Apple started accepting Apple Watch pre-orders at 12:01 AM Pacific today, and official retail packaging for the 18-karat gold Edition model is now beginning to appear on social media. Instagram user Iris Decreus shared the picture below of an Apple Watch Edition next to its suede box, which has a premium look compared to the regular packaging for the Apple Watch Sport and stainless steel Apple Watch.
Twitter user Fabien W. also shared multiple photos that provide a closer look at the Apple Watch Edition packaging earlier today. The outside of the box has an embossed Apple logo, while the inside appears to have a soft lining to keep the Edition free of scratches. The bottom of the box is embossed with the Apple Watch Edition logo, and official product documentation is included inside the box.
Apple Watch pre-orders and try-on appointments began today ahead of the wrist-worn device's release on April 24 in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan and China. Apple Watch shipping times quickly slipped to 4-6 weeks or later after pre-orders became available, and the Apple Watch Edition and certain other models are not available to ship until at least June based on current estimates.
Apple began accepting Apple Watch pre-orders at 12:01 AM Pacific today and disclosed further AppleCare+ pricing details for the wrist-worn device in the process. AppleCare+ for Apple Watch plans cost $49, $59 and $1,500 for the Sport, Watch and Edition models respectively, while accidental damage coverage is subject to an additional service charge of $69 for Sport, $79 for Watch and $1,000 for Edition.
Apple is also offering AppleCare+ combo plans that cover both an Apple Watch and iPhone for a combined price of $149 (Apple Watch Sport and iPhone), $169 (Apple Watch and iPhone) and $1,600 (Apple Watch Edition and iPhone). These plans are likely offered for convenience purposes, rather than being a discount, as they cost one dollar more than purchasing AppleCare+ for Apple Watch and iPhone separately.
One potential benefit of purchasing an AppleCare+ combo plan for Apple Watch and iPhone is that Apple appears to be covering undamaged iPhones that are up to six months old. Apple's standalone AppleCare+ for iPhone plan requires that customers purchase the warranty plan within 60 days of buying an iPhone. You are still required to add an iPhone to the AppleCare+ combo plan within 60 days of buying the coverage.
AppleCare+ extends an Apple Watch's warranty coverage to two years from the date of purchase for the Sport and Watch, and three years for Edition, and provides accidental damage coverage for up to two incidents. Without AppleCare+, purchases of the Apple Watch Sport and the stainless steel Apple Watch will be covered by a limited one-year warranty for hardware repairs and 90 days of complimentary support.
Apple Watch pre-orders began at 12:01 AM Pacific Time in first wave launch countries, and models available for delivery on April 24 quickly sold out. Apple Store shipping estimates for new orders of the Apple Watch have slipped to 4 to 6 weeks for many models that were originally listed with 4/24 to 5/8 shipping dates.
Some Apple Watch models started out with 4 to 6 week delivery estimates, including the stainless steel Apple Watches with Modern Buckle and Leather Loop bands. Stainless steel Apple Watch models with Link Bracelets had a June delivery date at launch, while Apple Watch Edition models listed May delivery dates.
This is a running list of shipping times in U.S. Refresh for latest estimates:
- Apple Watch Sport White 38mm: June - Apple Watch Sport White 42mm: June - Apple Watch Sport Blue 38mm: June - Apple Watch Sport Blue 42mm: June - Apple Watch Sport Green 38mm: June - Apple Watch Sport Green 42mm: June - Apple Watch Sport Pink 38mm: June - Apple Watch Sport Pink 42mm: June - Apple Watch Sport Space Gray 38mm: June - Apple Watch Sport Space Gray 42mm: June - Apple Watch with Sport Band: 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Classic Buckle 38mm: Delivers 4/24 to 5/8 - Apple Watch with Classic Buckle 42mm: 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Milanese Loop: 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Leather Loop: 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Modern Buckle (Brown): 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Modern Buckle (Black): 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Modern Buckle (Soft Pink): June - Apple Watch with Modern Buckle (Blue): June - Apple Watch with Link Bracelet Stainless Steel: 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Link Bracelet Space Gray 38mm: June - Apple Watch with Link Bracelet Space Gray 42mm: July - Apple Watch Edition Rose Gold: July - Apple Watch Edition Yellow Gold: June
Just hours ahead of Apple Watch pre-orders, Apple made the unprecedented move of announcing restricted supplies. In a press release, Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts warned potential customers that Apple expects "strong customer demand" to "exceed our supply at launch."
Because supplies are limited, all Apple Watch orders must be placed online. Apple does not plan to accept walk-in orders of the Apple Watch in the early weeks after launch, so customers planning to purchase a watch should order as soon as possible.
Wait times will only grow longer as people attend try-on appointments in retail stores and place pre-orders. Try-on appointments begin today, giving customers a chance to test and wear the Apple Watch ahead of its April 24 launch. Customers who already placed early orders for the Apple Watch will see April 24 delivery dates for some models, while customers who order today will need to wait several weeks to get their new Apple Watch devices.
Try-on appointments can be scheduled through Apple's concierge service, both online and in the Apple Store app. The try-on appointment system is currently experiencing difficulties and may be down for some users.
Apple has begun accepting online pre-orders for the Apple Watch in the United States and other first wave launch countries, including the U.K, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Orders can be placed through Apple's online store or through the Apple Store app on iOS devices. Supplies are expected to be limited, so customers interested in April 24 delivery dates should order as soon as possible.
Shipping estimates for Apple Watch models were as follows at launch, but are slipping rapidly:
- Apple Watch Sport: Delivers 4/24-5/8 - Apple Watch with Sport Band: Delivers 4/24-5/8 - Apple Watch with Classic Buckle: Delivers 4/24-5/8 - Apple Watch with Milanese Loop: Delivers 4/24-5/8 - Apple Watch with Leather Loop: Available to ship 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Modern Buckle: Available to ship 4-6 weeks - Apple Watch with Link Bracelet: Stainless steel 4-6 weeks, Space Gray June - Apple Watch Edition: Available to ship May
The Apple Watch will officially launch on April 24, which is the same date that some customers will begin receiving their devices at their homes. Pre-ordering is recommended, as Apple will not be accepting walk-in orders for the Apple Watch during the first weeks following launch. All orders must be placed online.
AppleCare+ is available for the Apple Watch, and is priced at $49 for the Sport models, $69 for the stainless steel models, and $1,500 for the gold Apple Watch Edition models. There's also a combined AppleCare+ option for the iPhone and the Apple Watch, priced at $149 for Apple Watch Sport, $169 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $1,600 for the gold Apple Watch Edition. Combined AppleCare+ can be purchased up to six months after an iPhone purchase.
AppleCare+ service fees for accidental damage are priced at $69 for the Apple Watch Sport, $79 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $1,000 for the Apple Watch Edition.
Apple is also selling standalone bands that can be purchased alongside the Apple Watch, and most band orders will ship in May. Modern Buckle bands are unavailable, and Milanese Loop, Link Bracelet, and Leather Loop ship in two to four weeks.
Apple is also accepting try-on appointments in its retail stores beginning today, giving users a chance to see the watch before placing an online pre-order. Appointments for models besides the Apple Watch Edition will last for approximately 15 minutes and will give customers an opportunity to try on multiple devices. We've written a post covering what to expect at your try-on appointment, which is worth checking out before you visit an Apple Store. Try-on appointments can be scheduled through Apple's concierge service, both online and in the Apple Store app. The try-on appointment system is currently experiencing difficulties and may be down for some users.
Apple Watch pricing begins at $349 for the entry-level aluminum Sport model, $549 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $10,000 for the gold Apple Watch Edition. All three models can be ordered from the online store beginning now.
Along with accepting pre-orders for the Apple Watch, Apple has also begun accepting orders for the new 12-inch Retina MacBook through its online store. Orders are available through the website and through the Apple Store app.
Shipping estimates for most pre-configured MacBook models are currently at one to three days, while custom configurations will ship in three to four weeks. Shipping estimates for the high-end gold MacBook have slipped to three to four weeks.
The 12-inch Retina MacBook features Apple's latest technology, with an ultra thin chassis that's 0.31mm thick (a half-inch), a Retina display, a Force Touch trackpad that enables a range of new gestures, a thinner keyboard with larger keys stabilized by a new butterfly design, a single USB-C port, and a low-power Core M processor that lets it operate without a fan for silent performance.
Reviews of the new MacBook came out on Thursday morning and are worth a read before purchasing the new MacBook. Many reviewers have compared it to the first-generation MacBook Air, praising its cutting-edge design while highlighting some of the performance compromises compared to the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.
The machine's Core M processor lags behind the more powerful Intel-based processors available in Apple's other notebooks, but it runs all modern apps (including those like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro). It is, however, noticeably slower, which may be a concern for users who use system intensive tasks on a regular basis. For day to day use, many reviewers found it more than adequate, but there was a general consensus suggesting that it's somewhat impractical in its current incarnation, given the price to performance ratio.
The Retina MacBook is available in three colors: Silver, Gold, and Space Gray. It's available in two configurations at two price points. The entry-level model ships with a 1.1GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 256GB of flash storage for $1,299. The higher-end model includes a 1.2GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 512GB of flash storage for $1,599.
Both models offer an optional processor upgrade, boosting the 1.1GHz processor to 1.2 or 1.3GHz, and boosting the 1.2GHz processor to 1.3GHz.
Apple has taken its online store down to prepare for the launch of Apple Watch pre-orders, as it often does ahead of a product launch. Pre-orders for the Apple Watch are expected to begin at 12:01 AM Pacific Time or 3:01 AM Eastern Time in the United States. Orders for the MacBook, which goes on sale on April 10, may also kick off at 12:01 AM PT when the store comes back up. Pre-orders are occurring in all first wave launch countries at the same time so customers in other countries will be able to order at a local time equivalent to 12:01 AM PT. Here's a full list of first wave launch countries and their order times (in local time):
Apple will accept online orders for the Apple Watch both through its website and through the Apple Store app. Apple's head of retail Angela Ahrendts made an announcement earlier today to let prospective buyers know that supplies of the Apple Watch are likely not going to meet demand, so users hoping for the earliest delivery dates should plan to order right as pre-orders become available.
Information obtained from the German Apple Store app earlier this week has suggested that some models of the stainless steel Apple Watch may be so limited that they won't ship by April 24, but it remains unclear if that was an early estimate or a shipping estimate applicable only to Germany.
Still, buyers should be prepared to possibly encounter estimated delivery dates that could be as far off as June for some band choices, including the Modern Buckle, Leather Loop, and Link Bracelet. Edition Watches may ship in May.
If you're still trying to figure out which Apple Watch to buy, check out our Apple Watch Buyer's Guide and our Buyer's Guide video, which is available below. They'll give you a rundown on all of the available options and some things to take into consideration when choosing a watch.
Apple Watch pricing begins at $349 for the Apple Watch Sport, $549 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $10,000 for the gold Apple Watch Edition. Pricing varies heavily based on band choice, with the cheapest band being the $49 Sport Band and the most expensive band being the $449 Link Bracelet. Early Apple Watch orders will be delivered to customers beginning April 24, which is the official launch date for the device.
Atypical Games' popular iOS game Radiation Island is available on the Mac App Store as of today. First launched for the iPad and iPhone January of this year, Radiation Island earned itself thousands of downloads and rave reviews from the iOS gaming community.
Positioned as an open world survival game, Radiation Island transports players to a mysterious island where they must battle radioactive undead, scavenge for food, build shelters, and find treasures, all while looking for a way to solve the puzzle of the island to escape and return to the real world.
Players will need to hunt down resources to cook food, build weapons, and craft tools, which are necessary to survive the hordes of undead and dangerous forest animals during the ongoing day/night cycle. There are also abandoned villages and military compounds to explore to uncover the island's secrets.
Follow your own path in an environment of breathtaking beauty and gigantic scope. Explore huge forests inhabited by dangerous wolves, bears and mountain lions. Investigate abandoned villages and old military compounds where zombies guard vital tools, weapons and clues to the secrets of this world. You can even swim and dive, if you can avoid the hungry crocodiles.
Hunt wild animals, fish or gather fruits to overcome hunger. Mine for resources and craft weapons, tools and basic vehicles. Find hidden treasures, equipment and fire arms to prevail in a world full of perils: radiation, anomalies, harsh weather and enraged zombies.
Our sister site TouchArcade reviewed the iOS version of Radiation Island when it came out, finding it visually stunning and a "stupid value" with a lot of replay potential. "It's a massive, and immensely enjoyable experience."
Radiation Island for Mac can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $2.99. [Direct Link]
It's just after 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, which means Apple Stores in Australia have opened up for the day. Prospective Apple Watch buyers in the country are already lining up outside of stores in the hopes of getting a chance to try on the Apple Watch in person.
Several Australians on Twitter and Instagram have posted images of people lining up outside of Apple Stores, and the first people waiting in line have already been allowed into the store to check out the Apple Watch display units. Several people are also live streaming their experiences with the Apple Watch on Periscope.
A photo posted by Aaron Meredith (@aaronmeredith) on
Apple retail stores in Australia are already outfitted with Apple Watch tables that have the Apple Watch on display alongside an iPad, and there are also tables that have the Apple Watch on display under glass, where the devices can be tried on.
Customers who are doing Apple Watch try-ons are walk-in customers who waited in line to see the device, as try-on appointments cannot yet be scheduled online. MacRumors has learned that try-on appointments will be available online in Australia later today, possibly after pre-orders begin.
Line in Australia to see the Apple Watch, courtesy of Daniel Vuckovic
People are also beginning to line up in other locations around the world where Apple retail stores have not opened, and as can be seen in this image from Japan, stores that will be opening soon are already equipped with try on tables and Apple Watch display units.
Apple Store in Japan equipped with Apple Watch displays, courtesy of Hideki Ito
Apple Watch try-on appointments in the United States will not begin until stores open in the morning on Friday, April 10, but based on the lines and the crowds in other countries, it's likely most Apple Stores will be very busy tomorrow. Apple Watch pre-orders will be available beginning April 10 at 12:01 AM Pacific Time.
Apple has spent a total of $38 million on Apple Watch television advertisements since its March 9 media event, reports Reuters, citing numbers from TV ad tracking site iSpot.tv. Apple has been marketing the Apple Watch aggressively as it marks an entirely new product category and the company's first serious venture into wearable devices.
$38 million is just $4 million less than the $42 million Apple spent on advertising for the iPhone and iPhone 6 Plus over the course of the last five months. The Apple Watch commercial has been shown on TV more than 300 times since March 9, and more than half of those spots have come during primetime shows like "The Walking Dead," "The Voice," and the NCAA basketball tournament.
Reality television show "The Voice" also marked one of the Apple Watch's first appearances on a celebrity wrist. One of the singing competition's judges, Pharell Williams, wore an Apple Watch on Monday's episode.
Apple Watch advertising picked up on Monday of this week as we began the countdown to Apple Watch pre-orders. Apple began airing the Apple Watch commercial more frequently, as Monday also marked an NCAA final between Duke and Wisconsin.
In addition to being shown on TV, the Apple Watch has also graced the covers of several magazines in the United States and other countries around the world in an effort to highlight its usefulness as a fitness device and its position as a fashion accessory. It's been shown off in Fitness, Self, Vogue, and more.
Apple Watch pre-orders begin at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on April 10, which is also the date that Apple will begin offering Apple Watch try-on appointments in its retail stores. We can expect Apple Watch advertising to pick up even more over the course of the next two weeks as we approach the device's official April 24 launch date.
Even amid a decline in U.S. PC shipments, Apple continues to see steady shipment growth, according to new PC shipping estimates from Gartner. Apple shipped nearly 1.7 million PCs in 1Q15, up from 1.5 million in 1Q14, marking an 8.9 percent increase. Overall PC growth in the United States in 1Q15 was down 1.3 percent compared to 1Q14, with Dell and other smaller manufacturers seeing a decline in shipments. Gartner estimated total PC shipments in the U.S. during 1Q15 at 13.9 million, down from 14 million last year.
During the quarter, Apple captured 12 percent of the market, up from 10.9 percent in the year ago quarter. Apple is positioned as the third largest PC vendor in the United States, and continues to trail both HP and Dell when it comes to market share.
Gartner's Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 1Q15 (Thousands of Units)
HP shipped 3.6 million PCs during 1Q15, garnering it 26.1 percent of the market. Dell shipped 3.2 million for 23.2 percent of the market, and Lenovo came in after Apple with 1.7 million shipments for 11.8 percent of the market. ASUS, the fifth largest vendor in the U.S., sold just under a million PCs for 7.2 percent of the market.
Apple's U.S. Market Share Trend: 1Q06-1Q15 (Gartner)
IDC also released its shipment estimates today, and as is typical, its numbers are different than Gartner's numbers, in part because Gartner counts Windows-based tablets as personal computers, while IDC does not. According to IDC, overall PC shipments in the United States for 1Q15 were at 14 million, with Apple responsible for shipping 1.6 million PCs during the quarter, up from 1.5 million in 1Q14. IDC estimates Apple saw 1.7 percent growth with 10.9 percent market share.
IDC also ranks HP and Dell as the top two vendors in the United States, but its estimates place Lenovo as the third largest vendor with Apple coming in fourth and Toshiba coming in fifth.
As for worldwide shipments, Apple does not rank as one of the top five vendors so its worldwide shipments are not broken down in IDC and Gartner PC shipping estimates. Total worldwide PC shipments for 1Q15 were at 71.7 million according to Gartner, a decline of 5.2 percent compared to the year ago quarter, while IDC estimates put total worldwide shipments at 68.5 million, a decline of 6.7 percent.
It is important to note that data from Gartner and IDC is preliminary and that the numbers can shift somewhat, sometimes dramatically. Last year, for example, Gartner predicted Apple shipments at 1.521 million, later revising the number to 1.534 million. IDC predicted Apple shipments of 1.471 PCs, while the final number was 1.559 million.
Jawbone announced the newest iteration in its line of wrist-worn UP fitness trackers back in November, but it's taken several months for the new devices to be ready to ship, likely because of all the new sensor additions.
The company began taking pre-orders several months ago and customers who purchased the devices have been waiting patiently for news on a ship date, which Jawbone delivered today. According to a blog post on the company's site, the UP3 will begin shipping out to customers in the United States on April 20.
Pre-orders will ship in the order that they were received, and based on the number of orders, Jawbone expects all pre-order customers to receive their UP3 bands no later than mid-May.
According to Jawbone, the UP3 includes several new sensors that give it more advanced health and fitness tracking capabilities. It has a new tri-axis accelerometer, skin and ambient temperature sensors, and "bioimpedance" sensors that let the UP3 analyze a wide range of biometric data, including resting heart rate. It can track detailed sleep stages, distinguishing between REM sleep, light sleep, and deep sleep, and it can distinguish between different workout activities.
Today's blog post also includes an apology to customers, explaining that orders were delayed due to quality control issues with water resistance. The company hoped to offer water resistance up to 10 meters, but is unable to do so, making it unsuitable for use while swimming or under water. Customers who want to cancel their pre-orders can do so.
Our intention was to ship an advanced multi-sensor product that defied industry standards with water resistance of up to 10 meters. Unfortunately, after extensive and exhaustive testing we have been unable to guarantee 10 meters of water resistance for all UP3 units.
UP3 will now ship with a water resistance comparable to, and in line with, most other multi-sensor trackers. This means that UP3 is resistant to everyday splashing, including while washing hands or in the shower, but it is unsuitable for swimming or submerged use. We would like to apologize to customers who may have pre-ordered UP3 on the basis that it would be suitable for swimming. Customers who wish to cancel their pre-order will, of course, be able to do so with no charge.
The UP3 is available for pre-order for $179.99 from the Jawbone website. Orders placed today will ship out after pre-orders have been sent, arriving towards the end of May.
iPhone service and repair website iPhonefixed earlier this week got its hands on a sapphire crystal Apple Watch display cover and decided to put the 38mm part through a scratch resistance test to weigh Apple's claims of a completely scratch-resistant sapphire display.
The website ran the display cover through its test, rubbing it against a stone wall, scratching it with a coin, key, and abrasive paper, and finishing off with tapping the screen with a hammer and drilling it with a power drill. Following the tests, iPhonefixed found Apple's promise of a scratch-resistant display to be entirely accurate, with not a single scratch or scuff on the screen even after all of the site's attempts at leaving a mark.
Apple's promotion of the sapphire crystal display cover marketed it as a material "ideal for protecting the Retina Display" on the Apple Watch, due to it being one of the hardest transparent materials on the planet next to actual diamonds.
Though iPhonefixed was not able to test the Apple Watch Sport's Ion-X glass display cover, with the lower-end model's "aluminosilicate glass that’s especially resistant to scratches and impact," it too is likely to hold up well to abuse.
Check out the full Apple Watch sapphire display cover scratch test video by iPhonefixedright here.
Earlier this year, news leaked that Google was working on an Android Wear app for the iOS App Store, and it appears that the company's progress on engineering Android Wear devices to work with iPhones is nearing completion.
According to a source that spoke to The Verge, Android Wear on the iPhone works similarly to the Apple Watch, connecting through a companion app and providing functions like Notifications. Google is said to be "close to finishing" the final technical details behind the project.
An LG G Watch R with FaceTime notification from iOS, via The Verge
In its current state of development, Android Wear works along with a companion app on the iPhone and supports basic functions like notifications -- as you can see in the photo below. As it does on Android, on the iPhone Android Wear also supports Google Now's ambient information cards, voice search, and other voice actions. It should also support some more advanced features with Google's own iOS apps, like replying to Gmail messages.
If Google finishes the project and submits its Android Wear app to the iOS App Store, it is not clear how Apple will react, given that the app would allow Android Wear devices to compete directly with the Apple Watch. Apple allows Pebble and other competing fitness bands to have apps in the App Store, so it may also permit Google to release an Android Wear app, but at the same time, Apple has aggressively cut down on products similar to the Apple Watch in its retail stores.
It no longer sells fitness devices like the Fitbit, the Jawbone UP, and the Nike Fuelband, and over the years, Apple has also had some altercations with Google. Apple used to feature Google Maps on its iOS devices, but moved on to its own proprietary mapping solution several years ago.
Android Wear watches are built on Google's platform but are available from a number of Apple's competitors, including Samsung and LG. Popular smartwatches like the LG G, the Moto 360, and Samsung's Gear lineup are all Android Wear devices.
There is no word on when Google might release an iOS app capable of officially connecting Android Wear devices to iPhones, but it's possible an announcement could come during the company's I/O developer conference in late May.
Softorino's WALTR app for the Mac, which is designed to make it easy to upload and convert any music or video file to an iPad or iPhone, is getting its first major update today following its November 2014 release.
WALTR will help you drag and drop a wide variety of media files onto your iPad or iPhone, and it supports many different file types, including MP4, AVI, CUE, WMA, M4R, AAC, M4V, M4A, FLAC, ALAC, and MKV. Today's update brings additional formats, full subtitle support, an updated design, and more.
New formats that are now supported include LV, M2TS, TS (experimental), DV, MPG, MPEG, MPE, MPEG(old types), and WEBM for video and M4B, AIFF, WAV, OGG, OGA, WV, TTA, and DFF for audio. It also supports subtitles in .SRT and .ASS formats.
For those unfamiliar with WALTR, it's incredibly easy to use. You simply plug in your iPad or iPhone to your Mac, turn off iTunes, and drag any media file onto the Mac app. From there, the file is converted and uploaded to your device within minutes, plus it's placed into the proper Music or Video app.
WALTR can be downloaded from the Softorino website for free. The software includes a 14-day free trial, after which a single license can be purchased for $29.95.
To celebrate today's update, Softorino is giving away 15 copies of WALTR to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube Channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page. Due to the intricacies of international law regarding giveaways, this giveaway is open only to U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older.
The giveaway will run from today, Thursday, April 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through Monday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Winners will be chosen randomly on April 13 and will be contacted through email. A response to our email is required within 48 hours or the winner will forfeit the prize and we will pick a new winner.
Apple today released iTunes 12.1.2, a minor update that primarily improves support for syncing photos from iOS devices to the new Photos app for Mac released yesterday as part of OS X 10.10.3.
This update improves support for syncing photos to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch from the new Photos app for OS X. In addition, this update also adds several refinements to the Get Info window and improves overall stability.
iTunes 12.1.2 is a free download through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
Apple's upcoming ultra thin 12-inch MacBook with a Retina display has been overshadowed by all of the Apple Watch news that's been surfacing over the course of the last week, but the super slim device is set to launch online and in-stores on Friday, April 10, alongside the Apple Watch.
Ahead of the MacBook's launch, Apple has given select sites MacBook review units to test out, and those early MacBook reviews are coming out today. We're gathering up tidbits from some of the best reviews below, which give us our first look at how the MacBook performs with its low power Core M processor and a look at how users feel about the new keyboard and the new trackpad.
Many of the reviewers loved the extremely thin size of the MacBook, its impressive Retina display, and its Force Touch Trackpad, but were unhappy with some of the compromises that are made with the machine -- lack of ports, the keyboard, the processing speed, and the high price. Almost all of the reviews pointed out some of the shortcomings in the Core M processor, noting that it's much slower than Apple's other notebook offerings and suitable for lighter use, much like a Chromebook. It was, however, able to run Photoshop and Logic Pro, just slower.
Several of the reviewers disliked the new keyboard when first trying it due to its thin keys with little travel, but most were able to adjust to the different feel of typing on it after a short period of time. The increased size of the keys was also hard to adjust to for touch typists. Battery life in general ranged from seven hours up, but most of the reviews saw shorter battery life than the promised nine hours of web browsing. Overall, the consensus between reviewers seemed to be that while this is a great MacBook, it's not a solution for everyone and is going to appeal to a niche set of people due to its high price and the performance compromises.
Basically, if you do anything that's going to really tax the processor, this laptop probably isn't going to cut it for you. In that sense it's actually kind of like a Chromebook. It's fast enough for 70 percent of what I do, but a little slower than what I'm used to. For about 20 percent of what I do -- mostly photo editing -- it works but requires patience. But it's the last 10 percent that's hard: video editing, really big iPhoto libraries, basically anything processor-intensive can get rough.
The port situation is the biggest problem. The question isn't whether people can live with only one port, but whether they'll want to put up with it when there are so many other options available. Using the MacBook as a primary computer requires you to subscribe to a mostly wireless lifestyle that not everyone is going to be ready for, and even if you already use Macs switching to a MacBook means throwing your dongle and cable arsenal out and starting over. [...]
Ultimately the new MacBook feels like a first-generation product--a very good first-generation product, but a first-generation product nevertheless. It's got some promise and a couple of major shortcomings and you don't need to be the first person who takes the leap into the Brave New Future it represents.
The MacBook keyboard's better than I expected it to be--I was able to score 118 words per minute on TypeRacer using it--but it never felt particularly comfortable. If you're not a keyboard snob, you may not even notice the difference, but if there's any single feature that would make me reluctant to buy a MacBook, it would be the keyboard. [...]
I never found using the MacBook sluggish. Then again, I didn't try to play games on it. But again, if you're trying to play games on the MacBook, you may be missing the point. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 5300 processor is more than enough to drive the Retina display with no lag, and I found Apple's various interface animations ran smoothly.
I came to the MacBook with certain expectations; specifically, that it would not be able to meet my more "pro" level needs, in terms of Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. Luckily, the MacBook defied those expectations and performed well with each of the above applications.
Which isn't to say performance is on par with, say, the brand new 13-inch MacBook Pro -- it isn't. But pre-launch concerns of this machine being seriously hampered by its low-power Intel M processor were, in my experience, very premature. The new MacBook handled the tasks I threw at it so well that I am no seriously considering whether or not I can adopt one full-time, as a replacement to my original 2012 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro road warrior.
That's the thing, though: While USB Type-C ports will one day become industry standard, they're still uncommon enough that you will need a dongle to plug in any of your peripherals that use a full-sized USB Type-A connector. In my case, that meant I couldn't charge my phone off my laptop. I also couldn't use the USB headset I normally wear while podcasting and making voice recordings. If I did want to use my USB gadgets, I would have had to plug in a $79 adapter -- that's right, it's not even included in the box. Again, I expect USB Type-C will one day be the norm, and it's possible that your needs are simple enough that you can already live without the full-sized USB ports.
I expect the new MacBook to follow the same path as the Air. Over the next few years, it will improve, and become an affordable, indispensable tool for life in the future. But here, now, in the present day, there are more practical slim, everyday laptop choices. The MacBook Air is the best option all around, the MacBook Pro Retina 13 is a great step up, and PC users can do no better than Dell's latest XPS 13.
The MacBook's Retina screen is joy to behold. As someone who has grown addicted to high-res displays, having such crisp visuals on a notebook this small is fantastic. In fact, I'm not sure how I'm going to return to my 13-inch MacBook Air.
Colors pop, text is crisp, and everything is visible from all angles. Using it outdoors or in low light was no problem -- the screen is great.
The Retina MacBook will be available for purchase online and in stores on Friday, April 10. Prices start at $1,299 for the entry-level model with a 1.1GHz processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. A 1.2GHz model with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is also available for purchase, and both models can be upgraded with a 1.3GHz processor.
Following reports that Apple Watch Edition stock will be limited to select Apple Stores in the United States and other launch countries, MacRumors has discovered that Apple's Find Locations tool enables prospective buyers to search their local area to check for Apple Watch Edition availability. Below, we have identified some of the major cities and metropolitan areas in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan that will carry the Edition.
To check Apple Watch Edition availability in your local area, navigate to Apple's Find Locations website, click on Sales, use your current GPS-based location or enter another one, select Watch Edition from the list of all products, and click on the Go button. A map will then display nearby Apple Store locations that will be carrying the Edition. If you live outside the United States, you will need to change the country flag in the top right first.
United States — New York City: Fifth Avenue, SoHo, Upper West Side — Boston: Boylston Street — Chicago: North Michigan Avenue, Lincoln Park — Philadelphia: Walnut Street — Washington DC: Georgetown — Atlanta: Lenox Square — Miami: Lincoln Road — Virginia: Tyson's Corner Center — Newark, Delaware: Christiana Mall — Bay Area: San Francisco, Stanford — Los Angeles: The Grove, Third St. (Santa Monica), South Coast (Costa Mesa) — Las Vegas: Fashion Show — Houston: Highland Village — Dallas: Northpark Center — Seattle: Bellevue Square
Canada — Toronto: Eaton Centre — Montreal: Sainte-Catherine
United Kingdom — London: Covent Garden, Regent Street, Selfridges
Australia — Sydney: George Street — Brisbane: MacArthur Chambers — Melbourne: Southland (Cheltenham)
France — Paris: Carrousel du Louvre, Opera, Galeries Lafayette
Hong Kong — Festival Walk — International Finance Centre (IFC) — Causeway Bay
Japan — Tokyo: Isetan, Ginza, Omotesando — Osaka: Shinsaibashi
China will also be carrying the Apple Watch Edition in at least 12 of 19 retail stores throughout the country, as the market is expected to be a major contributor to Edition sales. Apple Watch pre-orders and try-on appointments begin April 10, and the device officially goes on sale April 24 in the first wave launch countries listed above. We will update this post if we come across any other locations carrying the Edition.
Mophie announced on Thursday that it has released an updated version of its Mophie Space app on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, alongside new Space Pack battery and storage cases for iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPad mini and a new universal Spacestation battery and storage pack for iOS, Android, Mac and PC. The new products are available through the Mophie website today, with prices ranging from $149.95 to $199.95.
“With this new introduction of Space, it’s a transformative moment for mophie, as we’ve created a solution millions of people could use and benefit from, but without the barrier of a high price point – the app is free,” said Daniel Huang, mophie CEO and Co-Founder. “Space represents another opportunity for us. Just as we created and established a real solution for mobile power with the juice pack, the next phase of Space establishes a complete, user-friendly solution for mobile storage and file management.”
Mophie's Space Pack for iPhone 6 ($149.95) features a 3300mAh internal battery that provides up to 100% additional battery life, while Space Pack for iPhone 6 Plus ($149.95) includes a 2,600 mAh internal battery that provides up to 50% extra battery life. The popular lineup of battery cases also provide up to 128GB of extra storage for storing up to 64,000 additional photos, 56 additional hours of video and 36,000 additional songs.
The universal Spacestation ($149.95) is equipped with a 6000mAh internal battery and 2.4A of high-current power that provides up to 100% extra battery life for iPad mini and 200% to 300% extra battery life for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Like the Space Pack, the Spacestation also includes up to 128GB of extra storage for storing up to 64,000 additional photos, 56 additional hours of video and 36,000 additional songs.
Mophie 
