Apple today seeded the golden master (GM) version of watchOS 2 to developers, which is the version of watchOS 2 that will be released to the public on September 16 alongside iOS 9.
watchOS 2 requires iOS 9 and can be downloaded over-the-air through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software Update.
Today's golden master release follows five developer betas of watchOS 2, which were seeded to developers from June 8 to August 6, when the fifth and final beta was released.
watchOS 2 is the first major update to watchOS, the software that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 2 introduces several new features developers can use to improve their apps, including more efficient native apps that run on the watch itself instead of the iPhone. The new software also allows developers to access the Taptic Engine and sensors like the heart rate monitor, microphone, and accelerometer.
Thanks to the new tools for developers, Apple Watch apps will be more complex, full-featured, and faster. Other features in watchOS 2 include photo and time-lapse watch faces, third-party Complications, a longer screen activation time, Time Travel, and a Nightstand mode that's activated when the Apple Watch is charging.
Apple today seeded the golden master (GM) version of iOS 9 to developers. The golden master represents the final version of iOS 9 that will be released to the public on September 16, two days ahead of the official launch of the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
The update is available through Apple's over-the-air updating mechanism on iOS devices and it can also be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center.
Prior to the launch of the golden master, Apple seeded five betas of iOS 9 to developers and public beta testers, with the fifth and final beta released on August 6.
iOS 9 focuses on intelligence and proactivity, allowing iOS devices to learn user habits and act on that information, providing recommendations to places we might like, apps we might like to use, and more. Siri is smarter with iOS 9, able to create contextual reminders and offer up more information through improved search options.
Built-in apps like Maps, Notes, and Mail have been improved in iOS 9, and Passbook has been renamed Wallet. iOS 9 introduces split-screen multitasking for the iPad for the first time, and there are some significant under-the-hood improvements that will result in more battery life, more storage space through smaller app install sizes, and enhanced performance.
Alongside the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, Apple today debuted four new docks that are compatible with the new iPhones and the existing iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The docks come in colors that match the finish of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus and are available in Gold, Rose Gold, Space Gray, and Silver. The docks are available for purchase immediately from Apple's online storefront and are priced at $49.99.
Apple is also launching new leather and silicone cases for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, which are available in new colors. The leather colors include Midnight Blue, Saddle Brown, Rose Gray, Brown, and Black.
In silicone, customers will be able to choose from White, Charcoal Gray, Stone, Antique White, Blue, Turquoise, Midnight Blue, Lavender, Pink, Orange, and Red. Many of the colors match the newly announced Apple Watch band line-up as well.
Today at its "Hey Siri" special event, Apple announced a brand new program at its retail stores called the iPhone Upgrade Program. The program is designed for users who want to have the newest iPhone every year, and even comes with AppleCare+ included. Those who sign up for the program will be able to trade-in their current iPhone for a new model after 12 monthly installments are made, starting a new cycle of the program each year.
Users are given an unlocked iPhone and allowed to pick from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, allowing customers to choose their current carrier or select a new one if they "don’t have any carrier commitments." iPhone 6s users can expect to pay $32.41/month (16GB), $36.58/month (64GB), or $40.75/month (128GB) while on the service. Alternatively, those opting for the larger-screened iPhone 6s Plus will see slightly higher prices: $36.58/month (16GB), $40.75/month (64GB), or $44.91/month (128GB).
Users who are interested in using the iPhone Upgrade Program to finance a new iPhone 6s or 6s Plus can do so by making a reservation online starting at 12:01 PDT Saturday, September 12, the same day pre-orders for the smartphone go live. The reservation will allow you to hold a spot at the Apple Store of your choosing for an appointment in setting up a new iPhone 6s or 6s Plus with the Upgrade Program.
Apple today announced a new feature for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus called "Live Photos," allowing users to use the new 3D Touch feature on the iPhone to see quick, GIF-like movements in photos they have taken. The Live Photos feature is reminiscent of the fantastical moving photos featured in the Harry Potter movie, allowing users to see short bits of animation in their images.
Apple emphasized that Live Photos are not video, they're photos taken with all of the same high-quality camera capabilities brought to the new generation of iPhone, but they include an extra 1.5 seconds of footage at the beginning and the end of the photo to enable the mini animations. These animations are displayed when force pressing on a photo and when scrolling through photos in the Camera Roll.
According to Apple, Live Photos will be able to be viewed on the entire line-up of the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch line. Users will even be able to use the new feature to set up Live Photos as a lock screen on iPhone, and even use the feature to make custom motion wallpapers for the Apple Watch. With a Live Photo as an Apple Watch face, it'll animate each time you raise your wrist to look at the time.
Apple today announced that iOS 9 will be released to the public on September 16 for compatible iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. The software update will come preinstalled on the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus out of the box when the smartphones launch on September 25.
iOS 9 is compatible with the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPad Pro, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad mini, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, fifth-generation iPod touch and sixth-generation iPod touch.
iOS 9 was announced last June at WWDC and features a News app, Proactive Suggestions, Low Power Mode, split-screen multitasking on iPad, Apple Maps transit routing, a new systemwide San Francisco font, an optional iCloud Drive app, wireless CarPlay support, a revamped two-factor authentication system, keyboard enhancements, improved security, new developer tools and more.
Apple today announced the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s and 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus at its "Hey Siri" media event in San Francisco. The new iPhones feature an A9 chip and M9 motion coprocessor, 3D Touch, 12-megapixel rear-facing camera, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, stronger glass and Series 7000 aluminum, faster Touch ID, Live Photos and a new Rose Gold color option.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders begin on Saturday, September 12 at 12:01 AM Pacific ahead of a Friday, September 25 launch in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The new iPhones will be available in over 130 countries by the end of the year.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are powered by an Apple A9 chip and embedded M9 motion coprocessor that deliver up to 70% faster CPU performance and up to 90% faster graphics compared to the A8 chip inside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
3D Touch on iPhone is similar to Force Touch on Apple Watch, enabling users to make "peek and pop" gestures on the screen to access actionable shortcuts or preview content, such as text messages, flight information, calendar appointments and more. This feature received quite a lot of stage time at Apple's media event and is one of the key features of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
The smartphones feature an improved 12-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera with 4K video recording and 5-megapixel front-facing FaceTime camera with true tone Retina Flash -- in low light, the front display will flash for a split second instead of traditional LED flash.
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus also have a second-generation Touch ID fingerprint scanner that is up to two times faster compared to Touch ID on previous iPhones.
The ninth-generation iPhones are crafted from Series 7000 aluminum and come in a new rose gold color, alongside silver, space gray and gold. Otherwise, the handsets look virtually the same as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
iPhone 6s retails for $199/$299/$399 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively on a two-year contract. iPhone 6s Plus retails for $299/$399/$499 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively on a two-year contract. Carrier financing and leasing programs are also available through AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and many other carriers worldwide.
At Apple's media event in San Francisco today, Apple announced an App Store for the new Apple TV will bring unique gaming experiences into a user's living room. The first experience the company showcased was a co-op Crossy Road experience that lets one player use the new Apple TV remote and another use an iPhone or iPod touch to control various characters in the game.
Each player controls a different Crossy Road character, and the idea behind the game, as on iOS, is to make it across the road. While Crossy Road uses touch-based controls via the Apple TV remote and the iPhone, other games will use motion-based controls that take advantage of the sensors built into the remote.
At the event, Apple also showcased an upcoming game from Harmonix, the studio behind Rock Band and Dance Central. Called Beats Sports, the game takes a "Wii Sports" angle on the music rhythm game genre, letting users play games like tennis along with the beat of the music.
Harmonix confirmed that up to four players will be able to play the game simultaneously with the use of an iPhone or an iPod Touch, similar to Crossy Road's co-operative play. Apple briefly touched on more robust console-style gaming experiences for Apple TV -- like Disney Infinity 3.0 and Guitar Hero -- but didn't give any more details as to how those peripheral-heavy games will work on the new Apple TV.
With the Apple tvOS SDK available to developers beginning today, we should be seeing a lot more gaming concepts for the Apple TV surfacing in the near future as developers create games for the device ahead of its October launch.
Apple today announced the much-anticipated fourth-generation Apple TV at its "Hey Siri" media event in San Francisco, California. The new Apple TV was constructed on a foundation encompassing powerful hardware, a modern operating system, a new user experience with deep Siri integration, tools for developers, and most importantly, an App Store.
The Apple TV runs "tvOS," with a revamped iOS 9-style interface. Design wise, it looks similar to the existing set-top box, but it's thicker and ships with a much more advanced touch-based remote that Apple's calling the "Siri Remote." The top of the remote includes a glass touch surface for swiping through content as you would on an iPhone, and there's a built-in button for calling up Siri.
Siri integration is a key part of the new Apple TV interface, as it lets users ask Siri to bring up content. It's possible to search through multiple apps to find a TV show or movie, and at launch, supported apps include Netflix, iTunes, Hulu, HBO, and Showtime. Siri can answer questions about who's starring in a movie, bring up extraneous information like the weather outside, and ask Siri to replay parts of a movie that were missed or fast forward through content. For example, asking Siri "What did she say?" will rewind a movie 15 seconds and temporarily bring up subtitles.
Siri has a wide range of commands that will make searching for content on the Apple TV simple. You can ask Siri to "Show me New Girl," or "Find the best funny movies from the '80s."
"There has been so much innovation in entertainment and programming through iOS apps, we want to bring that same excitement to the television," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. "Apps make the TV experience even more compelling for viewers and we think apps represent the future of TV."
In addition to Siri integration, the other major software improvement to the Apple TV is a full App Store that includes games and popular apps. To facilitate gameplay on the Apple TV, the new remote includes an accelerometer and a gyroscope that can detect motion, much like a Wii Remote for the Nintendo Wii platform.
On stage at the event, a multiplayer version of Crossy Road was demonstrated, with one player using the Apple TV remote and another player using an iPhone as an input device. The Apple TV will support both the iPhone and the iPod touch as an input device. Apple TV and iPhone games are going to be available universally, meaning you can start a game on the iPhone and then pick it up on the Apple TV.
On stage, some upcoming apps for the Apple TV were shown off, including Netflix, HBONow, and Hulu. Game developers like Disney Interactive and Activision are working on games for the device that include "Disney Infinity 3.0" and "Guitar Hero." Harmonix is also developing a rhythm-based Wii Sports-style game that will be available exclusively on the Apple TV.
The new Apple TV also comes with brand new screen savers featuring high definition footage shot by Apple. The screen savers show off cities in slow motion video and will showcase footage based on the time of day.
Starting today, developers can access the tvOS SDK via a new Xcode beta to begin creating games and apps for the Apple TV.
Internally, the Apple TV includes a 64-bit A8 chip, with support for key iOS technologies like Metal, GameKit, and UIKit, all of which will allow developers to bring console-quality games to the device. The Apple TV is available with either 32GB or 64GB of storage, which will be used for downloading apps, and it includes Bluetooth 4.0, 801.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO and an IR receiver. The remote works over Bluetooth 4.0, so line of sight is not required, and its battery will last for up to three months on a single charge. Recharging the remote is done through a built-in Lightning connector.
The Apple TV will begin shipping at the end of October in nearly 80 countries. It is priced at $149 for the 32GB version and $199 for the 64GB version. Apple will continue selling the existing Apple TV for $69, but that device will not support the new App Store.
Today at its "Hey Siri" special event, Apple announced two brand new accessories for the newly-announced iPad Pro. The Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil both allow iPad Pro users to have more tactile experiences for heavy-duty work that a touch-screen alone can't sustain, increasing productivity.
The Smart Keyboard comes built into a Smart Cover and uses the Smart Dome Switch from the MacBook, which means that the keys click down evenly from wherever you hit them. According to Apple, the keys offer the "accuracy, stability, and satisfying key feel of standard keyboards." The keys are covered by a soft, custom woven fabric and the entire keyboard itself is "easily foldable and can transform into a Smart Cover."
The Keyboard connects to the iPad Pro via a new magnetic port called the Smart Connector, which can transmit both data and power at the same time. Because it connects directly to the iPad Pro, the Smart Keyboard does not require a separate battery, on/off switch, or Bluetooth pairing -- snap it on and it works automatically. The Smart Keyboard works with the QuickType features in iOS 9, for quick access to word predictions and autocorrect.
The Apple Pencil is a stylus that's been designed from the ground up to work with the iPad Pro. The touch system of the iPad Pro was designed with the Apple Pencil in mind, for a dramatically reduced latency and impressive accuracy when used for activities like fine art illustration and detailed 3D design.
Sensors inside the Apple Pencil allow it to detect its position on the iPad Pro's screen, tilt, and force, enabling pressure sensitivity. It also calculates both angle and orientation to produce both broad or shaded strokes, and it's precise enough that artists can touch a single pixel on the screen.
The Apple Pencil works with popular iOS apps like Mail, Notes, Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, and Office 365. The battery lasts for several hours and it's able to be recharged via the iPad Pro through a built-in Lightning connector.
Both the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard are sold separately from the iPad Pro. The Apple Pencil will retail for $99, while the Smart Keyboard will retail for $169. Both accessories will be available for purchase in November alongside the iPad Pro.
Apple today announced the iPad Pro at its "Hey Siri" media event in San Francisco. The 12.9-inch tablet has a resolution of 2732x2048, which is 5.6 million pixels -- more than any iOS device and even the MacBook Pro with Retina display.
The iPad Pro has a 64-bit A9X processor that delivers up to 1.6 times faster performance over the iPad Air 2, with up to twice as fast graphics. Apple also says the tablet is faster than 80% of portable PCs shipped in the last 12 months, allowing users to run apps such as iMovie with desktop-class performance.
iPad Pro features a four-speaker audio system -- two speakers on each side -- that balance frequencies and put out up to three times the audio level of the iPad Air 2. The tablet also features 10-hour battery life, an 8-megapixel iSight camera, Touch ID, Smart Connector and Lightning connector.
Apple introduced two accessories for the iPad Pro. The first is a Microsoft Surface-like Smart Keyboard, which is built into a Smart Cover accessory and connects magnetically to the iPad Pro's new three-dot Smart Connector. The second is Apple Pencil, a stylus built using technology that can detect position, tilt and force.
Apple Pencil also calculate angle and orientation to produce both broad or shaded strokes. The Pencil also enables precision that allows artists to touch a single pixel. Apple says the Pencil's battery lasts for hours and that it can charge by connecting to the iPad Pro's Lightning charger.
Apple Pencil will retail for $99 while the Smart Keyboard will retail for $169. Both will be available alongside the new iPad Pro.
iPad Pro launches in November in silver, space gray and gold, starting at $799 for a 32GB Wi-Fi only model. A 128GB Wi-Fi only model will cost $949 and a Wi-Fi + LTE 128GB model will cost $1,079.
Today at its "Hey Siri" event, Apple announced a partnership with Hermes to create a special Apple Watch collection called Apple Watch Hermes. The new collection will feature three brand new bands and watch faces. The watch bands will include the Double Tour, Single Tour, and the Cuff.
Uncompromising craftsmanship. Pioneering innovation. Groundbreaking functionality. Apple Watch Hermès is the culmination of a partnership based on parallel thinking, singular vision, and mutual regard. It is a unique timepiece designed with both utility and beauty in mind. With leather straps handmade by Hermès artisans in France and an Hermès watch face reinterpreted by Apple designers in California, Apple Watch Hermès is a product of elegant, artful simplicity — the ultimate tool for modern life.
The new Apple Watch Hermes collection will come in 10 unique options for customers to choose from, but the individual Hermes bands will not be sold by themselves. The Double Tour band will be available only in 38mm sizes, due to its more feminine look, and come in four different colors. Both 38mm and 42mm customers will be able to choose from the three color options of the Single Tour band, while the larger Cuff style is offered in one single 42mm leather option.
Pricing wise, the Double Tour collection will cost $1,250, the Single Tour will cost $1,100, and the Cuff comes in at the most expensive mid-tier Apple Watch option yet: $1,500. The collection won't be available to purchase online, and will follow the Apple Watch Edition route and will only be available at specific Apple and Hermes retail locations across the country in October.
At today's media event in San Francisco, Apple confirmed two previousrumors by announcing a new line of Apple Watch Sport band colors alongside a new array of metal finishes for the Sport line. Although they were touched on briefly, the new Sport bands were said to be part of a "Fall collection" and will portray softer and darker colors than the bright, neon line of Sport bands Apple put out in the Spring.
Apple updated its storefront shortly after the event ended with the full list of new Sport band colors available to buy for the Apple Watch. They include: Walnut, Stone, Antique, Fog, Turquoise, Midnight Blue, Vintage Rose, Lavender, Orange, and (Product) Red.
Apple today announced the iPad mini 4 at its "Hey Siri" media event in San Francisco. The tablet is virtually a 7.9-inch version of the iPad Air 2 and is 6.1mm in thickness, which is 18% thinner than the previous generation. The tablet also weighs just 0.65 pounds with a 30% faster CPU and 60% faster graphics than the iPad Mini 3.
The new tablet also has all of the expected improvements in its camera, with advanced optics, an improved sensor, and an Apple‑designed image signal processor. The iPad Mini 4 includes Touch ID and uses new iOS 9 features like Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture to provide users with a more robust and economical mobile experience.
iPad Mini 4 is available in Space Gray, Gold, and Silver for $399 (16GB), $499 (64GB), and $599 (128GB), including cellular options. Apple has dropped the iPad mini 3 from its lineup, while the iPad mini 2 is available for $269.
Apple today at its "Hey Siri" media event announced that watchOS 2 will be released to the public on Wednesday, September 16 for the Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition. The golden master (GM) version of the software was seeded to developers shortly after the event wrapped up.
watchOS 2 was announced last June at WWDC and features native third-party apps, third-party complications, new watch faces, a landscape Nightstand alarm clock mode, Activation Lock, FaceTime audio calls, new health and fitness achievements, and an improved Siri experience.
With new tools and APIs available in watchOS 2, Apple Watch apps will be more complex, full-featured, and faster. watchOS 2 introduces several new features developers can use to improve their apps, including more efficient native apps that run on the watch itself instead of the iPhone. The new software also allows developers to access the Taptic Engine and sensors like the heart rate monitor, microphone, and accelerometer.
Apple's highly anticipated "Hey Siri" event today will see the introduction of a number of new products including the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, a new Apple TV set-top box, a larger iPad Pro, and more. The event is being held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, with the festivities beginning at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
Apple is providing a live video stream on its website and via Apple TV.
In addition to Apple's video stream, we will be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds. Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today's announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
Apple's online stores around the world are currently down in advance of the event, and we've already seen the first signs of today's product releases with (PRODUCT)RED Apple Watch Sport Bands arriving at Apple retail stores overnight.
An overnight report from 9to5Mac claims the new operating system for the revamped Apple TV will be called "tvOS", and it appears Apple may indeed have moved to trademark that term as long ago as November 2014.
A series of trademark filings for the name were made in mid-to-late May in a number of countries by a company called Television OnStream LLC, which appears to be a shell corporation created just days earlier and based out the Corporation Trust Center in Delaware. Apple commonly uses this tactic to hide its trademark filings, although many other companies employ similar strategies.
The mid-May timing is also interesting given it occurred just a few weeks ahead of WWDC where Apple was rumored to be introducing the new Apple TV until what appeared to be a last-minute decision to push back the announcement to this month.
All of the May trademark applications cite a priority date of November 2014 for a filing made in Jamaica, yet another of Apple's typical strategies for hiding trademarks. Jamaica is a frequent location for Apple's initial filings as the country does not publish an online database of trademark filings, making it difficult to track them down.
In another similarity to Apple's previous trademark patterns, Television OnStream LLC conveniently shortens to an acronym of "tvOS", much as Apple previously hid its "iPad" trademark behind a company named IP Application Development.
One final similarity between the "tvOS" filing and known Apple trademarks is the use of specific law firms to handle the filings. For example, Television OnStream used London-based firm Locke Lord to handle its Italian filing, and Apple used the same firm to protect its "watch OS" trademark in Italy earlier this year. In Turkey, the same trademark lawyer handled both Apple's "watch OS" filing and Television OnStream's "tvOS" application, and in Mexico both companies used the law firm of Arochi & Lindner to handle their filings.
As is common with these filings, there is no concrete link between Apple and the new "tvOS" trademark, but given recent rumors and a number of similarities to Apple's past behavior in hiding trademark filings, it appears likely Apple is indeed behind the "tvOS" applications.
Update 8:02 AM: iGeneration points out that references to tvOS are also currently hidden within Apple's iTunes Connect interface for developers.
Apple will release a (PRODUCT)RED Sport Band for the Apple Watch, and likely other new Sport Band colors, according to a retail source. At least one Apple Store has received inventory of the new bright red band ahead of Apple's "Hey Siri" media event in San Francisco today. Apple donates a portion of the proceeds from (PRODUCT)RED-branded items to the Global Fund to help the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa.
Tech blogger Larry Greenberg shared a picture of the (PRODUCT)RED Sport Band box on Twitter a few hours ago. The band could look similar to the custom red Sport Band that Apple design chief Jonathan Ive gifted to former British professional rugby player Will Carling in April.
Last week, we corroborated a report that Apple will unveil new Sport Bands for Apple Watch at its September 9 media event. The additional colors beyond (PRODUCT)RED could include other shades of red, orange, yellow, blue and beige, as shown off at the Milan Design Week in April.
- iPhone 6s could have always-on Hey Siri per AppleInsider - iPad Pro could cost $799/$899/$999 for 32GB/64GB/128GB per 9to5Mac - Apple TV software platform will be called tvOS per 9to5Mac
Apple today seeded the golden master (GM) version of watchOS 2 to developers, which is the version of watchOS 2 that will be released to the public on September 16 alongside iOS 9.
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