract-free pricing on the larger-screened device starts at $749.

Apple is also offering its own iPhone Upgrade Program in the United States, letting users pay a monthly fee for their iPhone with a trade-in option available after 12 months of payments. Pricing, which includes AppleCare+, starts at $32.41 per month for the entry-level 16GB iPhone 6s and goes up from there. Participating in this program requires an in-store purchase, but Apple is accepting online reservations at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12 for in-store appointments.

Recently, Apple has been quick to point out that security and privacy for its users is a priority for the company, repeatedly noting that Apple does not rely on serving ads based on user data to make money. Yesterday, Apple announced two new features, Live Photos and 'Hey Siri', that have raised questions about the privacy and security about the features. The company explained its privacy procedures to TechCrunch.

Live Photos are treated like any other photo or video on an iPhone, which means that the Live Photo is encrypted at all times. The only way a Live Photo leaves a device is when a user decides to share it or selects to use iCloud. Live Photos record the 1.5 seconds before and after your picture, though Apple says the camera is restricted in what it can save.

“Although the camera is “recording” while you’re in Live Photo mode, the device will not save the 1.5 seconds before until you press the camera button,” says Apple. “The pre-captured images are not saved to the user’s device nor are they sent off the device.”

This means that the camera is always recording the last 1.5 seconds of footage it sees, though it will continuously delete that footage unless it's "saved" when a user takes a photo. The 1.5 seconds after a photo is taken is also saved when a user takes a photo. Live Photos is turned on by default, but a user can turn it off by clicking the orange Live icon in between the HDR and timer icons.

Hey Siri allows a user to active Apple's personal assistant with their voice, which means that the iPhone has to constantly "listen" for a user's vocal activation. However, Apple tells TechCrunch that nothing a user says is recorded until Hey Siri is activated.

The feature can only be activated in a two-step matching process. First, the iPhone must "hear" the general "Hey Siri" activation phrase. The phone then must match that activation phrase with the personalized way the user says "Hey Siri", which prevents the feature from activating when other people say the phrase. If the phone "hears" "Hey Siri" but it's not a vocal match for its owner, the feature will not activate. This process is done locally on the device, and no audio is sent off of the iPhone.

After "Hey Siri" is activated, the privacy and security protocols in place work similarly to how Siri works now. Audio is sent off to Apple and associated with a device using a random identifier rather than an Apple ID or other personal information. If a user turns off Siri, Apple will delete all the User Data associated with the random identifier.

"Hey Siri" is an optional feature that a user must opt into during iOS 9's setup process. Users, if they choose, can opt to never enable the feature.

The full explanation, including descriptions directly from Apple, can be read at TechCrunch.

Apple today announced that it is now allowing developers to submit apps for review that take advantage of the new features in iOS 9, OS X El Capitan, and watchOS 2 as the company prepares to launch iOS 9 and watchOS 2 to the general public next Wednesday.

Developers are also able to seed apps with iOS 9 and watchOS 2 features to external beta testers using TestFlight. Prior to today, only internal testing was available, giving developers little time to beta test their apps.

You can now submit your apps that take advantage of the latest features in iOS, OS X, and watchOS. Build your apps using Xcode 7 GM seed, test with the GM seeds of iOS 9, OS X El Capitan, and watchOS 2, and submit them for review.

Apple normally allows developers to begin submitting apps directly after golden master versions of new software are released, but this year, the iOS 9, watchOS 2 and OS X El Capitan GMs were released on Wednesday, but submissions were not allowed until this afternoon.

Following reviews by Apple's App Store review team, iOS 9 and watchOS 2 apps will begin appearing in the iOS App Store in time for the iOS 9 launch.

iOS 9 and watchOS 2 will be released on Wednesday, September 16. OS X El Capitan will be released two weeks later on Wednesday, September 30.

Apple introduced the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus with several new features this week, one of the most significant being 3D Touch. The pressure-sensing technology enables iPhone users to perform additional multi-touch gestures called "Peek" and "Pop" to access Quick Action shortcut menus or preview content within apps.

Apple added a 3D Touch page to its website earlier this week with some examples of what Peek and Pop gestures can be used for, including previewing emails and websites, viewing photos you've taken while taking new ones, quickly accessing your contacts, taking a selfie, quick compose and more.

One of the more useful actions that 3D Touch makes possible is pressing the iPhone screen to turn the on-screen keyboard into a virtual trackpad (pictured on left).

One press turns your keyboard into a trackpad.
Press the keyboard within apps such as Notes, Mail, and Messages, and your keyboard behaves just like a trackpad. You can then use a cursor to easily select and manipulate text with precision.

Existing iPads running iOS 9 will also have similar functionality, with users able to control an on-screen cursor by moving two fingers anywhere on the screen, including over the QuickType keyboard, to select, edit and move text.

3D Touch also enables iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users to press the left side of the Home screen to switch to multitasking view, press lightly for finer lines or more deeply for thicker ones in Notes, swipe left to delete an email or swipe right to mark it as unread in Mail and more.