A long-requested feature could be coming to the iOS and Android versions of Netflix, letting users download TV shows and movies for offline viewing instead of being stranded in areas without Wi-Fi or a cellular signal when wanting to watch the video streaming service. Netflix has been lagging behind its competitors in this regard, with companies like Amazon and YouTube allowing some form of offline viewing to its paying members.
Answering a question from Re/code yesterday, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings admitted that the company would consider the possibility for users to download its videos moving forward, without directly confirming it would implement the feature anytime soon. The wording of Hastings' comment also suggests that if offline viewing ever came, Netflix would angle it as an assistive feature for countries with less reliable internet speeds, rather than a bullet point benefit to its broader subscriber base.
“We should keep an open mind on this. We’ve been so focused on click-and-watch and the beauty and simplicity of streaming. But as we expand around the world, where we see an uneven set of networks, it’s something we should keep an open mind about.”
Netflix's previous stance on offline viewing was a belief that the introduction of such a feature would add too much complexity into a service that prides itself on simplicity of use. Last September, the company's Chief Product Officer, Neil Hunt, said that Netflix believes it's "not a very compelling proposition" moving forward. Undoubtedly content licenses would be a hurdle for the feature as well, but given the steadily growing amount of Netflix-created original content, users would have plenty of TV shows, movies, and documentaries to choose from if offline viewing ever becomes available.
Less than two hours after announcing the new 12-inch MacBook, which has yet to become available for purchase online, Apple has released the first software update for the notebook.
Apple's website says the Bluetooth update for the 12-inch MacBook (Early 2016) improves compatibility with third-party Bluetooth devices, and is recommended for all users.
The software update is a 157.8MB download and requires OS X El Capitan 10.11.4.
Following an announcement earlier in the month, Apple today began selling the higher-end Apple Watch Hermès bands separately in its online store. Before today, the only way to get a band from the French lifestyle accessory brand was to buy an Apple Watch collection which included either the Single Tour, Double Tour, or Cuff bands, ranging between $1,100 and $1,500.
Now those who already have an Apple Watch can splurge on the Hermès bands, and choose from an array of new colors including sapphire blue, peacock blue, white and orange. The color options do vary by casing size and band design, however. For the $340 Single Tour bands, the 42mm size is offered in sapphire blue, deer brown, fire orange and black, while 38mm users have additional choices of white and peacock blue.
The $490 Double Tour option is aimed at smaller wrists and is available only in 38mm option, but in two regular and long strap lengths. The regular length will be available in white, peacock blue, sapphire blue, tin gray, deer brown and fire orange, while the longer length band comes in deer brown. The $690, 42mm-only Cuff band is still being sold in just the deer brown color option.
Apple has updated its Apple Watch band storefront to include the Hermès collection, but the new page has a few bugs and broken images and links, so users can't fully purchase the bands separately as of yet. Apple began selling the Apple Watch Hermès collections on its website in January, which was an online expansion of its previous exclusivity to select boutique retailers and Apple Store locations. Since the new bands are being sold separately from an Apple Watch, it also appears users who purchase a band only won't get the Hermès exclusive Apple Watch clock face.
In addition to releasing the next-generation 12-inch MacBook with faster specs and a Rose Gold color option, Apple has announced that its two 13-inch MacBook Air configurations now ship with 8GB of RAM as a standard option starting today.
13-inch MacBook Air models previously had 4GB of RAM for stock configurations, with 8GB of RAM available as an upgrade option for built-to-order models. 11-inch MacBook Air models continue to have 4GB of RAM for base configurations.
Apple did not make any other changes to the MacBook Air lineup, which is awkwardly positioned between the ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook and the MacBook Pro. In fact, there is some speculation that the MacBook Air might eventually be discontinued, but for now it lives on with older Broadwell processors and no Retina display.
Apple today announced that it has released new 12-inch MacBook models with the latest sixth-generation Skylake dual-core Intel Core M processors up to 1.3 GHz, new Intel HD Graphics 515 that deliver up to 25% faster performance, faster PCIe-based flash storage, an additional hour of battery life, and faster 1866 MHz memory.
The ultra-thin notebook has the same all-metal unibody enclosure that remains 13.1 mm thick and weighs just 2 pounds, with a full-sized butterfly mechanism keyboard and Force Touch trackpad. Like the original model, the new 12-inch MacBook is also fanless and has no moving parts or vents.
The notebook continues to have a 12-inch display with a 2,304-by-1,440 resolution at 226 PPI, single USB 3.1 Type-C port, 256GB or 512GB flash storage, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, a 480p FaceTime camera, stereo speakers, dual microphones, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The one-hour improvement to battery life, which is now up to 10 hours, was achieved not only by more efficient Skylake processors, but also due to a larger 41.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery. The original 12-inch MacBook has a slightly smaller 39.7-watt-hour battery that lasts up to 9 hours per charge.
The refreshed 12-inch MacBook models are available through Apple's online store starting today, and at Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers starting tomorrow. The base 1.1GHz Core m3 model costs $1,299, while the faster 1.2GHz Core m5 model costs $1,599. The 1.3GHz Core m7 is a $250 upgrade.
In addition to Rose Gold, the 12-inch MacBook remains available in existing Gold, Silver, and Space Gray colors.
Apple has also made 8GB of memory standard across all 13-inch MacBook Air configurations.
Apple has been granted a patent today for an invention that enables a touchpad or touch surface to simulate textures like cool metal and hot cement.
The patent, originally filed in 2013 and called "Touch Surface for Simulating Materials" (via Patently Apple), appears in a series of 62 others published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and includes details on the mechanisms that would allow the touchpad to vibrate and change temperature.
An "actuator" would allow at least a part of the surface to vibrate and simulate the tactile sensation of the texture, with rougher surfaces simulated by stronger vibrations. By varying the vibrations over time in response to a finger moving over the touch surface, the control actuator would even be able to simulate irregular textures such as wood grain.
In combination with the actuator, a temperature control device could control the heat or coolness of the glass touch surface relative to the temperature of the detected contact. In one example, a layer of diamond material in the touch surface provides extremely high thermal conductivity, exceptional wear resistance and optical transparency.
As with any filed patent, the technology is unlikely to appear in any product soon, if at all. But it does offer some insight into Apple's ideas about how it might innovate upon haptic technology in its devices with simulated touch.
Last-minute rumors prior to the release of the third-generation iPad in 2012 suggested that the device could include haptic technology that would give on-screen objects texture, but the feature never appeared.
Apple kicked off its Earth Day celebrations last Thursday, outfitting retail employees with green shirts, decorating Apple Store logos with green leaves, and launching an "Apps for Earth" promotion that will see in-app purchases from partner apps donated to the World Wildlife Fund.
Apple is also celebrating Earth Day, which takes place on Friday, April 22, with a selection of Earth-inspired Apple Music playlists. There are five playlists available, each with a collection of 22 to 25 songs spanning a wide range of genres and musical tastes, as outlined below.
Celebrating Mother Earth - From sun and sky to seas and trees, musicians pay tribute to the natural world in this set of uplifting tunes. Songs included are from artists like The Beatles, Coldplay, U2, Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson, John Denver, and Cat Stevens.
Power Off - Laidback, moody, contemplative tunes for when it's time to chill. Songs included are from artists like Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Sia, Adele, Maroon 5, Ryan Adams, and Alicia Keys.
From the Roots - Rustic. Earthy. Unplugged. Timeless. Revel in this mix of straight up classics from rock's most iconic artists and their acoustic guitars. Songs included are from artists like Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bon Iver, Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, and The Who.
Recycle: Covers - Anything goes when these legendary tunes are given a brand-new touch. Songs include well-known covers from a number of artists like The White Stripes, David Bowie, Adele, Johnny Cash, Yo La Tengo, Saint Etienne, and Smashing Pumpkins.
Amor a La Naturaleza - What better way to pay homage to the natural world than with songs that celebrate the wonder all around us? In honor of Earth Day, these eclectic, electrifying Latin alternative artists do just that. Songs included are from artists like Alex Ferreira, Ana Tijoux, Ekhymosis, Nicola Cruz, Astro, Bomba Estéreo, and Chancha via Circuito.
The five Earth Day Apple Music playlists are available to all Apple Music subscribers and can be found under the "New" section.
Apple today updated its website and its Apple Pay support document to note the expansion of the Apple Pay payment service to Singapore. With the addition of Singapore, Apple Pay is now available in six countries, including Canada, China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Apple Pay is available in Singapore through a partnership with American Express, first announced by Apple in October of 2015. By partnering with American Express, Apple has brought Apple Pay to Singapore, Canada, and Australia and will expand it to Hong Kong and Spain later this year.
According to Apple's Singapore website, Apple Pay is currently available to American Express users in the country. American Express cardholders can add their credit cards to the Wallet app by opening the app and tapping on the "+" button or using Settings and tapping "Add Credit or Debit Card."
Apple Pay is limited to cards issued by American Express, but the website says Apple Pay support will expand to major credit and debit cards from top banks "soon." Visa is listed as a credit card partner that will support Apple Pay in Singapore in the future, as are the following banks: DBS, UOB, and Standard Chartered.
Apple Pay is available in a range of retail locations in Singapore, including Starbucks, FairPrice, StarHub, Uniqlo, TopShop, and Shaw Theaters, along with other stores that have NFC-equipped payment terminals. Additional partners like BreadTalk, Cold Storage, FoodRepublic, Giant, and more will be adding support for Apple Pay soon.
Apple Pay will also soon be available within apps, with Uber and HomeAway Asia set to be two of the first apps that will offer Apple Pay support in Singapore.
iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, and SE users can now use Apple Pay in retail stores, and with the Apple Watch, Apple Pay is extended to the iPhone 5, 5c, and 5s. Apple Pay within apps is available on the iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, SE, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, and both iPad Pro models.
Apple today updated its web portal designed for developers with a new section entitled "Making Great Apps for the App Store," aimed at helping developers grow their businesses and reach more users with their apps.
Included are resources for planning apps, App Store guidelines, tools for submitting apps, and a section on developer insights featuring stories from developers who have created successful titles.
The App Store makes it simple for users around the world to discover, download and enjoy your apps. Grow your business with resources designed to help you create great apps and reach more users.
Several sections of the App Store portal have previously existed, including the sections for Guidelines and submitting an app to the App Store, but the revamped site makes these tools easier to find and combines them together in a more logical way.
Apple's App Store "Planning" feature, which aggregates some previously available information and offers new tidbits, covers the best methods for choosing effective categories for apps and getting apps discovered, including the qualities Apple seeks when planning to feature an app. It also includes ideal business models, tips for offering subscriptions and freemium apps, using analytics for marketing, and engaging users with app updates.
The Developer Insights section includes success stories from developers like Seriously, Grailr, Evernote, and Smule, covering everything from bringing an app to Apple Watch to building a brand on social media.
Apple's revamped App Store developer section comes just as the company has announced its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference, set to take place from June 13 to June 17 in San Francisco, California.
Apple today confirmed its annual Worldwide Developers Conference for 2016 will take place on June 13 to 17 at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, California, the same venue where WWDC has been held for the last 10 years. A keynote set to be held on Monday, June 13 will also take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The dates of Apple's conference were first leaked by Siri earlier today.
Apple's 2016 conference will give developers the opportunity to meet with more than 1,000 Apple engineers and attend hands-on labs, over 100 technical sessions, and more. The event will also be used to unveil new versions of iOS and OS X, likely iOS 10 and OS X 10.12, with developers able to learn about the updated operating systems at the conference to get a head start on app development.
"With four innovative operating systems and a new, intuitive programming language powering over 1 billion devices worldwide, there has never been a more exciting time to bring our developer community together," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "WWDC 2016 is going to be a landmark event for developers who are coding in Swift, and building apps and products for iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS. We can't wait for everyone to join us -- in San Francisco or through the live stream."
The Worldwide Developers Conference has become so popular that Apple provides tickets to developers through a lottery system, with attendees chosen randomly from a pool of registered applicants. Developers can apply for a ticket starting today, with registration lasting through Friday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Those who win a ticket to attend WWDC will be notified by Monday, April 25 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.
WWDC tickets for 2016 are priced at $1,599. Developers wishing to purchase tickets must have been registered members of Apple's Developer Program prior to today's event announcement to prevent last minute signups. Up to 350 WWDC Scholarships will be provided to students and members of participating STEM organizations around the world. Apple will also be providing 125 scholarships to aspiring developers with financial limitations, a program that is new this year.
As has been the case in previous years, developers between the ages of 13 and 17 must have their tickets purchased by a parent or guardian who is also an eligible member. All tickets sold are limited to the applicant and cannot be sold, resold, or transferred.
Apple has provided a full rundown of what developers can expect at WWDC for the ticket price:
- over 1,000 Apple engineers supporting more than 150 hands-on labs and events to provide developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS technologies in their apps;
- access to the latest innovations, features and capabilities of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS, and best practices for enhancing an app’s functionality, performance, quality and design;
- the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS developers from around the world — last year, 80 percent of developers attended for their first time, and in total, more than 70 countries were represented;
- a series of get-togethers for attendees focused on particular topics with special guest speakers and activities;
- engaging and inspirational lunchtime sessions with trailblazers and influencers from the worlds of technology, science and entertainment; and
- the Apple Design Awards which recognize iPhone®, iPad®, Apple Watch®, Apple TV® and Mac® apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.
For developers who are unable to attend, Apple plans to stream WWDC sessions live, both through its website and through the WWDC app. For non-developers, the highlight of the event will be the keynote kicking off the conference, which is often used to show off new products and services along with new versions of iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS.
According to Apple, the average iPhone user unlocks his or her iPhone 80 times per day, and 89 percent of iPhone users who have access to Touch ID have set it up and use it to unlock their devices, saving valuable time over entering a PIN.
During a 12 hour day, that equates to checking one's iPhone 6 to 7 times per hour or approximately every 10 minutes. Over the course of a full day, using Touch ID instead of a PIN code can save several minutes of time, and as it doesn't disrupt the iPhone entry experience, it's something most people don't hesitate to enable.
As Bajarin points out, implementing security on a device that needs to be unlocked close to a hundred times a day is no small feat, with Touch ID serving as an example of Apple's efforts to balance security with user experience.
Apple is attempting something that seems unprecedented at an industry level. To bring industry leading security but do so by actually enhancing the user experience. Prior to Touch ID for example, many organizations required eight, and sometimes longer, PIN numbers. Imagine entering that many numbers every time you pick up your smartphone. [...]
Regardless, the simple act of logging into our phone via a secure form of login like passcodes or fingerprints is now taken for granted in much of Apple's ecosystem when, just a few years ago, anyone could have stolen my phone and have access to my personal information.
Available since 2013, Touch ID now comes standard on all of Apple's iOS devices from the iPhone 5s and later, the iPad Air 2 and later, and the iPad mini 3 and later. In addition to allowing Apple to replace the passcode with a faster iPhone entry method, Touch ID enables password replacement in third-party apps, is used to verify iTunes purchases, and is a key part of Apple Pay, Apple's payment service where each purchase is verified with a user's fingerprint.
In a longer piece covering the streaming television and video ambitions of Apple, Alibaba, Facebook, and Google, Fast Company suggests Apple is covertly pursuing original television programming deals that would establish it as a major player in the entertainment industry.
Apple is said to be seeking deals with "triple A-list" talent to create a full roster of shows to put it on par with Netflix and Amazon, both of which have successfully launched popular original television shows like House of Cards, Jessica Jones, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Sources that spoke to Fast Company say Apple is aiming to run several major shows at once, perhaps as part of a major launch.
At last year's Sundance Film Festival, Apple created an iTunes Lounge where it hosted private invitation-only events for film makers, producers, and other talent. At the event, described as sleek and understated, attendees said Apple was "definitely talking to the talent." As has been previously rumored, Apple execs also traveled to Los Angeles to hear ideas for original television shows, with Apple's original programming efforts being led by Robert Kondrk, vice president of iTunes Content.
The iTunes Lounge was in fact part of a stealth effort by Apple to establish a new, more active role in delivering entertainment. In the weeks that followed, Apple execs were in Los Angeles hearing pitches for original TV series that it plans to launch on an "exclusives" app on Apple TV and within iTunes. Apple wants to work with "triple A-list" talent, according to a source, and build up a roster of must-see shows available only on its platform. Naturally, the talks have been veiled in the utmost secrecy. Producers who have met with Apple will refer to it only as the United Fruit Company.
Given Apple's positive reputation among creators, Apple has the draw to attract quality talent and the cash reserves to fund high ticket shows. Content creators are said to be "so excited" about the possibility of working with Apple that people are "throwing [ideas] against the wall with them, to every extent possible."
According to five sources who spoke to Fast Company, however, Apple is "disorganized" and "hasn't presented a coherent strategy" for its television plans. The company is reportedly taking a "two-lane" approach to original television programming, producing a series of short films, documentaries, and music videos to promote Apple music while simultaneously developing full Netflix-style original programming.
Apple already has two known television projects in the works. The first, which has not yet been officially announced, is said to be an Apple Music-related project called Vital Signs, which is a dark semi-autobiographical drama starring Beats co-founder and Apple executive Dr. Dre. The second, which was announced in March, is a non-scripted television show that will "spotlight the app economy." Apple is working with Will.i.am, Ben Silverman, and Howard T. Owens on the series.
Alongside the announcement of the the App Store television series, iTunes chief Eddy Cue cautioned the show is not a signal Apple is delving deeper into original television and streaming video, despite rumors to the contrary.
"This doesn't mean that we are going into a huge amount of movie production or TV production or anything like that," Cue said at the time, but he did say Apple would explore similar exclusive projects. Hollywood sources told Fast Company that Apple is approaching its television ambitions with caution and that Cue's statement is "merely tamping down expectations."
At today's National Association of Broadcasters Convention (or NAB), LaCie announced the new 12big Thunderbolt 3 professional 12-bay desktop RAID storage solution.
The 12big combines a storage capacity of up to 96TB with the performance speeds of Thunderbolt 3 and RAID 5/6, aimed at helping video professionals and other creatives manage data from high-end cameras that record 4/5/and 6K footage. With enterprise-class 7200RPM drives with 256MB cache and a RAID controller, the 12big can reach speeds of up to 2600MB/s or 2400MB/s in RAID 5.
According to LaCie, the transfer speeds can "slash time off nearly every post-production workflow task," and with Thunderbolt 3, users can daisy chain dual 4K displays or a single 5K display to the 12big.
"LaCie is committed to helping video professionals master ever-increasing data demands by ensuring their irreplaceable data is secure, available on demand and always driving value," said Tim Bucher, Senior Vice President of Seagate and LaCie Branded Solutions, "The combination of higher spatial resolution and 3D imagery, as well as higher dynamic range and frame rates, is driving the need for high-capacity and high-speed digital storage systems. We purpose-built the LaCie 12big to have the speed, capacity and reliability to efficiently download and edit even the most demanding content--so our customers can focus on making their creative vision a reality."
The 12big includes a new LaCie RAID manager with a more intuitive interface for managing the 12big, with access to diagnostics and settings plus built-in tools for easily creating and managing volumes based on individual needs. The aluminum enclosure of the 12big is designed to efficiently dissipate heat, and for thermoregulated fans keep drives cool. Drive health and RAID build status can be tracked using exterior drive status LEDs located on the front of the 12big.
LaCie plans to begin selling the 12big this summer in 48, 72, and 96TB capacities both through the LaCie website and LaCie resellers.
As we reported in January, Apple plans to hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 13 to June 17 in San Francisco, at the Moscone West convention center where the conference has been held for the past several years.
The official WWDC dates have leaked courtesy of Siri (via 9to5Mac), who, when asked when WWDC will be held responds: "The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be held June 13 to June 17 in San Francisco. I'm so excited!"
While today's information counts as official confirmation that the conference will be held from June 13 to June 17, the dates in question were already known based on scheduling information at Moscone West. Since January, the Moscone Center has been booked for the first, second, fourth, and fifth weeks of June, leaving only the third week open for Apple.
Given that Siri is providing information about the Worldwide Developers Conference, the ticket lottery for the event is imminent and could go live as soon as tomorrow. Due to the popularity of the event, Apple offers each $1,599 ticket to developers based on a lottery system.
Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference is of interest to developers because it gives them a chance to interface with Apple engineers and attend a wide variety of instructional websites to learn methods for improving their apps. For non-developers, the Worldwide Developers Conference provides a first look at new versions of iOS and OS X and is also often used as a venue for introducing new products and services.
Today at the 2016 NAB Show, CalDigitannounced four new storage products utilizing the latest Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 Type-C technologies.
The first is the CalDigit T8, a Thunderbolt 3 RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and JBOD storage solution with 8-bays offering capacities up to 48TB with 3.5” HDDs and 8TB with SSDs. The device's dual Thunderbolt 3 ports deliver up to 40Gb/s bandwidth, while dual USB-C ports work with Type-C computers like the 12-inch Retina MacBook.
The new T8 features speeds of up to 1440MB/s with SSDs, two fans for cooling and a full-size DisplayPort connector on the back of the unit that enables users to connect a 4K monitor at 60Hz to the storage device. CalDigit has not released pricing for the T8 yet, but it will be available in late 2016.
The second is the CalDigit U6, a 6-bay USB 3.1 Type-C RAID 0, 5, 6, 10 and JBOD storage solution that features USB 3.1 for up to 10Gb/s throughput. Like the T8, the U6 has a USB-C connector that is compatible with any PC, Mac, or Chrome computer with Type-C ports. The U6 will start at $1,399 MSRP for the 12TB version in late 2016.
Likewise, the CalDigit AV Pro 2 is a new single-drive storage solution featuring USB 3.1 Type-C for connectivity with the 12-inch Retina MacBook and other Type-C computers. The successor to the original AV Pro features capacities up to 6TB and 1TB with SSDs, and speeds of up to 200MB/s with 3.5” HDDs or 430MB/s with SSDs.
Meanwhile, the T4 RAID will be upgraded with Thunderbolt 3 later in 2016. Pricing for the AV Pro 2 and T4 RAID has not been announced.
Apple is widely expected to release its first Mac notebooks with Thunderbolt 3 later this year. Unlike Thunderbolt 2, the technology functions over a USB-C port, meaning that the next-generation Skylake-based MacBook Pro, and possibly the MacBook Air if not discontinued, should be equipped with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C.
Former Intuit chairman and Apple board member Bill Campbell has passed away following a prolonged battle with cancer, reports Re/code. Known as "The Coach" around Silicon Valley, Campbell was known for providing sage advice to the leaders of some of the Bay Area's biggest companies, including Apple and Google. At one point, he was even assisting Apple and Google at the same time, something Steve Jobs wasn't happy with. From a 2014 interview with Fortune:
"Steve would say, 'If you're helping them you're hurting me.' He would yell at me," recalls Campbell, whose normal banter typically needs to be sanitized for most publications. " I'd say, 'I can't do HTML, come on. I'm just coaching them on how to run their company better.'
A longtime friend of Steve Jobs, Campbell first joined Apple under John Sculley, where he took on the role of Apple's Vice President of Marketing. After disagreements with Sculley, Campbell, who was a onetime coach of the Columbia Lions football team, he then founded Go Corporation, which was sold to AT&T.
From there, Campbell took on the role of CEO of Intuit and joined Apple's board of directors when Steve Jobs returned to the company in 1997. Campbell remained on Apple's board of directors for 17 years until his resignation in July of 2014.
Bill Campbell believed in Apple when few people did. We'll miss his wisdom,friendship,humor & his love for life. RIP pic.twitter.com/HA7hYgGxNM
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 18, 2016
Campbell was with Apple through all of its transitory periods, and following his retirement, he had kind words to share about Apple's current direction under Tim Cook. "Apple is an institution now," he said in the same Fortune inteview. "Tim's done an amazing job of building bench strength within the organization. There's a whole set of new and smart people who are taking over. You're watching that company grow up."
Update: Apple has posted a tribute to Bill Campbell on its website homepage, a day after his death.
Apple today updated its Maps app to add Transit information in Seattle, allowing iOS users living in the city to incorporate public transportation options like the Link Light Rail, Monorail, buses, and more into Maps when seeking directions.
Transit directions within Maps became available with the launch of iOS 9, and while Apple offered directions in a limited number of cities to begin with, the availability of Transit directions has since expanded to encompass 16 cities around the world along with dozens of cities in China.
Apple's iOS 9 Feature Availability page has not yet been updated with the addition of Seattle, but the information should be added in the near future. Including Seattle, Transit directions are now available in Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Berlin, Germany; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, England; Los Angeles, California; Mexico City, Mexico; Montreal and Toronto, Canada; New York City, New York; Philadelphia Pennsylvania; San Francisco, California, Sydney Australia; and Washington, DC.
Electronics retailer Best Buy has quietly removed all 12-inch MacBook models from its U.S. online store this week, fueling anticipation that Apple will refresh the ultra-thin notebook lineup in the near future.
The authorized reseller now lists all 12-inch MacBook models as "no longer available" on its website, whereas some remained available for purchase or in-store pickup as recently as this weekend.
Select MacBook Air models are also on sale for $150 off, potentially signaling that a broader Mac refresh could be imminent. Most current machines are historically due for an update, and appropriate Intel Skylake processors are now widely available. However, it should be noted that Best Buy frequently offers sales on Apple products.
Last month, reference of an early 2016 Retina MacBook, which has yet to be released, was discovered within OS X's System Image Utility application, spurring hopes that Apple will refresh the 12-inch MacBook by late April.
Apple has historically used the "early" model identifier for devices that launch during the first four months of the year, so Best Buy removing 12-inch MacBook stock is yet another indication that Apple may refresh the notebook within the next two weeks. If the refresh is in May or later, a "mid 2016" model identifier will likely be used.
Our Mac Buyer's Guide indicates that it has been 374 days since Apple released the current 12-inch MacBook on April 10, 2015, so it would be appropriate timing for a refresh. The notebook will likely be powered by Intel's low-power Skylake Core m3-6Y30, Core m5-6Y54, and Core m7-6Y75 processors.
Update: Select 12-inch MacBook models are also listed as out of stock at MacMall.
Less than two hours after announcing the 
Apple today 
During a Friday call with reporters where Apple 
Former Intuit chairman and Apple board member Bill Campbell has passed away following a prolonged battle with cancer, reports 
