A recent Consumer Reports survey shows that MacBooks continue to lead all notebooks in reliability and customer satisfaction, based on 58,000 subscribers who purchased laptops between 2010 and 2015.
ZDNet reports that almost 20% of the respondents experienced a breakdown in the first three years of using a notebook, but MacBooks had notably lower failure rates compared to various Windows-based notebooks from Acer, Lenovo, Samsung and other OEMs. MacBook Air had just a 7% estimated failure rate, while the MacBook Pro was slightly higher at 9%.
Apple, as in year's past, has the most reliable notebooks by far - a 10 percent breakdown rate in the first 3 years - with Samsung and Gateway distant seconds at 16 percent, and the rest of the industry - including Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba, HP, Dell and Asus, at 18-19 percent.
Windows machines used more than 20 hours a week - average for Windows systems - have a higher break rate. Apple users report using their machines an average of 23 hours a week, 15 percent more. More hours, fewer breakdowns, what's not to like?
The most reliable Windows-based notebooks in the survey were Gateway's NV (13% failure rate) and LT (14%); the Samsung ATIV Book (14%); Lenovo ThinkPads (15%); and the Dell XPS line (15%). HP's premium ENVY line was near the bottom, with a 20% failure rate, while Lenovo's Y Series had the highest failure rate at 23%.
When MacBooks do break, however, the survey found they are often more expensive to fix, which is why purchasing AppleCare is recommended. Apple provides 90 days of complimentary phone and online chat support that can be extended for a total of three years with an AppleCare Protection Plan for Macs at a cost of up to $349.
In terms of customer satisfaction, 71% of MacBook owners were "completely satisfied with system reliability," compared to "only 38% of Windows notebook owners."
United Airlines today announced a plan to equip its customer service representatives in each United States-based hub with Apple's iPhone 6 Plus. The airline said that the plan will allow each rep to assist passengers' needs faster while giving them access to "additional operational information" without needing to search for outside help.
"Our employees told us they needed better tools to serve our customers, especially during severe weather and busier travel times," said Jon Roitman, United's senior vice president of airport operations. "We have seen great success with the custom-made tools on the iPhone 6 Plus and believe expanding the use of a smart phone device with other applications is a great investment in our employees."
Estimated to begin in 2016, United will distribute an iPhone 6 Plus -- 2014's 5.5-inch display iPhone -- to more than 6,000 of its representatives across the United States. The new initiative will let the company's reps print boarding passes and baggage tags before departure, and even help customers find alternative flight options. Future enhancements to the program will bring fully-realized check-in opportunities and enough well-rounded features to give customers "much of the same functionality as traditional airport kiosks."
Previously in June, United distributed iPhones to its flight attendants in an effort to provide better customer service in-flight to passengers. That initiative was announced a year ago, so today's customer service representative program will probably see a similar six month gestation period before launching.
Developer Kevin Smith, who previously demonstrated a version of the MAME emulator running on the new Apple TV, has now made some tweaks to existing open source tools to allow game streaming from a PC to the new Apple TV. Smith took advantage of the Moonlight iOS open source project based on NVIDIA's GameStream, modifying it to run on tvOS.
Using this modified version of Moonlight iOS, Smith was able to stream games from Steam on a PC directly to the Apple TV. Without the need to run directly on the Apple device, streamed games can appear as high-quality as the source computer allows, with obvious Wi-Fi and streaming strength limitations taken into account when used without a wired Ethernet connection. In the video below, Smith tests the Moonlight client out on the new Apple TV with popular open-world game Grand Theft Auto V.
Caution: Gameplay audio includes profanity
With the launch of the new Apple TV at the end of October, Apple took its first significant steps into the world of couch gaming, thanks to a full App Store for third-party apps included on the new tvOS operating system for the platform.
Although the Apple TV supports wireless gaming controllers that account for a fewexceptions, most of the gaming apps that function best on the Apple TV remain as iOS-like side-scrollers and platforms rather than more sophisticated console-level games.
While it is still in the early days for the new Apple TV, momentum does appear to be building. For example, Facebook last week announced a new SDK for developers to "build immersive social experiences" on Apple TV with a number of features including a confirmation code login system that can bypass the cumbersome text entry of the Apple TV.
LifeProof has announced that its popular waterproof FRĒ case is now available for the iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 6 Plus. The case retails for $89.99 and is available in six colors: Black, Avalanche, Bonzai Blue, Sunset Pink and Crushed Purple. LifeProof is accepting pre-orders now for the black version, with an estimated in-stock date of December 11.
LifeProof's FRĒ is a rugged case that is designed to withstand the elements, with a protective shell that is waterproof, dirt-proof, snow-proof and drop-proof. The case also has a built-in scratch protector that still allows access to iPhone 6s Plus features including 3D Touch and True Tone front-facing flash.
The case can be paired with LifeProof's LIFEACTÍV lineup of active lifestyle accessories:
Pair FRĒ with LIFEACTÍV accessories so iPhone 6s Plus can capture and stream through any adventure. From the dashboard to the handlebars and anywhere in between, LIFEACTÍV accessories mount iPhone 6s Plus simply and seamlessly with the magnetic QuickMount system.
LifeProof unveiled the "FRĒ Power" waterproof battery case for iPhone 6s in late October.
Apple has updated its Apple Pay participating issuers list with 40 additional banks, credit unions and financial institutions supporting the contactless payment service in the United States. Apple Pay now has nearly 800 participating issuers nationwide, and several more plan to support the NFC-based mobile payment service in the future.
The newly added Apple Pay participating issuers are reflected below, although it's worth noting that some banks, credit unions and financial institutions listed may have already had support for the contactless payments service and are only now being reflected on Apple's website.
The full list of new Apple Pay participating issuers:
American Heritage Federal Credit Union
Associated Credit Union
Bangor Savings Bank
Bank of Bourbonnais
Bank of Clovis
Bank of the Pacific
Baton Rouge Telco Federal Credit Union
BHCU
Cardinal Bank
Corning Credit Union
First Financial Credit Union (IL)
First National Bank of Trenton
First Nations Bank
First Republic Bank
Flint Area School Employees Credit Union
Glass City Federal Credit Union
Guaranty Bank and Trust Company
Hawthorn Bank
Hills Bank and Trust Company
Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
Leader Bank, N.A.
Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union
Midcoast Federal Credit Union
Oatworth Capital Bank
Ohio Valley Bank
Partnership Financial Credit Union
Penn Liberty Bank
Police and Fire Federal Credit Union
Prime Merdian Bank
Reading Cooperative Bank
Republic Bank
Section 705 Federal Credit Union
Secured Advantage Federal Credit Union
Southern Bank
Southwest Missouri Bank
TowneBank
West Plains Bank and Trust Company
WesTex Federal Credit Union
Wilmington Savings Fund Society
WSFS Bank
Apple is committed to an international expansion of Apple Pay, having launched the mobile payments service in Australia and Canada last month in partnership with American Express. Apple Pay is also coming to Hong Kong, Singapore and Spain in 2016, and is rumored to launch in China by February 2016.
On the merchant side, Cinnabon, Chili's, Domino's, KFC and Starbucks will support Apple Pay in the U.S. starting in 2016.
In a new study performed by InfoScout, nearly half as many possible Apple Pay customers used the mobile payments system on Black Friday in 2015 as they did in 2014 on the same sales-laden holiday (via Quartz). The study polled a total of 300,000 people to gather the information, discerning the time around March 2015 as Apple Pay's peak, with another understandable resurgence in the fall surrounding the launch of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
The research organization found that Apple Pay was used for only 2.7 percent of total possible Apple Pay-eligible transactions on Black Friday this year. This is opposed to 2014, where new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus customers used Apple Pay in 4.9 percent of eligible transactions. As InfoScout points out, simple early adopter curiosity -- Apple Pay was barely a month old at the time -- could have helped in the service's early-on surge in numbers.
InfoScout's survey didn't track in-app payments made on Black Friday through Apple Pay, however, so customers who shopped on mobile devices in apps like Target and Best Buy were not included in the results. 300,000 participants is a large sample size, but given the popularity of mobile and online shopping, there's a good possibility that a large swath of Apple Pay's numbers were subsequently excluded from the poll.
Despite the tepid usage of Apple Pay on Black Friday this year as reported by the survey, Apple has been in full force behind the year-old service. With its launch in new countries like Canada and Australia, the company has continued to educate its customers on Apple Pay's various features with new guided tour videos. Other stores have launched loyalty rewards support and the service is available at more places than ever thanks to Square's $49 NFC and Chip reader.
Apple has announced that it will once again be participating in "Hour of Code" this Computer Science Education Week on December 7-13, hosting free workshops and special events for kids ages six and up at Apple Retail Stores throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Apple will be hosting an "Hour of Code" free one-hour introduction to the basics of computer programming on December 10, supporting Code.org's initiative for the third consecutive year. Additional "Hour of Code" partners include Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and many others.
Apple has also featured six global special events to be hosted by Code.org co-founder Hadi Partovi, and other developers and organizations, in Brussels, Chicago, New York City, Tokyo, San Francisco and Sydney. Each will have a focus on app development or computer science education.
Hadi Partovi, Code.org Apple Store, SoHo, New York Monday, December 7, 6:00 p.m.
Join Hadi Partovi, cofounder and CEO of Code.org, as he discusses the need for computer science education across the world. Learn about the journey of Code.org and how it’s helped over 100 million students through initiatives like the Hour of Code campaign.
Koji Sugiyama, LoiLo Inc. Apple Store, Ginza, Tokyo Monday, December 7, 7:00 p.m.
Koji Sugiyama is CEO of LoiLo Inc., a company that creates intuitive educational apps for kids. Hear him share his passion for developing apps that enable children to express themselves, and learn how LoiLo is innovating in the world of education.
Grant Hosford, codeSpark Apple Store, San Francisco Tuesday, December 8, 4:00 p.m.
Cofounder and CEO Grant Hosford shares how his young daughters inspired codeSpark’s award-winning game, The Foos. Kids and parents will get involved as well by solving coding puzzles, making their own games, and learning the “ABCs of computer science.”
Andy Sum, Crossy Road Apple Store, Sydney Wednesday, December 9, 5:00 p.m.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Find out the answer to this and other secrets as developer Andy Sum walks through the universe of Crossy Road. Join a multiplayer station to compete with friends, unlock your favorite characters, and even challenge Andy himself.
Jacqueline Rossi, J’s Flashcards Apple Store, Brussels Wednesday, December 9, 5:00 p.m.
Teenage entrepreneur Jacqueline Rossi created J’s Flashcards to help her fellow students build and master their vocabulary. Join her as she discusses the development of this educational app and how it can prepare you for standardized testing.
Danny Yaroslavski, Lightbot Apple Store, Lincoln Park, Chicago Saturday, December 12, 11:00 a.m.
Join Danny Yaroslavski, founder and CEO of Lightbot, as he shares how kids of all ages can learn the fundamentals of coding. He’ll discuss what got him started in the world of programming and showcase Lightbot’s puzzle games, which you can try out for yourself.
"Hour of Code" is an initiative sponsored by non-profit website Code.org, which hosts a variety of tools for learning and teaching programming. Each year, the site hosts a global movement aimed at reaching millions of students through a free workshop that teaches basic programming techniques.
Registration is now open for the workshops and special events on Apple's website.
Most carmakers in the U.S. are now clearing out 2015 models to make way for new 2016 vehicles, a growing number of which feature CarPlay for the first time since Apple introduced the software platform at WWDC in 2013.
Apple's in-dash software provides hands-free or eyes-free access to Maps, Phone, Messages, Music, Podcasts and third-party apps including Spotify, Rdio, iHeartRadio, CBS Radio and MLB At Bat.
VW is one of over a dozen automakers supporting CarPlay on 2016 U.S. vehicles
CarPlay will be available in a wide range of 2016 vehicles from over a dozen carmakers -- many are available now, and others will launch in the coming weeks. The feature is standard for most U.S. models listed, but some carmakers have made the feature an upgrade by itself or as part of an entertainment package.
Apple lists several other CarPlay partners on its website, but some remain committed to their own infotainment systems in current U.S. vehicles. Select carmakers have disclosed their plans to support CarPlay in the future.
- Acura has not announced CarPlay support, but its parent company Honda has launched CarPlay in the 2016 Accord and 2016 Civic. Given that Acura is Honda's luxury brand, its vehicles should eventually support CarPlay.
- Audi, beyond the 2017 Q7, says CarPlay will be "available on some all-new Audi models arriving in U.S. showrooms by 2016," possibly including the 2017 Audi A4 in late 2016. Select Audi models in Europe already feature CarPlay.
- BMW confirmed in a November 2015 earnings call that it remains committed to supporting CarPlay on future models, but did not specify a model year -- the 2017 model year or later is probable.
- Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda and Subaru have not announced CarPlay support for their 2016 vehicle lineups.
- Nissan has plans to support CarPlay for its 2016 vehicle lineup, but the 2016 Altima will not be one of those vehicles and support for other upcoming models remains unclear. It has not announced a specific roadmap for 2016.
- Toyota appears to have put its CarPlay commitment on hold. The world's largest automaker instead reached a partnership with Ford and in January 2016 to use its open source SmartDeviceLink technology for its in-dash systems.
Aftermarket Systems
Alpine, Kenwood and Pioneer each sell aftermarket CarPlay systems for installation in vehicles that do not come standard with the feature. The aftermarket systems generally retail for between $600 and $1,400 depending on the model, and can usually be retrofitted into older vehicles for relatively minimal costs.
Pioneer's NEX systems are available at various resellers across the U.S., ranging in price between $700 and $1,400 depending on the model. Kenwood's DDX9702S and Excelon DDX9902S retail for $900 to $950 each and allow seamless switching between CarPlay and Android Auto. Alpine's system sells for as low as $600.
CarPlay is compatible with the iPhone 5 or later running iOS 8 or newer.
Apple tonight shared two new iPhone 6s ads on its YouTube channel, highlighting the Hey Siri feature and the speed of the device at tasks like opening messages, browsing Safari, using Messages, playing games, and using the camera.
The first video, "Ridiculously Powerful," focuses on the speed of the iPhone's A9 processor and shows it being used for Apple Pay, games, taking photos and video, and more. "Not much has changed, except it's ridiculously powerful, which makes everything faster," says the opening narration.
The second video, "Hey Siri," focuses on the always-on Hey Siri feature of the iPhone 6s. With older iPhones, Hey Siri could only be activated when the iPhone was plugged in, but with the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, hands-free Siri voice activation is available at all times.
These two latest videos are part of Apple's iPhone 6s "The only thing that's changed is everything" campaign, a tagline and concept Apple CEO Tim Cook first introduced when the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus debuted in September to highlight their revamped internals. Apple has released several advertisements using the wording, focusing on the iPhone's camera, Siri, and 3D Touch.
As part of its round of November Creative Cloud updates, Adobe announced plans to rebrand its Flash Professional CC software as Animate CC to acknowledge a growing shift away from Flash.
In a blog post on its website, Adobe explains that more than a third of content created in Flash Pro CC uses HTML5, leading the company to rename the software to "accurately represent its position as the premier animation tool for the web and beyond."
Along with changing the name of Flash Professional CC, Adobe is working on major feature updates for the software, including improved drawing, illustration, and authoring support and integration with Adobe Stock and Creative Cloud Libraries.
While Adobe is rebranding to better focus on HTML5, it says the new Animate CC will continue to support Flash (SWF) and Air formats as "first-class citizens," with work already underway on Flash Player 12.
The new Adobe Animate CC app will be available starting in January. Previous versions of Flash Professional will continue to be available.
Bohemian Coding has announced that its popular design app Sketch is no longer available in the Mac App Store because, after a lengthy decision making process, the developers felt that directly licensing the software outside of Apple's storefront will provide customers with a better experience.
In a blog post on its website, the Sketch team highlighted some of the Mac App Store's limitations, including a lengthy app review process, sandboxing and no upgrade pricing. Sketch stresses this was not a knee-jerk reaction to the Mac App Store's recent expired certificate problem, but that issue did compound the situation.
Sketch said the Mac App Store's customer experience has not progressed like its iOS counterpart:
We’ve been considering our options for some time. Over the last year, as we’ve made great progress with Sketch, the customer experience on the Mac App Store hasn’t evolved like its iOS counterpart. We want to continue to be a responsive, approachable, and easily-reached company, and selling Sketch directly allows us to give you a better experience.
There are a number of reasons for Sketch leaving the Mac App Store—many of which in isolation wouldn’t cause us huge concern. However as with all gripes, when compounded they make it hard to justify staying: App Review continues to take at least a week, there are technical limitations imposed by the Mac App Store guidelines (sandboxing and so on) that limit some of the features we want to bring to Sketch, and upgrade pricing remains unavailable.
Sketch is among a growing number of apps that are no longer sold in the Mac App Store, including professional HTML and text editor BBEdit and web development tool Coda. By selling their apps directly, developers not only get around the Mac App Store's technical limitations, but also do not have to split 30% of sales revenue with Apple.
Bohemian Coding has provided instructions for Mac App Store users to migrate to the directly licensed version of the app in a FAQ on its website, which is required for future software updates. The development team does not rule out a possible return to the Mac App Store "in the longer term" if the necessary changes have been made.
Moving to a direct version of Sketch does not require a re-purchase. Simply download the latest copy of Sketch here, replace the old version in your Applications folder, and we will issue you a license for Sketch absolutely free of charge. Just follow the steps in-app to complete the transfer. We will also migrate your presets and templates across, so you won’t lose any data in the process. We’ve made it as simple and painless as we possibly can.
Sketch is a professional design app for Mac for creating user interfaces, websites, icons and more. The software received an Apple Design Award in 2012 and was consistently a top ranked app on the Mac App Store. Sketch continues to sell for its regular price of $99 with a free trial available.
In the spirit of the holiday season, Microsoft today released a new ad that focuses on calling for peace between the company and its public rival, Apple. The 60-second advertisement sees Microsoft employees making their way from the company’s new Fifth Avenue store in New York City over to Apple's flagship store to share a festive carol with the Apple employees and others.
The ad's event took place on November 16, with Microsoft employees from around the country joining together in New York City -- along with a local NYC children's youth choir -- to sing "Let There Be Peace On Earth" to a group of Apple workers. Microsoft had to get permission from Apple to film outside the storefront, according to AdAge, due to New York City's strict security rules. Beginning December 3, the ad will run on television, along with the debut of a longer two minute version online.
Most of Microsoft's messaging over the past few years has been in spots that directly compared the company's products with its rivals', with a focus on Apple, and listing reasons why customers would prefer the Microsoft option. Last year the company compared the Surface Pro 3 with the MacBook Air to the tune of a Christmas jingle for its main holiday commercial, so this year's peace-centered message is definitely a departure.
A sketchy report from Chinese website TechWeb [Google Translate] (via GforGames) claims Apple's rumored "iPhone 6c" could feature a colorful metal design and Touch ID, lack 3D Touch and launch in February 2016, corroborating previous rumors claiming Apple will release a new 4-inch iPhone in early 2016.
The report, citing unnamed "Foxconn insiders" and other various sources, confirms that Apple is working on a new 4-inch iPhone with a "colorful metal body design," in contrast with the plastic-backed iPhone 5c, but adds that Foxconn has not received orders yet for mass production of the device.
Apple's exact release plans for the so-called "iPhone 6c" remain unknown, but the report speculates about a possible January unveiling of the device, and says the budget handset could be priced between $400 and $500 in the U.S. The iPhone 5c, released in 2013, started at $549 off-contract for the 16GB model.
Often-reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara said last month that Apple has developed a new 4-inch iPhone that is essentially an iPhone 5s with sixth-generation iPod touch features, including an A8 chip, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 and an improved FaceTime HD camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture.
The report said the so-called "iPhone 5s Mark II," likely an internal name for the new 4-inch iPhone, has entered production and could be shipped at any time, and a recent research note from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and otherrumors point towards a 2016 release date.
GforGames recently cited a similarly sketchy report claiming Apple is experimenting with at least five different "iPhone 7" models with unique hardware features, reportedly including a USB Type-C connector for headphones, wireless charging technology, multi-Force Touch, dual camera configurations and Touch ID embedded in the display.
Follow our iPhone 6c roundup to keep track of the latest news about the 4-inch iPhone.
Continuing a tradition begun four years ago, Apple today has joined in recognizing World AIDS Day by coloring Apple logos on its retail stores around the world bright red. The worldwide event was established to represent the global fight in preventing HIV and AIDS, as well as promoting healthy education of the diseases, a cause Apple has helped forward with its line of (PRODUCT)RED accessories.
World AIDS Day decoration at Apple's Brussels, Belgium store from Twitter user WJPM
As in years past, the company has taken to promoting the World AIDS Day events not only in retail locations but on its online storefront, as well. The home page of Apple.com today encourages visitors to shop the company's (PRODUCT)RED line of Mac, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch, and Beats accessories to help promote and fund AIDS defense and awareness.
Apple Stores known to be participating in the event include the Bondi Junction location near Sydney, Australia, the Brussels, Belgium store, and Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue spot in New York City. The company quietly launched a (PRODUCT)RED leather case for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus yesterday in time for the December 1 event, and teamed up with iOS developer Supercell in an exclusive promotional event that will let players purchase rare in-game items with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple today expanded its Personal Pickup in-store pickup service to France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. The launch of Personal Pickup in Germany was first noted by Macerkopf, and MacRumors subsequently confirmed the wider European expansion of the service.
Personal Pickup allows customers to place an order on the Apple Online Store or Apple Store app and pick it up at a nearby Apple Retail Store, generally within an hour. The service is offered for several Apple products, including Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs and the Apple Watch.
Apple notifies customers via email or text message when an order is available for in-store pickup with a valid photo ID.
Personal Pickup has yet to launch in other countries and regions with an Apple retail store presence, including Belgium, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
MacRumors broke the news in early November that Apple was planning an international expansion of Personal Pickup in Australia, France, United Kingdom and other countries, and the service is now live in all of those countries.
In a follow-up to an interview Apple executive Eddy Cue had with CNN senior correspondent Brian Stelter a month ago, the senior vice president of Internet software and services discussed Apple's thoughts on the News app, which launched alongside iOS 9 in September. When asked why Apple decided to turn it into a pre-installed app, Cue offered a look into how Apple determines what constitutes a pre-installed app.
"We've only created the apps that we think everyone uses every day... We really wanted to create a single app that all customers could go to, to read all their news — no matter what they are interested in, no matter what topics, no matter what publications they want to follow — and get that experience that they're used to with our products, where it looks beautiful, it's really easy to read and yet it provides all the content available around the world."
Cue goes on to say that Apple believes the app is a "really, really important application for the world," noting that good journalism is important to Apple. News organizations, Cue says, have to worry about creating their own apps, interfaces and user experiences. Apple believes something like the News app can streamline this and help news organizations focus on journalism. Apple believes that the app benefits local news outlets that can't afford to create their own apps. Furthermore, Cue says Apple even thought about how small outfits like upstart news organizations and church newsletters could use News to distribute information.
Apple is also working on a version of the app for China, Cue tells CNNMoney. When asked whether the company is running into censorship problems in the country, Cue says that it's not. Instead, Cue notes that Apple has a "great working relationship" in China and that Apple Music, its App Store and retail stores in the country show that they know how to work in China.
Finally, Cue says that Apple has no plans to hire journalists and create content of their own. Instead, Apple's goal with News is to "empower those journalists to get their content to the right customer."
In late October, Tim Cook said that Apple News had approximately 40 million users. However, Cook didn't reveal whether that number was regular users or customers who had simply checked out the app, making it difficult to determine how many people truly use Apple News. Apple has partnered with dozens of publications for Apple News, including CNN, The New York Times, ESPN and more. To get the latest news and rumors from MacRumors, make sure to add MacRumors to Apple News by clicking this link.
Several of Adobe's key Creative Cloud apps will see updates today as part of the company's promised 2015 update plan. As highlighted at Adobe MAX and IBC 2015, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, Illustrator CC, Indesign CC, Premiere Pro CC, After Effects CC, and more will gain new features.
Many of Adobe's apps, including Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC, and Premiere Pro CC are being updated with new Touch capabilities for use on Windows tablets and Apple trackpad devices.
Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC, Lightroom CC and more are receiving minor updates alongside Adobe's video editing apps, with features announced at Adobe MAX. Photoshop CC includes a new UI, customizable toolbar, and workspaces, along with new Artboards capabilities and tight integration with Adobe Fuse CC to create realistic human 2D models.
Illustrator CC includes a new Shaper tool that combines 12 tools and panels in one, non-destructive Live Shapes, and Improved Smart Guides, and InDesign CC includes new online publishing features. Several of Adobe's apps, including Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, Illustrator CC, InDesign CC, and Premiere Pro CC are also being updated with new Touch capabilities usable on Windows tablets and Apple trackpad devices.
Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe's professional video editing software, is being updated with expanded support for UltraHD formats (DNxHR, HEVC H.265, and OpenEXR) for editing 4K to 8K video footage. Premiere Pro's Optical Flow Time Remapping allows for smooth slow-motion and speed-ramp effects, plus high-quality frame rate conversions. Adobe Premiere Pro is also being updated with HDR support.
Adobe After Effects CC is gaining support for the Lumetri Color settings introduced in Premiere Pro earlier this year. With Lumetri color support, changes made in Premiere Pro will carry over to After Effects.
Adobe Audition CC includes a new Remix tool for adjusting the duration of a song to match video content. Remix is able to automatically rearrange music to any duration to create custom tracks that fit video creation needs. It's also able to generate synthesized speech in dozens of voices for custom narration and scratch voiceover.
Adobe's fall updates are the second major round of updates the company's Creative Cloud apps have seen this year. The apps also saw significant feature updates in June.
AT&T will raise the price of its grandfathered unlimited data plans from $30 to $35 in February of 2016, reports CNBC. The upcoming rate change is detailed on a page on AT&T's website and is the first price hike the unlimited plan has seen in seven years.
Though AT&T no longer offers unlimited data plans to customers, a small number of customers continue to hold unlimited data plans that were purchased before AT&T discontinued them in 2010. AT&T's current $30 unlimited data plan allows customers to use an unlimited amount of data, but AT&T does throttle with excessive data usage.
As of February 16, the $30 price tag, which is in addition to voice costs, will rise to $35. The price hike comes just a couple of months after AT&T announced changes to its throttling practices. AT&T previously throttled customers on congested networks after 5GB of LTE data usage, but that cap was increased to 22GB in September, making unlimited plans more valuable.
AT&T plans to notify customers who will be impacted by the price increase. Customers who wish to cancel their wireless service because of the pricing increase will have early termination fees waived for affected lines. Price changes will take effect during each customer's February billing period.
A recent Consumer Reports survey shows that MacBooks continue to lead all notebooks in reliability and customer satisfaction, based on 58,000 subscribers who purchased laptops between 2010 and 2015.
Apple has updated its 
Apple has announced that it will once again be participating in "
