Today is Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year in the United States. Between now and Cyber Monday, a number of developers are offering deals on their iPhone and iPad apps. MacRumors has been keeping an eye on AppShopper, and we have more App Store sales to share today.
Join Alto and his friends as they embark on an endless snowboarding odyssey. Journey across the beautiful alpine hills of their native wilderness, through neighbouring villages, ancient woodlands, and long-abandoned ruins.
Along the way you'll rescue runaway llamas, grind rooftops, leap over terrifying chasms and outwit the mountain elders – all while braving the ever changing elements and passage of time upon the mountain.
Name: Fantastical 2 for iPhone Developer: Flexibits Sale Price: $2.99 Previous Price: $4.99 Compatibility: iPhone Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
Fantastical 2 is the award-winning calendar app with features such as natural language parsing, reminders, a beautiful week view, and much more!
Deliveries helps you keep track of all your packages, so you always know when they’re going to arrive. Whether it's the latest gadget you've preordered online, or a new graphic novel you can't wait to dive into, Deliveries will keep tabs on it so you don't miss the doorbell.
Name: Gears Developer: Crescent Moon Games Sale Price: Free Previous Price: $1.99 Compatibility: iOS Universal (iPhone and iPad) TouchArcade Review: 5/5 stars Links: AppShopper | iTunes | YouTube Trailer
Description:
Explore the fanciful world of Gears! A gorgeous 3D physics-based ball rolling platformer that redefines the genre, Gears immerses you into adventure with 3 beautifully detailed worlds of 27 unique and challenging levels. Gears will have you on the edge of your seat for hours of gameplay... this is like no game you’ve ever played before.
Name: Out There: Ω Edition Developer: Mi-Clos Studio Sale Price: 99 cents Previous Price: $4.99 Compatibility: iOS Universal (iPhone and iPad) TouchArcade Review: 5/5 stars Links: AppShopper | iTunes
Description:
You are an astronaut awaking from cryonics not in the solar system, but... out there... in a far and unknown place of the galaxy. In Out There, you will have to survive, tinkering your ship with what you can gather drifting in the void, and spot garden planets to refill your oxygen supply.
Space is an hostile place; dangerous and mysterious adventures will mark each step of your travel. You will not only meet intelligent species that won’t care about you, but also deal with ancient powers linked to your destiny and the fate of mankind itself.
Apple premium reseller Expercom is offering some notable discounts on new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models, including up to $53 off 13-inch models and up to $167 off 15-inch models depending upon the configuration selected.
The discounts are even steeper when an AppleCare Protection Plan is added. 15-inch models with AppleCare are up to $225 off, while 13-inch models with AppleCare are up to $117 off, depending upon the configuration selected.
A limited number of MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models remain in stock, with the majority estimated to ship in 2-4 weeks. Prices are valid until November 26. For reference, here is Expercom's sales tax policy.
The deal is one of the best we've seen for any Wi-Fi or cellular 9.7-inch iPad Pro this week. But hurry, as the sale only runs until 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday.
Update: The sale has ended.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo Video and may sometimes get paid if you click one of the above links and purchase a product or service.
Since it's been revealed that Apple chose to use a soldered down, non-removable SSD in its 13-inch and 15-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pros, it's natural for users to wonder about the fate of their data in the event of a fault that requires a logic board replacement.
Fortunately it appears as if Apple has a proprietary in-house tool to rescue stored user data when disaster strikes. 9to5Mac reports that a dedicated port on the logic board allows Apple staff to attach the recovery tool once the board's been removed from the chassis. The tool then transfers the data from the SSD to a working MacBook Pro's drive via one of its USB-C ports.
All indications are that users won't be able to get their hands on this recovery tool, as it's only available to Apple support staff for emergency use when a laptop sent in for repair won't boot.
Apple's special Black Friday shopping event is now live in the United States and Canada, offering customers free Apple Store gift cards worth up to $150 or CA$200 with the purchase of selected Apple products today only.
The offers are available through Apple's website and retail stores in both countries. Each customer is limited to two gift cards per product category. Refurbished products and educational store purchases do not qualify.
U.S. rebate amounts include:
- Macs: $150 (iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro sans late 2016 models) - iPad Pro: $100 - iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4: $50 - iPhone 6s and 6s Plus: $50 - iPhone SE: $25 - Apple Watch Series 1: $25 - Apple TV: $25
Apple's offers are rather lackluster considering better Black Friday deals are available on select iPhones, iPads, and Macs from authorized resellers such as B&H Photo Video and MacMall. Moreover, many of Apple's newest products such as the iPhone 7 and MacBook Pro with Touch Bar are not eligible for the gift card promotion.
The one-day shopping event has concluded in Australia and New Zealand, where it is now Saturday local time.
Thanksgiving is well underway in the United States, and Black Friday deals at online and brick and mortar stores are starting to go live. Many major retail stores like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart will be opening their doors in the evening, and many online-only deals are already live.
We've rounded up some of the best deals we've come across on Apple products like the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac below, and many, many more deals can be found in our full Black Friday roundup.
iPad Pro
For the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, Target is offering the best deals, dropping the price by $150.99. With the discount, the entry-level 32GB Wi-Fi only iPad Pro model is available for $449.
For the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, MacMall has the best deals, dropping prices by as much as $149.
If you're looking for a less expensive iPad during Black Friday, Target is offering solid a deal on the iPad Air 2.
The entry-level Wi-Fi only iPad Air 2 is available from Target for $274 or Best Buy for $275, a significant discount off of the regular $399 price tag. Other capacities are also available at a discounted price.
Target has the iPad mini 2 available for $199.79, a discount of $70.20 off the regular price.
iPhone
Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are all offering up to $250 in gift cards to their respective stores with the purchase of an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus on an eligible device payment plan.
Deals at Best Buy and Target apply are available for Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T customers, while Walmart's deal is available for AT&T and Verizon customers. Walmart's gift card is also available to customers who purchase an earlier iPhone model.
For T-Mobile customers or those who wish to become T-Mobile customers, T-Mobile is offering a Black Friday trade-in deal that drops the cost of the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus to $0 with the trade-in of an eligible device, making it a good option for switchers. Customers can trade in an iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, or iPhone 7 Plus, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, or Note 5 for a free iPhone 7 or an iPhone 7 Plus that's free or discounted to $100 based on the device traded in.
Verizon has a similar deal that will allow Verizon customers to get an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus for $0 with a device payment plan and the trade-in of an eligible device. The deal will be delivered in the form of a monthly device payment plan credit. Eligible devices include the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge +, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung Note5, LG V20, LG G5 and Moto Droid Turbo 2.
Apple Watch
Kohl's will be offering one of the best deals on an Apple Watch Series 2 model. There's no discount, but the store is planning on offering $105 in Kohl's cash to customers who make a purchase on Black Friday. Kohl's doesn't yet carry the full Apple Watch 2 line, so stock may be limited, making it a good idea to call your local retail store before heading out.
Most Kohl's stores will open at 6:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, November 24, but opening times do vary by location.
Series 1 Apple Watches can be purchased from $198 from Target, a discount of $71.99 off of the regular $270 price tag.
Target has the best prices on the fourth-generation Apple TV, offering a 25 percent discount.
- 32GB Apple TV is available for $112.50, down from $149.99 ($37.50 off). - 64GB Apple TV is available for $150, down from $199.99 ($50 off).
MacBook Pro
Amazon is discounting Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar by $100, dropping the price from $1,499 to $1,399. Because the MacBook Pro is so new, Amazon's deal is one of the only MacBook Pro deals that's available. The discount is available on both the Space Gray and Silver models.
B&H Photo and MacMall are offering 2015 and 2016 Retina MacBook models at a $100 to $400 discount, with specific configurations and pricing listed below.
Mac deals are few and far between this year, but Best Buy is offering some solid discounts on the MacBook Air. Best Buy is discounting both 13-inch MacBook Air models by $200, both of which feature an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128 or 256GB of storage.
Best Buy is discounting the 27-inch 5K Retina iMac with a 3.2GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 1TB hard drive by $200, dropping the price from $1,799.99 to $1,599.99.
The 21.5-inch iMac with a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 1TB hard drive is available for $899, a $200 discount from the standard $1,099 price tag.
B&H Photo and MacMall also have discounts on several iMac models, with prices and configurations listed below:
Make sure to check out our Black Friday roundup for specific times on when retail stores will open and for more information on the deals listed above. Our roundup also has hundreds of additional deals on Apple products and Apple-related accessories, so it's well worth a look if you want to score a new MacBook, iPhone, or iPad on the cheap.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
Apple authorized reseller B&H Photo Video has started its annual holiday sale with a number of discounts on Apple products, ranging from the new MacBook Pro to iPad. Some of the deals include a free download of Parallels 12 for Mac. B&H does not charge sales tax on online orders in all states except New York.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo Video and may sometimes get paid if you click one of the above links and purchase a product or service.
Apple authorized reseller MacMall has started its annual Black Friday sale and is offering some of the best discounts we've seen on 12.9-inch iPad Pro models this week. MacMall is also offering some decent savings on other iPads, and select 12-inch MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Apple TV models.
Apple is working with LG on a new dual camera module capable of 3D photography effects for potential use in its 10th anniversary iPhone, according to a brief report in The Korea Economic Daily.
The article is short on details, but states that the "LG Innotek" dual-lens camera will likely be used in Apple's new products in the latter half of 2017.
Sources close to the situation said, "Apple is now studying how to apply its 3D camera technology into LG Innotek's smartphone camera," adding, "Since LG Innotek also has its own 3D camera and related technologies, such joint efforts will likely to bear fruit sometime within next year."
The article mentions the LinX Imaging company Apple bought last year. In acquiring the Israeli startup, Apple took ownership of LinX's enhanced camera technology, which included 3D depth mapping and lighting enhancements, likely used to create features such as Portrait Mode seen in the iPhone 7.
It's unclear what other "3D photographing" features the sources are referring to that would be hardware-based, although Apple does own old patents for face and biometric recognition. Otherwise, Apple has patented inventions in the past for high-end image analysis techniques such as object recognition, but these largely rely on software. Apple is also said to have a team of people working on integrating augmented reality functionality into the iPhone's camera app.
Apple has a major iPhone redesign planned for 2017, with a glass body and edge-to-edge OLED display that includes an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor, front-facing camera. The new iPhone may be sold alongside upgraded (but standard) 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones, and could potentially feature wireless charging.
Apple's one-day shopping event is now live in Australia and New Zealand, offering customers free Apple Store gift cards worth up to A$200 or NZ$215 with the purchase of selected Apple products today only.
The offers are available through Apple's website in both countries and at Apple retail store locations in Australia. Each customer is limited to two gift cards per product category. Refurbished products do not qualify.
In Australia, Apple is offering a $35 gift card with the purchase of an iPhone SE, or a $70 gift card with the purchase of an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, at full retail price. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models do not appear to qualify.
Australian customers can also get a $140 gift card with the purchase of an iPad Pro, $70 gift card with the purchase of an iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 4, and a $35 gift card with the purchase of an Apple Watch Series 1 model or fourth-generation Apple TV.
The exact breakdown of Apple's one-day shopping event in Australia:
The exact breakdown of Apple's one-day shopping event in New Zealand:
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has stoked speculation this week that Redmond is prepping a new line of smartphones under the Surface brand for launch in early 2017.
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review published on Monday, Nadella said the company was conducting innovative research that would ensure it continued to have a presence in the smartphone market. However, rather than follow a present trend, Microsoft would attempt to re-define the field in a single-handed pursuit of the "ultimate mobile device".
Underlining his philosophy, Nadella said that the company would not launch into a device category without bringing something different to the table, because it was more interested in how individuals and organizations were using devices, and less in the devices themselves.
"We don't want to be driven by just envy of what others have, the question is, what can we bring? That's where I look at any device form factor or any technology, even AI," he said. "We will continue to be in the phone market not as defined by today's market leaders, but by what it is that we can uniquely do in what is the most ultimate mobile device."
Rumors of a "Surface Phone" that would complement the popular Surface Book and the highly praised Surface Studio have been bubbling away for a while. Some rumors suggest a device running Windows 10 Mobile OS, others predict a range of devices, some of which could sport a keyboard flip case reminiscent of Blackberry phones. Meanwhile, several observers have pointed to the HP Elite x3 – part smartphone, part mini PC – as a potential indicator of where the company could take its mobile ambitions, possibly as soon as early next year.
The introduction of a Surface Phone would represent a bold return to the smartphone market for Microsoft, after its consumer phone ambitions fell flat following the company's Nokia mobile acquisition over two years ago. Microsoft subsequently laid off hundreds of employees tied to its smartphone business in May, suggesting the company had all but given up on the consumer phone market.
Amazon today began offering devices in its Echo smart speaker range at discounted prices for the first time in the products' short history, as part of its Black Friday Deals Week.
For those unfamiliar with the devices, the connected speakers' array of microphones lets users query voice-based assistant Alexa, who can be asked to do things like play music, read the news, use apps, check the weather, turn on the lights, set timers, and more.
Apple is also offering its own Black Friday deals this year. For all the discounts on Apple products offered on Amazon, Apple, and elsewhere, be sure to check out the MacRumorsBlack Friday Holiday Roundup, continually updated throughout the week.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and may sometimes get paid if you click one of the above links and purchase a product or service.
A web developer and graphic designer has created a fully functioning touchscreen "Apple Mirror", offering a reflective look into an imagined future where Cupertino builds smart screens for the home.
New York-based Rafael Dymek created the mirror as a personal project, aping elements of iOS 10 to augment the interface, which appears to run off the back of a modified desktop touchscreen OS.
The "Apple Mirror" features the date and time in the top right corner and a weather forecast in the top left. Beneath these sit several working iOS app icons which can be rearranged with the drag of a finger.
A tap opens the apps in the familiar manner, albeit in a windowed mode, although this does allow for easy multi-tasking. Dymek demonstrates some of the possibilities of his modified Apple interface, which include the ability to request an Uber, watch Netflix, read the news, control a Nest thermostat and smart light bulbs, control output to a Sonos speaker system, and more.
After 45 seconds of inactivity, the interface goes to sleep and the touchscreen looks like an ordinary mirror, while a simple tap resumes use. Check out the video to see it in action.
A report from the Taiwanese supply chain emerged overnight claiming Apple will release a 10.5-inch "education and enterprise" tablet as part of its iPad line-up next year (via DigiTimes). The 10.5-inch iPad is said to be equipped with Apple's A10X processor, also expected in next year's refreshed line-up, with production slated to begin next month.
Apple is launching the 10.5-inch iPad mainly because 10-inch and larger tablets have been popular among enterprises and the education sector in the US, the sources said. Its existing 9.7-inch iPad may be too small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro too expensive for such procurement, the sources indicated.
A number of claims have emerged recently suggesting Apple plans to extend its iPad line-up with a new tablet dimension in the 10-inch range. Earlier this month, Barclays analysts claimed Apple will release a bezel-free 10.9-inch model alongside refreshed 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPads, citing its own supply chain sources, while in October Japanese website Mac Otakara said a new 10.1-inch iPad Pro would launch in early 2017.
However, today's report marks the second independent source to suggest Apple plans to introduce a 10.5-inch mid-tier iPad. In August, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the same thing and earmarked the same A10X processor for the tablet, suggesting there may be more substance to this particular rumor.
In addition, Kuo claimed Apple will also launch lower-price versions of the 9.7-inch iPad. Today's sources corroborate that claim also, citing Apple's apparent intention "to compete with Android models".
Shipments of the rumored 10.5-inch iPad are expected to reach two million units in the first quarter of 2017 and may reach 5 to 6 million units in the year, DigiTimes sources said.
More "revolutionary" changes to iPads, including a switch to OLED displays, are expected in 2018, according to Kuo's earlier report.
Verizon today announced its Black Friday deals, introducing a discount that will give customers a chance to purchase an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus for as little as $0 when trading in an eligible smartphone and selecting a device payment plan.
Verizon customers will be able to get an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus at a reduced cost and with no money down when trading in one of thirteen eligible smartphones. Eligible devices include the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung Note5, LG V20, LG G5 and Moto Droid Turbo 2.
Customers who switch to Verizon and purchase a smartphone on a device payment plan will also be able to get a $200 prepaid Visa gift card for up to 4 lines. A family of four that switches to Verizon during Black Friday, for example, will be able to get $800 back while also taking advantage of the trade-in plan.
Verizon's deals will be available online starting on Thursday, November 24 and in stores starting on Friday, November 25. Discounts will be available through Sunday.
Verizon is also offering discounts on iPads. The 32GB iPad mini 2 can be purchased for $99 with a two-year agreement, and when purchasing an iPhone, customers can get $250 off an iPad.
Other Deals
Valid until Friday:
UE Boom 2 - $99.99, down from $199.99
Beats UrBeats earbuds - $49.99, down from $100
Fitbit Charge 2 - $130, down from $150, also includes $25 mail-in Visa gift card rebate
Valid through Sunday:
Harmon Kardon Onyx Bluetooth Speaker - $99.99, down from $200
Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones - $224.99, down from $300
Starting on November 24, Hermès boutiques will begin selling an exclusive "Equateur Tattoo" Apple Watch band designed using a jungle print from naturalist artist Robert Dallet, reports Vogue's French site.
Priced at 419 euros, the band is similar to the Single Tour that Hermés has offered for several months and features the same design that's been previously used by Hermès on other products. It has a jungle leaf design in black and white, with a colorful cheetah at one side of the band.
Though Apple and Hermès have a partnership that sees Apple selling Apple Watch Hermès models with exclusive Hermès bands, the new Robert Dallet band will not be available in Apple Stores. It will be sold in limited quantities in Hermès locations and is expected to sell out quickly.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed new federal guidelines [PDF] intended to reduce distracted driving caused by smartphone use behind the wheel.
The voluntary guidelines recommend smartphone makers like Apple develop a Driver Mode, a simplified interface that would prevent access to non-driving-related tasks such as manual text messaging, social media content, automatically scrolling text, and viewing images and video not related to driving.
Driver Mode would not be initiated if the smartphone is already paired to a vehicle's infotainment system, while certain features such as maps and access to emergency services and alerts would not be locked out.
The NHTSA said technologies exist that could detect whether a driver is using a smartphone behind the wheel, and presumably enable Driver Mode, but refinements are still being made to ensure reliability. In the meantime, Driver Mode would have to be manually enabled by drivers who choose to use it.
Smartphone use while driving continues to be a major problem, despite the safety risks to drivers, passengers, and other drivers sharing the road.
The NHTSA said driver distraction was responsible for 10% of fatal crashes, 18% of crashes causing injuries, and 16% of all traffic crashes in the United States in 2014, the most recent year in which detailed distracted driving crash data is available. In total, the year had 385 fatal crashes that involved the use of a cell phone.
"Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic that has devastating consequences on our nation's roadways," said Secretary LaHood. "These guidelines recognize that today's drivers appreciate technology, while providing automakers with a way to balance the innovation consumers want with the safety we all need. Combined with good laws, good enforcement and good education, these guidelines can save lives."
Given the guidelines are voluntary, Apple and other smartphone makers are under no obligation to adhere to them.
The NHTSA is accepting public feedback about the distracted driving guidelines on the Regulations.gov website.
Microsoft today launched the "Microsoft Solitaire Collection" on iOS and Android, a package of classic Solitaire games that include Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, and Tripeaks. As noted by The Verge, Microsoft's version of Solitaire has been available on Windows for more than 25 years, but this marks the first time that the game has been extended to other platforms.
The app will offer daily challenges for players, with four varying levels of difficulty, and Xbox Live integration will let anyone with a subscription to Microsoft's console service sign into their account, compete with friends, and earn achievements. Cloud saves will allow for multi-device use as well.
The World's #1 Solitaire game is now on iPhone and iPad! For over 25 years, Microsoft Solitaire Collection remains one of the most played games of all time and is now available FREE for your iPhone or iPad! The Microsoft Solitaire Collection offers FIVE of the best Solitaire card games in one app!
Microsoft Solitaire Collection is available to download for free from the iOS App Store [Direct Link], and there's also a premium upgrade that gets rid of ads, includes double rewards bonuses, and offers other incentives for $1.99 per month.
Name: Alto's Adventure
Name: Fantastical 2 for iPhone
Name: Deliveries
Name: Gears
Name: Out There: Ω Edition
12.9-inch iPad Pro
12-inch MacBook
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has stoked speculation this week that Redmond is prepping a new line of smartphones under the Surface brand for launch in early 2017.
