Sony has announced that its forthcoming Remote Play app for streaming PlayStation 4 games on Mac or Windows PC will be available "soon." PlayStation 4's latest 3.50 system software update launches in beta tomorrow, but Sony says the Remote Play functionality will not be available in the beta.
Last November, Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida tweeted that it is working on an official Remote Play app for Mac and PC, enabling users to stream and play PS4 games on desktops and notebooks. Physically owning a PS4 will still be required to stream games.
Remote Play is currently limited to various Sony devices, including the PlayStation Vita, PlayStation TV and newer Xperia-branded smartphones and tablets. All new PS4 games must be compatible with Remote Play, except for games that use peripherals such as PlayStation Move.
Apple has been granted 54 new patents today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, one of which contains details of a flexible display for a possible future iPhone.
The patent, titled "Flexible Electronic Devices", covers products that would include flexible housings and internal components, including a flexible version of an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display, reports Patently Apple.
The patent also describes the use of flex-sensing components that register deformations of the device and could be used as a form of user input. Bending the device could change its operating mode, for instance. Other possibilities given include assigning deformations to game control systems and using flex sensors to power a device on/off.
Flexible devices are also cited as more resistant to damage due to enhanced shock absorption on impact. Apple notes that the technology in the patent could be used in future versions of its iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and other wearable devices.
Multiple reports claim Apple will launch iPhones with OLED displays in 2018. Samsung is reportedly close to reaching a deal with Apple to supply flexible OLED displays for future iPhones and is said to be investing up to $7.47 billion in OLED manufacturing equipment to fulfill orders.
In addition to Samsung Display, the OLED panel orders may be spread out over a number of suppliers, possibly including AU Optronics, LG and Japan Display. All three display makers have supplied Apple with LCD panels for existing iPhones.
Apple is reportedly operating a Taiwanese factory where a team of engineers are developing thinner, lighter and brighter displays for future Apple devices. The secretive lab may be specifically focused on flexible OLED and Micro-LED display technologies for use in future-generation iPhones.
Over the past six months there have been reports indicating that the iPhone 7 would include several new features, like a flush rear camera and stereo speakers. Tonight, Mac Otakara has issued a new report corroborating several of those rumors, including that the iPhone 7 could include a thinner Lightning port, no 3.5mm headphone jack and more.
The site reports that the new phone will not have antenna bands across the rear and will have a flush rear camera, corroborating a MacRumors report in early February. The site notes that it's likely the iPhone 7 will also come with stereo speakers, which was first predicted by Barclays analyst earlier this month.
Last September, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a report that the iPhone 7 would approach a thinness similar to that of the 6.1mm iPod touch. Mac Otakara's report roughly agrees with that, noting that the iPhone 7 could be 1mm thinner than the 7.1mm iPhone 6s.
Mac Otakara also reiterated its earlier reports that the iPhone 7 would not include a headphone jack, instead using an all-in-one Lightning port. The site claims that the Lightning port enclosure may be thinner than it currently is, but that it will still be fully compatible with current Lightning cables.
A source on Chinese social media site Weibo claimed that the iPhone 7 would be waterproofed and use new composite materials for its shell last September. However, Mac Otakara says the iPhone 7 will include neither, instead using the same aluminum material and will be as water resistant as the iPhone 6s.
Thus far, reports have indicated that a rumored new dual-lens camera system would be included on the iPhone 7 Plus to differentiate it from the regular iPhone 7. Mac Otakara corroborates that the iPhone 7 will not have a dual-lens camera system, but notes that it doesn't know if the feature will be included in the 7 Plus. Earlier today it was reported that Apple is considering introducing a new high-end iPhone 7 Plus with a dual-lens camera system called the iPhone Pro to better differentiate it from the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
Apple is expected to announce both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus at an event in September. Unlike the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, which sourced A9 chips from both Samsung and TSMC, Apple will turn to TSMC exclusively for the iPhone 7's A10 chip. Apple is also expected to announce the iPhone SE, a new 4-inch iPhone, this March alongside a new 9.7-inch iPad.
Alongside its battle with the U.S. government over an order to break into the iPhone used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, Apple has also been embroiled in a dispute over a similar case in New York. In late 2015, the Department of Justice asked a NY federal magistrate judge to order Apple to help authorities gain access to an iPhone seized as evidence in a drug trafficking case.
At the time, Apple explained that while it could technically unlock the iPhone in question because it was running an older version of iOS, being forced to comply with the order could "substantially tarnish the Apple brand." This afternoon, Judge James Orenstein, who is presiding over the New York case, decided in favor of Apple (via TechCrunch), handing down a ruling that could potentially impact the much more prominent San Bernardino dispute.
According to the New York ruling, Apple cannot be forced to help law enforcement access data on an iPhone using the justification that the court has the power to make such an order under the All Writs Act, an argument the FBI also uses in the San Bernardino case. Apple has also argued the All Writs Act does not give the government a pass to "conscript and commandeer" the company.
"The established rules for interpreting a statute's text constrain me to reject the government's interpretation that the AWA empowers a court to grant any relief not outright prohibited by law," writes Orenstein. "The extraordinary relief [the government] seeks cannot be considered 'agreeable to the usages and principles of law,'" reads another section. He goes on to outline his reasoning and concludes with the opinion that the larger issue of encryption should be decided by legislation, not by the court.
In deciding this motion, I offer no opinion as to whether, in the circumstances of this case or others, the government's legitimate interest in ensuring that no door is too strong to resist lawful entry should prevail against the equally legitimate societal interests arrayed against it here. [...]
How best to balance those interests is a matter of critical importance to our society, and the need for an answer becomes more pressing daily, as the tide of technological advance flows ever farther past the boundaries of what seemed possible even a few decades ago.
But that debate must happen today, and it must take place among legislators who are equipped to consider the technological and cultural realities of a world their predecessors could not begin to conceive. It would betray our constitutional heritage and our people's claim to democratic governance for a judge to pretend that our Founders already had that debate, and ended it, in 1789.
According to TechCrunch, a senior Apple executive has suggested that while New York case does not set a binding legal precedent in regard to the San Bernardino case, it sets "an important precedent of opinion."
Apple has officially opposed an order that would require it to help the FBI break into the iPhone used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook and will now face off against the government in court on March 22.
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 Pay is supported by large financial institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and China, but the mobile payments service can only be used with non-bank-issued American Express credit cards in Australia and Canada. Apple Pay does not support big banks in either country.
That could soon change in at least Canada, as MacRumors has learned that MasterCard has Apple Pay support in that country on its 2016 roadmap. The information is based on an unverified internal document, however, so the plans cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt until other evidence surfaces.
MasterCard credit cards are issued by a number of Canada's largest banks, including BMO, CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, and TD Canada Trust, while store-branded MasterCards are available from large retailers such as Canadian Tire, Costco, and Walmart. Most of these stores and institutions also offer Visa, but their plans remain unknown.
MasterCard is also looking to support Apple Pay in Brazil, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore in 2016, according to the document. Apple previously announced that its Apple Pay partnership with American Express will expand to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Spain this year, while Brazil and Japan would be entirely new markets.
Earlier this month, a hidden "NetworkInterac" string was uncovered in iOS 9.2.1 code that hints at Apple Pay support at Canada's big banks. Interac is Canada's official debit card network, adopted by the country's largest financial institutions nationwide. TD already stirred speculation in October when it inadvertently listed Apple Pay as a method of payment on its website, before quickly removing it.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Apple is preparing to launch Apple Pay in France, and it could make an announcement by September 2016 -- perhaps at WWDC in June. The original report did not specify when Apple Pay will become available in French stores, nor did it have information about which French banks and participating issuers will support iPhone payments upon launch.
The rumored high-end iPhone 7 Plus with dual cameras could be named the "iPhone Pro," according to questionable information shared by Chinese website MyDrivers [Google Translate]. Apple is reportedly considering the name to distinguish the device from the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, said to include standard single-lens cameras.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously suggested Apple is working on two versions of the iPhone 7 Plus, one with a single-lens camera and one with a dual-lens camera, to be sold alongside an iPhone 7 with a single-lens camera. That rumor itself sounds questionable as it would splinter Apple's iPhone lineup, but Kuo firmly believes that is Apple's plan and has mentioned it in two separate research notes.
A mockup of what the iPhone 7 could look like with no protruding camera lens and redesigned antenna bands
In recent months, MyDrivers has shared several details on the iPhone 7 and the iPhone SE, but as neither device has launched, the site's accuracy is still in question. Apple has used the same general number-based naming scheme for its lineup of flagship iPhones since the iPhone 3G launched in 2008, so the information provided by MyDrivers should be viewed with some skepticism until confirmed by a source with a solid track record.
It's possible rumors of an iPhone Pro are surfacing due to the unique name Apple's 4-inch iPhone is expected to adopt -- iPhone SE -- and the rumored naming plan for the next-generation 9.7-inch iPad. The device will reportedly be branded as an iPad Pro rather than an iPad Air 3, naturally leading to speculation that Apple could make the same shift in its iPhone lineup.
The iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus are not expected to debut until the fall of 2016, but multiple details about the devices have already leaked. In addition to an iPhone 7 Plus version with dual cameras, both devices are rumored to include a water resistant body, no headphone jack, and a design that does away with the rear antenna bands and protruding camera.
As we get closer to the date of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, work on next-generation operating systems iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 is unsurprisingly ramping up based on data gathered from our site logs.
MacRumors first started seeing visits from a small number of devices running iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 in late 2015. Visits picked up starting in January, and have grown steadily throughout the month of February.
Visitors to MacRumors.com from devices running iOS 10
We're now seeing hundreds of visits per day from devices that have iOS 10 or OS X 10.12 installed, and we will undoubtedly see those numbers continue to climb as the months tick by.
Visitors to MacRumors.com from devices running OS X 10.12
It's still early in the development process so we haven't heard much about the new features we can expect to see in iOS 10 and OS X 10.12, but there have been a few tidbits. One of the main focal points in OS X 10.12 is said to be Siri for Mac, finally bringing Apple's voice assistant to OS X.
Both iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 may also include improvements to the Photos app, introducing some capabilities that were removed in the transition from iPhoto to Photos. Additional details about the two new operating systems will leak out as we approach the middle of the year.
While iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 are unlikely to be released to the public until the fall, Apple traditionally debuts new operating system updates at WWDC, giving developers time to get acquainted with new features and build new capabilities into their apps.
This year's Worldwide Developers Conference is expected to take place from June 13 to June 17, based on the booking schedule for Moscone West in San Francisco, where Apple has held the event for many years in a row.
MacRumors is also seeing a small number of visits from devices running iOS 9.3.1, suggesting there will be additional updates to iOS 9 ahead of the debut of iOS 10.
Tony Fadell, known as the godfather of the iPod for his role in its design, recently sat down Appvance CEO Kevin Surace at the SV Forum Visionary Salon Dinner to reminisce about Steve Jobs and his time at Apple. VentureBeat attended the event and has shared a transcript of the discussion.
Fadell has discussed his role at Apple and his relationship with Jobs many times over the years, but new details, additional color, and lesser-known tidbits tend to surface with each new interview, making them worth a read. This most recent interview covers an interesting look at the decision to bring iTunes to the PC.
Image via VentureBeat
Jobs was initially against introducing PC support for the iPod because he viewed the device as a way to attract people to the Mac. Fadell had a team of people working on porting iTunes to PC to give people who didn't own a Mac a taste of Apple products. Fadell describes his effort to get iTunes on the PC as a "knock down, drag out battle."
After being pressured by much of the iPod team to get iTunes to the biggest market, Jobs relented, but he insisted that journalist Walt Mossberg, who wrote for The Wall Street Journal at the time, sign off on the design.
He [Steve] finally said, "Okay. But under one condition. We're going to build these and run it by Mossberg. And if Mossberg says it's good enough to ship, then we'll ship it." He wanted to divorce himself from having to make the decision. But Walt said, "Not bad. I'd ship it." That's how we actually shipped on the PC.
Following iTunes' PC launch, Fadell says Mac sales accelerated. The iPod and iTunes were good on the PC, "but great on a Mac," enticing people to switch to Apple's platform.
Another anecdote in the interview covers Apple's early exploration of a phone. Fadell and his team began conceptualizing an "iPod phone" that was an iPod with a phone module inside it. It was designed like an iPod with a click wheel for dialing, an idea that didn't work.
It looked like an iPod, but it had a phone, and you would select numbers through the same interface and so on. But if you wanted to dial a number it was like using a rotary dial. It sucked. We knew three months in that it wasn't going to work. Steve said, "Keep trying!" We tried everything. We tried for seven or eight months to get that thing to work. Couldn't do it. We added more buttons and it just became this gangly thing.
A rendering of a prototype iPod/iPhone hybrid with a click wheel, based on information from a source familiar with Apple's designs at the time.
At the same time as the iPod phone was in development, Apple was also exploring the idea of a touchscreen Mac, leading to the idea of a virtual interface on a phone.
Steve's like, "Come over here!" I didn't know about this at the time, but he showed me a ping-pong table that was the first multi-touch screen. It was a ping-pong-sized table. It had a projector of a Mac on top of it, and you could interact with it. He said, "We're going to put that in an iPod!" "Steve, it's the size of a ping-pong table!"
Apple then began work on a multi-touch display and software that brought together elements from the Mac and the iPod, eventually leading to the development of the device that became the original iPhone.
The full transcript of Fadell's interview, which includes additional details on his early career, Nest, and Apple, can be read over at VentureBeat.
Last week, schematics and renderings based on case maker's specifications came out from several sources, giving us our first look at what Apple's much-rumored 4-inch "iPhone SE" might look like when it launches in March. The two designs, one from OnLeaks and one from 9to5Mac, both depict an iPhone that looks a lot like the iPhone 5s, but the designs differ quite a bit.
9to5Mac's mockup of the iPhone SE looks almost identical to the iPhone 5s, while OnLeaks' schematic pictures a device with curved edges, leading to a look that's a hybrid of an iPhone 6 and an iPhone 5s. These differences are clear in new renderings created by Martin Hajek that compare the two designs to a purely conceptual rendering from Curved Labs imagining the iPhone SE as a smaller iPhone 6.
Click to enlarge
Multiple rumors have said the iPhone SE will be of a similar size to the iPhone 5s, with the two even able to share cases, but it's also been said it will include a slightly curved glass display, two concepts that are difficult to conceptualize. An iPhone SE that's similar in size to an iPhone 5s but with curved edges as seen in the OnLeaks schematic won't be able to use the same accessories as the iPhone 5s because of the different shape.
Despite the fact that the iPhone SE is less than a month away from debuting, we've seen few part leaks, and no leaks of the back of the device to help us nail down the true look of the device. We've heard tons of rumors, but with no visual evidence, it's still difficult to determine whether the iPhone SE is an exact iPhone 5s clone or a fresh design that takes cues from multiple devices.
Click to enlarge
Renderings agree the iPhone SE will have a power button that remains located at the top of the device, and it appears it will use a pill-shaped flash and the same round volume buttons that were found on the iPhone 5s. OnLeaks' rendering suggests the camera could protrude somewhat, a possibility if the iPhone SE adopts the 12-megapixel camera in the iPhone 6s.
On the iPhone 6s, the camera protrudes approximately 0.7mm from the 7.1mm body of the device. The iPhone 5s' thickness is 7.6mm, and the iPhone SE is rumored to have the same dimensions, so the camera could stick out slightly.
Click to enlarge
Though the iPhone SE is rumored to resemble the iPhone 5s on the exterior, its internals are said to be on par with Apple's latest devices. It will include an A9 processor, the same used in the iPhone 6s, along with the aforementioned upgraded camera and an NFC chip to support Apple Pay.
In a recent blog post, developer Keith Blount gave an update on the long-awaited iOS version of popular writing app Scrivener. Blount touched on the lengthy road to development the app has had over the years, mentioning that he took over its development and "rewrote it from the ground up" last year.
A screenshot of Scrivener for Mac
I know we’ve been quiet about the iOS version recently, and some users have been wondering if it’s still in development. After all the problems we’ve had with it, I took over development myself last year and rewrote it from the ground up. I had originally planned not to develop it myself so that I didn’t have to divide my time between the Mac and iOS versions, but in the event, coding our iOS version turned out to be a lot of fun, especially with the introduction of the iPad Pro. Adapting Scrivener for iOS felt like going back to the beginning and remembering why I built Scrivener in the first place.
Blount mentioned that the alpha test is "going well" for the iOS app, and that he's particularly excited for the potential of the writing-centric experience on Apple's new large-screened iPad Pro. The developer believes the beta isn't too far away and that when it happens news and updates on Scrivener for iOS will start at a faster rate.
For anyone unfamiliar with Scrivener's long-gestating iOS app, it was first announced by the team back in 2011, with an early-estimate launch goal of "some time in 2012." When that date slipped, Blount kept fans updated on the troubled development of the app, with the team running into a few coding issues and unexpected health concerns of one of the developer's immediate family.
Continued delayed updates finally spurred Blount into handling the iOS app on his own, leading to today's encouraging news for fans who have been patiently waiting for a mobile version of Scrivener. Speaking directly to Scrivener users, in the most current blog post Blount thanked those who have been patient throughout the intervening years: "Thank you for your patience, your support, and your enthusiasm while Scrivener for iOS has been undergoing its long gestation."
The development kit bundles the HoloLens with a carrying case, Bluetooth 4.1 clicker, wired charger, and an extra nose piece. Microsoft technical fellow Alex Kipman said broader consumer availability remains "further down the line."
Microsoft HoloLens is a cordless, self-contained Windows 10 holographic headset that mixes virtual reality with augmented reality.
HoloLens has see-through holographic lenses with an advanced optical projection system to generate multi-dimensional holograms that allow you to see holographic objects in your world. The headset is also equipped with multiple sensors and a built-in camera that analyze your surrounding environment.
The mixed-reality headset is powered by 32-bit Intel architecture and 2GB of RAM. The device also has 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0, 64GB internal storage, and up to three hours of battery life.
Microsoft will be including seven new apps, games, and tools on the HoloLens, and it encourages developers to create additional experiences for the mixed reality headset leading up to its Build developer conference on March 30.
Microsoft's augmented reality efforts precede Apple, which is rumored have a secret team of hundreds of employees working on a virtual reality headset. Our Apple VR roundup recaps the company's ambitions and competitors like Microsoft's HoloLens, Google's Cardboard, and Facebook's Oculus Rift.
Google today announced an incoming update to its Google Maps for iOS app that will let users add pit stops onto their trips without leaving navigation mode. First introduced on Android last fall, the company said that the pit stop feature will be available in any country where Google Maps navigation is offered, which is "more than 100 worldwide."
From navigation mode, users will just need to tap the magnifying glass located in the top right corner of Google Maps to see a drop down menu of potential pit stops to add to a trip. The menu offers a few automatic options like restaurants and coffee shops, but a search field gives users a more robust option for specifically finding their desired pit stop.
Life is full of the unexpected—things that send us scrambling for a gas station in the middle of nowhere, looking up a florist on our way home from work or searching for a restaurant as we tour the back roads of our latest vacation destination. Finding and navigating to these last-minute pit stops used to force you out of navigation mode in Google Maps—and away from the traffic updates, turn-by-turn directions and map you rely on to stay on track.
Similar to Android, the new function on iOS details both the public rating of the pit stop and the amount of time the detour will add onto a trip, letting users select the best-rated and quickest pit stop beforehand. Prior to the update, Google Maps users would have to manually discover and find a potential pit stop, navigate to the location, and when ready to leave, re-start their original route navigation.
The company said the new update to Google Maps [Direct Link] will see its worldwide rollout to iOS users starting today.
Microsoft has shared a new series of ads called The Bug Chicks that promote what it believes are advantages of Windows 10 PCs over Macs. Each ad has the tagline "Windows 10 PCs do more. Just like you."
The first ad introduces The Bug Chicks, who are identified as "real people paid for real opinions," and focuses on how PCs allow them to teach kids about insects using PowerPoint and other Windows 10 apps and features.
The other three ads highlight individual Windows 10 PC features, including Cortana, Inking, and Hello. Each 15-second spot deliberately mentions how "even the new Macs don't have that" or "Mac doesn't have a touchscreen."
"Windows 10 and Cortana" demonstrates how Microsoft's personal voice assistant can be used on the desktop to find any file by simply asking. The advantage will be short-lived, however, as Siri is reportedly coming to OS X 10.12 later this year.
"Windows 10 and Inking" shows how select Windows 10 PCs have touchscreens that allow you to write and sketch directly on the screen, unlike Macs. Meanwhile, Apple has previously admitted it has no plans to release a touchscreen Mac.
"We don't think it's the right interface, honestly," said Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, in an interview with CNET. "Mac is sort of a sit-down experience." […]
"We've really focused on building the best track pads we can, something where it feels [like] your posture's relaxed, it's a comfortable machine to use," he said. "And, of course, over the years we've experimented with all the technology, but we found it just wasn't good. ... We're not all that interested in building one."
"Windows 10 and Hello" shows one of the ladies unlocking her PC with facial recognition, using the front-facing camera, with no password required. The biometric feature works with your face, fingerprint, or iris on select PCs.
The latest data from market research firm Gartner revealed that worldwide PC shipments from Lenovo, HP, Dell, Asus, and Acer continued to decline in the fourth quarter. Apple was the sole manufacturer that saw positive shipment growth in the quarter, based on sales of 5.7 million Macs.
Most of Apple's Mac lineup is due for a hardware refresh this year with Intel's Skylake chips, Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C, and possibly new form factors. The new Macs could be announced at WWDC in June or at a media event later this fall, although updates could also be announced via press release at any time.
Apple has updated its "Think Different" trademark in a new European Patent and Trademark Office filing, covering it for use across the company's growing line of products.
The filing expands the International Classes to which the trademark can be applied from one to eight. Those classes now cover Apple Watch, Apple Pay, Apple Pencil, iPad, games, business management, subscription services, telecommunications, broadcasting, music, television, educational services, and Siri.
Originally filed on February 24, the update is the first time Apple has amended the trademark since 2009, when the iPod was added to its classes, reports Patently Apple.
The slogan first appeared in Apple's 1997 "Think Different" ad campaign, marking Steve Jobs' return to the company after leaving in 1985. The trademark, widely assumed to be a response to IBM's motto "Think", continued to feature in Apple TV and print ads up to the launch of the iMac G4 in 2002, but has not appeared since.
It remains to be seen whether the filing marks a return of the slogan's use in future Apple ad campaigns, or is simply a preventative measure to stop other companies adopting the phrase.
If Apple follows its usual upgrade cycle, iOS 10 should be announced at WWDC this summer with a public release in the fall. In anticipation of the release, our forum members have been discussing iOS 10 wishlist features since October. One common request has been a more customizable control center.
Visual designer and animator Sam Beckett has incorporated his views on what a more advanced control center should look like, including the use of 3D Touch and customizable widgets.
Features depicted include:
3D Touch for different options per button
Long press to move buttons around
Edit button to replace buttons
Dark mode
Apple has yet to make any announcements about iOS 10, though does plan to release iOS 9.3 in the Spring. We expect to hear more about iOS 10 in the months leading up to WWDC 2016.
Re/code reports that the much anticipated Apple Media event will actually fall during the week of March 21st, not on March 15th, as originally rumored.
Or to put it another way, it’s not going to be on March 15, the time frame that other outlets previously reported, according to several sources. It is not clear if the event was moved or if this was the same timing as Apple had always planned.
Curiously, the delayed date was first floated by Korean site Underkg earlier this week.
The event, previously known to take place in March 15th, is pushed back a week to March 22nd if our source is correct. Apple allegedly have sent notifications to leave the schedule available from the 21st to 23rd, making us guess that the event will occur a week after the original known date.
The date change had been largely ignored at the time due to the unproven source of the rumor, but it appears that Re/code has confirmed the new date according to "several sources".
Update: According to BuzzFeed's John Paczkowski, Apple's media event will take place on Monday, March 21, likely at Apple's Town Hall in Cupertino. The event will be held one day before Apple is scheduled to stand off against the FBI in court.
The first purported component leak for the so called iPhone SE has emerged via Nowhereelse.fr. The images claim to depict a screen assembly of the upcoming 4-inch iPhone.
Part leaks have been notably absent for the iPhone SE, despite rumors that the new device will launch in the middle of March -- only three weeks away.
The new images seems to confirm that 3D Touch components are absent from the 4-inch device. This is consistent with rumors to date that suggest the 4-inch iPhone will incorporate Live Photo support, but not 3D Touch, which is considered a flagship feature for the iPhone 6s line.
The leaked images are said to be captured by a source that on "several occasions in the past proved to be reliable".
The iPhone SE is expected to be announced during a March 15th media event.
As reported on the MacRumors forums and Reddit, a recent Apple security update has disabled the ethernet port on some iMacs and MacBook Pros. zorinlynx writes:
This software update was pushed via the silent "security updates" to my iMac today:
031-51913 | Incompatible Kernel Extension Configuration Data 3.28.1
After rebooting my ethernet didn't work. Turns out that it added an exclusion for the stock AppleBCM5701Ethernet driver! This breaks ethernet and you have to use WiFi to get online.
The experience was mirrored by several other readers. Apple appears to have already replaced the faulty update, but there doesn't appear to be an obvious solution for those affected.
Update 9:30 PM: Apple has posted a support document outlining how to tell whether your system has the bad update installed and how to update to the fixed version 3.28.2.
Sony has announced that its forthcoming Remote Play app for streaming PlayStation 4 games on Mac or Windows PC will be available "soon." PlayStation 4's latest 3.50 system software update launches in beta tomorrow, but Sony says the Remote Play functionality will not be available in the beta.
Alongside its battle with the U.S. government over an order to break into the iPhone used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, Apple has also been embroiled in a dispute over a similar case in New York. In late 2015, the Department of Justice 
