MacRumors

Apple is partnering with Sony to bring its Apple Pay payments service to Japan, reports Japanese news site Nikkei. As has been previously rumored, Apple will make future versions of the iPhone compatible with Sony's FeliCa technology to allow Japanese citizens to use Apple Pay for contactless payments at FeliCa-compatible terminals.

FeliCa is Sony's tap-to-pay format, which has been widely adopted in Japan. It's used to access the country's railway and bus system, and it's able to store e-money that can be used at vending machines, cafes, and other locations equipped with FeliCa systems. FeliCa is able to process transactions in a fraction of a second, making it suitable for use in a fast-paced transit environment.

Users will also be able to store train tickets on their iPhones, letting them enter gates with a wave. Other proposed uses for the technology include integrating membership cards and replacing security key cards. Apple's foray into Japanese smartphone payment services will promote broader adoption of compatible terminals at retailers and event venues. Foreign travelers may be able to use foreign iPhones to make payments as well.

The new iPhone is expected to be equipped with the technology needed to allow it to interface with FeliCa payment terminals, but according to Nikkei, Apple Pay is not likely to launch until Japan until next year. Instead, a gradual rollout is expected.

Apple still needs to negotiate fees with financial institutions in Japan and establish deals with retailers and service providers that use the FeliCa readers, a process that will take some time.

Apple Pay is currently available in nine countries including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, France, and Singapore. Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey has said Apple is "working rapidly" to expand the service to additional countries in Asia and Europe.

Rumors have suggested Apple is exploring wireless charging as a feature to be included in the 2017 iPhone, and a new report from Taiwanese site Economic Daily News [Google Translate] suggests Apple has begun seeking suppliers for wireless charging components. Apple is said to have asked semiconductor company MediaTek to send chip samples for inclusion in a "dedicated wireless charging back cover."

Based on the wording of the report, it's unclear if Apple is working on wireless charging built into the next-generation iPhone or a wireless charging case that would be used alongside the next-generation iPhone for wireless charging purposes, but DigiTimes says the report refers to "peripherals" like iPhone cases to "try out" wireless charging.

An example of extended-range wireless charging from Energous, a company Apple could potentially be working with

Previous rumors have suggested Apple is exploring long-range wireless charging as a feature that could potentially be included in iPhones as soon as 2017. Long-range wireless charging is superior to many existing wireless charging methods because it does not require devices to be as close to a charging source or mat.

Apple has also been hiring engineers with expertise in wireless charging in recent months, confirming a definite interest in wireless charging technology.

Wireless charging, whether implemented through a case or built directly into the iPhone, is just one of the many impressive features rumored for the 2017 iPhone, which is the 10th anniversary iPhone. The device is expected to feature a complete design overhaul with a glass body and an edge-to-edge display, along with advanced biometric features like iris scanning and an enhanced Taptic engine to make up for the elimination of the Home button.

Trademark lawyer Brian Conroy today shared the culmination of months of intensive research on Apple trademarks, giving us some solid insight into what the company might be working on based on its trademark filings around the world.

First and foremost, Conroy has tracked down a trademark filing for the iPhone 7, seemingly confirming the "iPhone 7" name just ahead of tomorrow's event. The larger version of the iPhone, the "iPhone 7 Plus" is also mentioned in a separate filing, confirming that name as well.

Conroy has also found a trademark filing that confirms the "AirPods" trademark has been registered by Apple. MacRumors first discovered the AirPods trademark late last year and linked it to a lawyer associated with Apple, but Apple was careful to use a shell company for trademark registration. While there was little doubt the AirPods trademark belonged to Apple, there is now no question.

Alongside the AirPods, which are said to be wireless Bluetooth earbuds, Apple also appears to have trademarked the name "AirPod Case," which is in line with rumors suggesting the AirPods will come with a battery case that is aimed at charging them on the go to increase battery life. The AirPods are rumored to feature four hours of battery life sans case and they could be announced at tomorrow's event along with updated Beats headphones.

Conroy has also found trademark filings for future Apple products that include "Apple Iris Engine," "Apple Iris Image Engine," "Apple Smart Button," and "Apple Touch Bar," which he plans to cover in greater detail in later posts. Apple is rumored to be working on iris recognition capabilities for the 2017 iPhone, and "Apple Touch Bar" could potentially refer to the touch panel that's built into the next-generation MacBook Pro, rumored to be coming this October. Apple Smart Button is less clear, but could potentially refer to the new touch-based flush Home button coming in the iPhone 7.

Software-based filings have also been discovered, including "Apple Swift Labs," "Apple Progress Card," "Apple Breathe," "Apple Smart View," "Apple Rich Links," "iBooks Storytime," "Control Strip," and many other trademarks for known iOS 10 features. macOS Sierra trademarks that hint at alternate names Apple might have used for the operating system have also been discovered and will be shared later.

British repair shop Byte got its hands on an alleged Apple Watch 2 display component last week, and since then, has shared several videos showing off its design and comparing it to the display of the first-generation Apple Watch.

In its newest video, published this morning, Byte tore down the Apple Watch 2 display to give us a closer look at its individual components. According to Byte, the display is "the most advanced display of its kind," with an "incredibly thin" build that "incorporates cutting edge technology."

Using extreme cold, Byte was able to remove the display's cover glass and touch panel from the LCD assembly, along with the EMI shields from the chips. As can be seen in the video, the second-generation Apple Watch display incorporates an NXP NFC chip, which was previously a separate component not built into the display in the original Apple Watch.

What appears to be the touchscreen controller is sandwiched between the NFC chip on one side and capacitors on the other, a build that differs from the first generation device. It's not clear why NFC has been relocated to the display assembly, but it may save some internal space.

As we've seen in previous videos, the Apple Watch 2 display component is thinner than the display of the original Apple Watch (2.12 - 2.86mm vs 2.99 - 3.57mm), but given that we've also seen a larger, thicker battery, the Apple Watch 2 is likely to be the same size and shape as the first Apple Watch, despite the display changes.

The leaked Apple Watch 2 battery, which is for the 42mm device, measures in at 334 mAh, up from 246 mAh in the original Apple Watch. That's a 35.7 percent increase, said to be included to boost battery life and to support the GPS chip that's rumored to be in the second-generation device. Apple will unveil the Apple Watch 2 at a media event set to be held tomorrow, September 7.

In a report confirming rumors Apple will remove the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 to improve the device's water resistance, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared his predictions on how Apple will capitalize on the Bluetooth headphone market in the coming months.

First and foremost, as has been rumored, Kuo suggests Apple is working on its own Bluetooth-like communication chip and its own Bluetooth headphones. Previous information suggests the Bluetooth chip will improve battery performance for longer battery life.

The chip may be included in the wireless earbuds Apple has in development, which are said to be Bragi Dash-style wireless Bluetooth earbuds that are entirely wire free. The earbuds will be called "AirPods," based on trademark filings that have been discovered, and the product could be unveiled as early as September 7 alongside the iPhone 7.

According to Kuo, Apple will sell its Apple-branded Bluetooth headphones alongside its Beats line of headphones, targeting the high-end market with the "AirPods" and the mid-range market with the Beats headphones. It is not clear if that means the AirPods will be priced higher than Beats headphones are at the current time or if Apple plans to lower prices on Beats going forward.

We believe Apple will position Beats in the midrange market once it launches Apple's own-brand Bluetooth headphones, in order to maximize profit with a dual-brand strategy. We also believe Apple will have its own-designed Bluetooth-like communication chip, given its higher requirements for power-saving, communication specs and potential rapid growth of Bluetooth headphone shipments. Cheng-Uei and Inventec are the likely choices for assembly service.

While Apple will sell multiple models of Bluetooth headphones and expects strong growth potential in the market, Kuo does not believe the company will package Bluetooth headphones with the iPhone 7. Instead, Apple is likely to ship the iPhone 7 with Lightning-based EarPods that feature a Lightning connector instead of a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Apple's Bluetooth headphone plans will become clearer starting tomorrow, following the debut of the iPhone 7. At its September 7 event, Apple will show off the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, the Apple Watch 2, and new Beats headphones. As previously mentioned, it's possible we'll see the AirPods, but given a lack of rumors, the device may not be ready for launch.

After sharing photos and a video of the thin display and larger battery for the Apple Watch 2, Byte today posted a video focused on comparing the measurements of the new and old Apple Watch generations. As expected, the measurements for the Apple Watch 2 represent an overall slightly thinner display than the original model, while its battery is noticeably thicker.

Thanks to the detailed measurements, Byte was able to confirm that the Apple Watch 2's display is 2.86 mm at its thickest location and 2.12 at its thinnest, compared to 3.57 mm and 2.99 mm, respectively, for the original Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch 2's slightly different measurements continued in the height and width of its display (appearing to be a 42mm model), which measured 39.47 mm tall and 33.43 mm wide. The first generation Apple Watch came in at 38.74 mm tall and 32.65 mm wide, so while the Apple Watch 2 is slightly taller and longer, the overall difference appears to be similarly negligible as iPhone generations that jump between the main models and an "S" generation.

Byte also measured the thickness, length, and width of each generation of Apple Watch battery, with the first measuring 3.95 mm thick, 27.46 long, and 18.42 mm wide. Comparatively, the upcoming second generation Apple Watch battery measured 5.11 mm thick, 27.50 mm long, and 18.71 mm wide, falling in line with previous rumors that the Apple Watch 2 would have a larger battery to fuel speedier performance and improve its recharge life.

The battery for the 42mm Apple Watch 2 was investigated in a video last week, and was rated for 1.28 watt-hours. If proved true, this means that the 42mm Apple Watch 2 will have a 334 mAh battery that is 35.7% larger than the 246 mAh battery in the original 42mm model. Last week's video also showed Apple Watch 2 components like the Force Touch gasket, but the piece wasn't measured due to the similar size between each generation.

Byte also shared a circular gasket component of the Apple Watch 2, speculating its potential involvement in providing further water resistance to the unit, particularly its appropriate size for the heart rate sensor.

Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch 2 during tomorrow's media event, along with the debut of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Despite the slight differences in the measurement of its display and battery, the new generation of Apple Watch will still keep the external design of the current model.

The latest data from research firm Strategy Analytics shows that Apple currently accounts for two of the three top-selling smartphone models shipped worldwide.

iPhone 6s was the world's top-selling smartphone in the second quarter of 2016, based on an estimated 14.2 million shipments, while the two-year-old iPhone 6 trailed in second with an estimated 8.5 million shipments.

Strategy Analytics added that the iPhone 6s is "currently the world's most popular smartphone," implying that it has remained the top-selling smartphone through the third quarter leading up to the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

Both the iPhone 6s and two-year-old iPhone 6 outsold Samsung's newer Galaxy S7 edge, released in March 2016, which finished third with an estimated 8.3 million shipments in the second quarter.

Apple officially reported sales of 40.4 million iPhones during the second quarter, including the iPhone 6s Plus and older models.

iPhone 7 models could remain the top-selling smartphones worldwide through the holiday shopping season after Samsung's voluntary Galaxy Note7 recall due to isolated incidents of exploding batteries. Some analysts forecast the "heartbreaking" recall could cost Samsung between $1 billion and $5 billion in revenue.

Another set of Geekbench results claiming to be from an iPhone 7 have appeared online, just a day before the device is set to be announced.

We've seen alleged Geekbench reports before – screenshots that turned out to be fake – but emerging so close to the phone's unveiling and appearing on the PrimateLabs site, this one may have more legitimacy to it.

The device is identified as an "iPhone9,3", which may refer to a third model of iPhone 7, given that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus carry the hardware strings "iPhone8,1" and "iPhone8,2", respectively. And yet the RAM for the device is stated as 2GB, whereas previous rumors imply that the iPhone 7 Plus will get 3GB RAM, suggesting this is a 4.7-inch device.

The scores indicate significant performance gains owing to the A10 chip expected to feature in the iPhone 7. If the results are legitimate, a single-core score of 3379 and multi-core score of 5495 show that a 400MHz A10 processor easily beats the performance of the A9 in the iPhone 6s Plus, which scores 2490 and 4341, respectively.

On these results, the A10 also outperforms the 2.2GHz A9X chip powering the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which returns Geekbench scores of 3224 and 5466, respectively.

Interestingly, the report says the handset is running a future version of iOS 10 (10.1) that has yet to be seeded to developers, implying that the test was conducted internally, apparently with full knowledge that the results would become public.

As noted, suspension of belief is advised without any official confirmation, but we shouldn't have to wait long before more concrete results begin appearing in the wild.

Apple is expected to reveal its new iPhones tomorrow, along with a second-generation Apple Watch, and refreshed Beats products. Apple should also provide final release dates for iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3, and it may have other product and service updates to announce. Check back with MacRumors.com for live coverage and through the @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.

A Vietnamese technology website claims to have spent some time trying out a fully assembled and operational 4.7-inch iPhone 7, offering a few original tidbits amid a number of details that have already been rumored about Apple's device, set to be unveiled tomorrow.

The tinhte.vn blog offers no photos to back up its claims about the upcoming iPhone 7, so the following should be taken with a liberal dose of salt, but the writer reckons the smaller handset will be capable of recording 4K video at a smoother 60 frames per second, in contrast to the 30fps 4K recording found on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (60fps is limited to 1080p resolution video on both devices).

Given the significant additional storage that would be required for such a spec bump, speculation is inevitable that 60fps 4K video is one of the main reasons why Apple is expected to offer 128GB and 256GB capacity models, and would seem to tie in with the company's recent introduction of a 2TB iCloud storage tier option.

According to the writer, the iPhone 7 also has a rubber sealed SIM tray which – along with the lack of headphone jack – improves the overall effectiveness of the device's waterproofing.

Over the weekend, respected KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also listed improved IPX7 water resistance as one of the upgrades to the upcoming iPhone. That would see the handset match the Apple Watch's impressive level of waterproofing, something which the company has arguably underplayed.

Elsewhere, the writer suggests that speculation regarding a new black color option is on the mark, and will replace the Space Gray iPhone variant currently available. Also, the volume buttons apparently no longer sit inside a small recess, but are placed directly on the side of the device body.

Lastly, the writer claims that the new touch-sensitive home button utilizes haptic Force Touch feedback technology to mimic the sensation of a physical depress, and still requires the user to exert a decent amount of pressure on the button to activate it.

Of course, nothing can be confirmed until Apple's big reveal, but with just a day to go before the company's live streamed media event, the wait is almost over. MacRumors is providing live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through our @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.

Wireless audio company Bragi has today announced a new pair of Bluetooth earbuds simply called the "Headphone". Based on the firm's original crowdfunded Dash earpieces, the Headphone buds boast the same overall design, but lose some features in favor of a more affordable price tag.

According to Bragi, the main physical difference is the Headphone's three physical buttons, which replace the touch controls found on the Dash for controlling playback, audio transparency, volume, and taking calls.

The activity tracking features native to the $300 Dash buds are also missing in the new earpieces, but their removal shores up battery life on the Headphone, with Bragi promising up to six hours of operation on a single charge, rather than the three hours Dash users will be accustomed to. Bragi also claims the Headphone buds feature a stronger Bluetooth connection than the Dash.

The Bragi Headphone buds are poised to launch in November and will cost $150, with pre-orders starting today at the lower price of $119.

In addition to the new earpieces, Bragi today announced a firmware update to the original Dash buds which the company says improves the accuracy of the devices' heart-rate tracking, while also bolstering the strength of the Bluetooth connection.

With Apple's event just days away, Bragi is unlikely to be the last accessory firm to announce wireless products this week, as the industry shifts gears in anticipation of a new iPhone widely believed to lack a headphone jack.

Apple will provide a live stream of the September 7 keynote on the Apple TV and on iOS and Mac devices through its website. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through the @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.

Read: What to Expect From Apple's September 7 Event

Over the weekend, Apple began decorating the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, which is where its "See You on the 7th" keynote will be held on Wednesday. Crews have put up window decorations and flags with Apple logos, plus other black-with-colored-dots themed banners and signage.

At the event, Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, second-generation Apple Watch, and refreshed Beats products. Apple should also provide final release dates for iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3, and it may have other product and service updates to announce.

Apple will provide a live stream of the September 7 keynote on the Apple TV and on iOS and Mac devices through its website. MacRumors will also provide live coverage of the event for those unable to watch, both on MacRumors.com and through our @MacRumorsLive account on Twitter.

Read: What to Expect From Apple's September 7 Event

(Thanks, Edward!)