MacRumors

As carriers move away from two-year contracts, and towards financing programs that break down the full price of an iPhone into equal monthly payments, it is worth a reminder that Apple offers partial refunds for unused AppleCare+ coverage, minus the value of any service already provided.

AppleCare+ Apple Watch iPhone
Since many carrier financing programs enable customers to upgrade to a new iPhone after a minimum of 12 months, whereas the AppleCare+ coverage period is 24 months, some customers will inevitably have at least half of their warranty period remaining, for which they are entitled a pro-rated refund.

Macworld recently noted that Apple has a longstanding support document on its website that outlines how to request a refund for an AppleCare plan. The process involves phoning Apple and providing them with your AppleCare agreement number and covered device serial number, and an original sales receipt is often required.

The refund policy may vary depending on the country, but in the U.S., Apple stipulates that customers who cancel their AppleCare+ plan more than 30 days after the date of purchase will receive a pro-rated refund of the original purchase price, minus a cancellation fee of $25 or 10% of the pro-rated amount, whichever is less.

Here is the exact verbiage from the AppleCare+ terms and conditions:

ii) If you cancel more than thirty (30) days after your receipt of this Plan, you will receive a pro rata refund of the original purchase price. The pro rata refund is based on the percentage of unexpired Plan Term from the Plan’s date of purchase, less (a) a cancellation fee of twenty-five ($25) dollars or ten percent (10%) of the pro-rata amount, whichever is less, and (b) the value of any service provided to you under the Plan.

AppleCare+ for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus costs $129. Assuming that you do not make any accidental damage claims, and upgrade your iPhone after 12 months, the plan would have $64.50 in value remaining. After a 10% cancellation charge of $6.45, the refund would be $58.05 — enough for one or two monthly payments on your next iPhone.

AppleCare+ for iPhone extends both the smartphone's limited one-year warranty and 90 days of complimentary phone support to two years from the original date of purchase, and provides up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage for a $79 or $99 service charge each time. It also covers defective hardware and depleted batteries.

August, the company behind the popular August Smart Lock, today announced a second-generation product that includes support for Apple's HomeKit home automation platform. The new HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock lets customers use voice commands to lock, unlock, and check the status of their door.

The August Smart Lock can be used with other HomeKit products to create scenes that might unlock the door while also turning on the lights inside the house. August has also revamped the design of its Smart Lock, adding a new magnetic faceplate to improve the grip and rotation of the lock, and an indicator at the top so users can visually tell whether the door is locked or unlocked.


Along with the new HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock, August is also debuting the August Smart Keypad and the August Doorbell Cam. The August Smart Keypad works alongside the August Smart Lock, allowing for entry without a smartphone. Unique one-time use access codes can be generated for friends and family.


The August Doorbell Cam also works with the August Smart Lock, letting users see and speak with visitors at their door from anywhere. It has a one-way 140 degree HD video camera and two-way audio. Motion detection capabilities capture movement even when the bell is not rung, sending a notification, and a livestream of activity can be viewed using the August app.


All three products connect to the August Access platform, which is available today in beta form. It's designed to offer secure home access to the August products for trusted partner companies like Sears, Postmates, Pro.com, Handy, Fetch, Shyp, BloomNation, Envoy, Rinse, HelloAlfred, Wag!, Pillow, and Doorman. Customers will be able to allow these trusted partners to enter their homes with the August Smart Lock, alleviating the need to be home for deliveries.

The HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock, priced at $229, is available for pre-order from the August website. The Smart Keypad is priced at $79 and the Doorbell Cam is priced at $199.

CBS CEO Les Moonves says the network is still in negotiations with Apple over its inclusion in Apple's upcoming streaming television service, reports Bloomberg. In an interview with Bloomberg TV this morning, Moonves said CBS has had conversations with Apple and will "probably" ink a deal with the Cupertino company.

"Apple is having conversations with everyone about doing their own streaming services," Moonves said in an interview Wednesday on Bloomberg TV. "We have had those conversations, as have the other networks. Do I think something will happen? Probably, but I do not know when."

Moonves made similar comments five months ago at Re/code’s Code Conference, saying CBS would "probably" sign a deal with Apple for its rumored streaming television service. "We're very excited about it," he said, and at that time, he confirmed he had met with Eddy Cue to discuss the plans as part of an "ongoing conversation."

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Given the similarity between the statement given in May and what Moonves had to say today, there is little evidence of any progress in the talks between Apple and content owners, but it's clear there is still interest in reaching a deal.

Apple's web-based television service was initially rumored to be launching in 2015, perhaps alongside the new Apple TV, but a continued failure to secure all of the necessary deals has reportedly delayed its debut until 2016. Apple is said to be having trouble with content negotiations, with pricing being a sticking point.

Apple's plan is to offer a selection of popular television channels at a price of $30 to $40 per month, a price tag that undercuts most cable television services. While Apple's streaming television service is still in the works with a launch date unknown, the company’s new set-top box will be launching at the end of the month.

The new Apple TV is already in developer hands and will be available to the general public in late October. The device includes a full App Store, universal search, deep Siri integration, and a touch-based remote for navigating the interface and playing games.

Apple's new 21.5-inch 4K and 27-inch 5K iMacs released yesterday have been subjected to early Geekbench 3 benchmarking, and the results show the late 2015 models are expectedly faster, with improved single-core and multi-core scores compared to previous-generation models.

The new iMacs are between roughly 7% and 20% faster than previous models in Geekbench testing, but it should be noted the results are based on single data points that will need to be averaged out against other benchmarking results for a more accurate comparison.

iMac-5K-Performance
Japanese blog Mac Otakara benchmarked the new 21.5-inch 4K iMac, equipped with a 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, and the desktop computer received 64-bit single-core and multi-core scores of 3,787 and 12,803 respectively. The comparable late 2013 model 2.9GHz iMac had single-core and multi-core scores of 3,543 and 10,685 respectively.

Geekbench-2015-iMac-4K
The late 2015 high-end non-Retina 21.5-inch iMac, equipped with a 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, had a single-core score of 3,532 and multi-core score of 11,865. The comparable late 2013 model iMac, with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor, had single-core and multi-core scores of 3,175 and 10,199 respectively.

The lineup of new 27-inch 5K iMacs were also benchmarked, with the lower-end model equipped with a 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor receiving single-core and multi-core scores of 3,931 and 12,079 respectively. The higher-end 3.3GHz model earned a single-core score of 4,214 and multi-core score of 13,081.

Geekbench-2015-iMac-5K
The comparable late 2014 lower-end 5K iMac had an average single-core score of 3,329 and multi-core score of 10,632. The comparable mid 2015 high-end 5K iMac, configured with a 3.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, had single-core and multi-core scores of 3,844 and 12,192 respectively.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iMac

Just ahead of the launch of Apple Music in late June, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue took to Twitter to reveal that Apple was "working to" increase the limit for iTunes Match libraries and Apple Music's similar scan-and-match feature from the current 25,000 tracks to 100,000 tracks for iOS 9.

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The arrival of iOS 9 last month did not come with a corresponding increase for the library matching limits, and users in our forums and elsewhere have been wondering when the increase will be rolled out or if there has been a change in plans.

In an effort to answer that question, MacRumors asked Cue for an update on the limit increase, and he tells us Apple is "definitely working on it" and that he expects it will be released "before the end of the year."

Apple's $25/year iTunes Match service and Apple Music's matching feature allow users to add their own songs that are not available from the iTunes Store catalog to the cloud, making them available on other devices using the same Apple ID. The services scan a user's music library to determine which tracks are already available in the iTunes Store, automatically making those available in the user's library. Only those tracks that are not matched to the iTunes Store catalog are then uploaded to the cloud, saving time and bandwidth.

The scan-and-match functionality has been limited to libraries of 25,000 tracks since iTunes Match debuted in 2011, although tracks purchased from the iTunes Store do not count toward this limit. Users with larger music libraries have had to use workarounds such as splitting their tracks into two iTunes libraries in order to take advantage of the matching services, but with the impending increase to a 100,000-track limit, many of these users will no longer need to resort to these workarounds.

Twelve South today announced a new Apple Watch stand, called the Forté, that will let users display the wearable device in both portrait and Nightstand modes. The company built the new stand to mirror the aesthetic of the Apple Watch, with a chrome arm that holds the device at a 40 degree angle designed to easily read its screen on a bedside table. The bottom of the stand is also wrapped in leather, which Twelve South ensures will protect each Apple Watch band from scratching.

forte apple watch dock
Like most other Apple Watch charging docks, the Forté requires users to use the MagSafe charger shipped with the Apple Watch to be able to charge the device. Twelve South also mentioned that users can rest an iPhone underneath the Apple Watch as a dual-action dock, but will of course need to provide their own Lightning charging cable to do so. Overall, the company called the new dock "the first full-featured Apple Watch stand worthy of the Apple Store."

"From the shape and standards, to fit and finish, Forté is the first full-featured stand that you can find in Apple Store. The simplicity of Forté directly reflects the beautiful Apple timepiece, whether it’s placed bedside or on your bathroom vanity. We are thrilled to work with Apple Store to bring this incredible stand exclusively to Apple Store customers this Holiday season.”

The $59.99 Forté Apple Watch dock is available in all Apple Store locations in the United States and Canada starting today, with a plan to roll out its availability in other regions "in the coming weeks." Those interested can also, of course, buy the charging cradle directly from Twelve South's official website.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Apple today introduced a new Twitter account dedicated to assisting Apple Music users with questions and inquiries and who may not be finding the answers they need in the troubleshooting section of the company's main website (via 9to5Mac). According to the account's bio, users can expect to get support for their Apple Music-related inquiries between 6AM and 8PM PDT on every day of the week, including weekends.

apple music twitter

Apple has expanded its reach on Twitter over the past few weeks in a number of ways, including another facet of the new Apple Music streaming service with a Twitter account solely aimed at songs and shows currently airing on Beats 1. In September, the company also debuted an account aimed at the popular space of iOS gaming, with an angle to let App Store editors interact more freely with game developers amid the company's "broader push into gaming."

In a new review for the iPhone 6s, DxOMark concluded that the camera on the 2015 iPhone line deserved a score of 82, equal to that of the score it gave for the iPhone 6 one year ago. The website measured seven factors (exposure and contrast, color, autofocus, texture, noise, artifacts, and flash) to determine an overall score for the camera on the iPhone 6s, giving the lowest marks to texture and noise (via CNET).

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From our tests, images are generally well-exposed and for the most part colors are vivid and pleasing outdoors. However, there are occasional differences in exposure noticeable between consecutive captures in very bright outdoor scenes, typically due to the inconsistent activation of the HDR mode.

There is also a slight but consistent underexposure in extremely low light levels (5 lux); the result however is still quite usable and an improvement over the iPhone 6. White balance is reliable though inevitably some inaccuracies were noticeable at times, with a slight yellow cast visible in some outdoor scenes. Although this cast was present in captures from the iPhone 6 the cast was slightly stronger and more noticeable on the 6s.

A score of 82 is the same as the iPhone 6 in 2014, but also behind the 87 given to the Sony Xperia Z5 and the 86-scoring Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Apple's rivals also won in a series of similar video tests, scoring between four and six points higher than the 80 awarded to the iPhone 6s.

DxOMark's closing statement regarding the new iPhone line is a bit similar to the overall consensus found elsewhere online regarding the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. The French optics and image processing firm described the smartphone as a "good balance of performance and top-notch user experience," but not an entirely compelling upgrade from an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, especially when considering solely the camera and video tests conducted by the firm.

Tag: DxOMark
Related Forum: iPhone

Pangu-Jailbreak-iOS-9Chinese team Pangu today released the first untethered jailbreak for iOS 9 devices, including the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

The jailbreak tool is currently available for Windows only, but an OS X version will likely be available for Mac users in the future.

Pangu is compatible with all iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models on iOS 9 - iOS 9.0.2:

  • iPhone 4S, 5/5c/5s, 6/6 Plus, 6s/6s Plus

  • iPad 2/3/4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad mini, iPad mini 2/3/4

  • iPod touch (fifth and sixth generations)

    Jailbreaking enables iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users to install unapproved third-party apps, tweaks, mods, custom themes, utilities and other content — called "packages" — from Cydia, an unofficial App Store for jailbroken devices.

    Jailbreaking has been around since the early days of iPhone OS 1.0, years before the software was renamed iOS, allowing users to have features such as custom wallpapers, quick reply and Notification Center widgets long before Apple made those official.

    As noted by iPhone Hacks, Cydia Substrate, an underlying framework for jailbreak tweaks, now supports iOS 9. Cydia developers will be required to update their jailbreak tweaks for compatibility with iOS 9 or later. The blog has shared a running list of iOS 9 compatible jailbreak tweaks.

    ios-9-cydia-substrate
    While jailbreaking allows users to further customize and enhance their iOS devices beyond the limits that Apple imposes, modifying your device's software violates your End User License Agreement (EULA) and voids your warranties — although the device can generally be restored to factory default settings through iTunes.

    It is highly recommended that you back up your data through iTunes before attempting to jailbreak your device, as you may encounter various issues or errors that could result in data loss or corruption. Pangu offers step-by-step instructions on how to use the iOS 9 untethered jailbreak on its website. Use the jailbreak at your own risk.

    Pangu also has untethered jailbreak tools available for iOS 8 and iOS 7.

    Related Forum: iOS 9
  • Apple's line of newly updated 5K Retina 27-inch iMacs with Skylake will support up to 64GB of RAM, an upgrade from the previous-generation 27-inch Retina iMacs that would only support a maximum of 32GB of RAM. According to OWC, The current 27-inch Retina iMac includes four memory slots that support up to 16GB of memory per slot for a total of 64GB.

    newimac64gbram

    Image via OWC

    Build-to-order options for the 27-inch Retina iMacs only allow it to be purchased from Apple with a maximum of 32GB RAM, but OWC will offer 16GB modules in 48GB and 64GB configurations for the new iMac. OWC plans to start selling its new 48 and 64GB kits tomorrow, and pricing is as follows:

    - Single 16GB module - $329.99

    - 32GB Kit using 16GB x 2 Modules - $599.00

    - 48GB Kit with 16GB x 2 + 8GB x 2 - $729.00

    - 64GB Kit with 16GB x 4 - $1195.00

    The new 27-inch iMacs were announced this morning and are available from Apple retail stores and Apple's online store. Pricing for the machines starts at $1,799 for a 3.2GHz quad-core processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, and an AMD Radeon R9 M380 graphics card.

    Update: OWC has torn down the new 21.5-inch 4K Retina iMac and has learned that the memory is soldered in, which means it can't be upgraded. Customers purchasing a 21.5-inch Retina iMac should get the maximum amount of memory they can afford at the time of purchase as there will be no third-party upgrade options. The maximum amount of RAM for the 21.5-inch iMac models is 16GB.

    Related Roundup: iMac
    Buyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)
    Related Forum: iMac

    B&H Photo is now offering several different models of the Apple Watch, both online and in its retail store located in New York. Like other third party retailers that sell the Apple Watch, B&H Photo is only offering select Apple Watch stainless steel and Apple Watch Sport models.

    With the Apple Watch in retail stores like Target, Best Buy, and B&H Photo, we may soon start seeing small discounts on the device. Each of these sites offers several other Apple products and they often have sales and deals available. With Black Friday approaching, it's possible there could be Apple Watch models available at lower prices.

    applewatchbandhphoto
    The site is selling four different varieties of the stainless steel Apple Watch, offering the Black Stainless Steel model with a Black Sport Band in 38 and 42mm configurations and the Silver Stainless Steel model in 38 and 42mm configurations with a Product (RED) Sport Band, the Milanese Loop, and the White Sport Band.

    Several varieties of the Apple Watch Sport are available, including Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold models with recent Apple Watch Sport Bands in colors like Midnight Blue, Antique White, Stone, Blue, and Lavender. B&H Photo is also selling Apple Watch charging cables and offering standalone Apple Watch bands.

    Since August, Apple Watch availability has expanded to Best Buy, Target, and Sprint and T-Mobile locations.

    Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
    Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

    metgalatheme2016The Metropolitan Museum of Art today shared details on its annual 2016 Gala and Costume Institute exhibition, which will be sponsored by Apple with Jony Ive serving as a co-chair. The theme for the 2016 event, which will take place on May 2, is "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology."

    The Met Gala, held each year, is a fund raising event that benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute. The theme chosen for the gala each year reflects the theme of the Costume Institute exhibition and dictates what Met Gala attendees should wear. Last year's theme was "China: Through the Looking Glass."

    According to Vogue, this year's event will focus on the dichotomy between handmade haute couture and machine-made fashion, featuring more than 100 pieces of fashion. Techniques like embroidery, pleating, and lacework will be juxtaposed with technologies like laser cutting and thermo shaping.

    The intersection of technology and fashion is a fitting choice for the year Apple is sponsoring the event, as the company came out with its first fashion item, the Apple Watch, in 2015.

    "Traditionally, the distinction between the haute couture and prêt-à-porter was based on the handmade and the machine-made," explains Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute. "But recently this distinction has become increasingly blurred as both disciplines have embraced the practices and techniques of the other."

    The 2016 Met Gala, in addition to being sponsored by Apple, will be hosted by co-chairs Jony Ive, Taylor Swift, and Idris Elba. Anna Wintour, Nicolas Ghesquiére, Karl Lagerfeld, and Miuccia Prada will serve as honorary chairs.

    Image via Vogue

    ipad_iphone_ios_8Last year, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which protects the University of Wisconsin's intellectual rights and patents, sued Apple for infringing on one of its processor patents. According to the lawsuit, Apple used the University's technology in its A7, A8, and A8X processors included in the 2013 and 2014 iPhone and iPad lineup.

    A Wisconsin jury today found Apple guilty of infringing on the patent owned by WARF, reports Reuters, and as a result, the Cupertino-based company could be forced to pay up to $862 million in damages. The jury also ruled that the patent was valid, negating Apple's argument that it was invalid and no infringement had taken place.

    Cupertino, California-based Apple denied any infringement and argued the patent is invalid, according to court papers. Apple previously tried to convince the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to review the patent's validity, but in April the agency rejected the bid.

    According to a recent ruling by U.S. District Judge William Conley, who is presiding over the case, Apple could be liable for up to $862.4 million in damages.

    Granted in 1998, the patent in question covers a method for improving processor efficiency and is titled "Table based data speculation circuit for parallel processing computer." It lists several current and former University of Wisconsin researchers as inventors.

    Now that the jury has decided Apple used the university's technology in its processors, the trial will move on to decide the damages owed. Following that, there will be a third trial phase to determine whether Apple willfully infringed on the patent, which could significantly increase the damages owed.

    The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has also filed a second lawsuit against Apple for the same patent, accusing the company of using the technology in the A9 and A9X found in the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and iPad Pro.

    There are a wide range of Made for iPhone Apple-certified controllers on the market these days, but the Gamevice is unique because it turns the iPad mini into a portable gaming console. The controller fits on either side of the iPad mini, plugging directly into the Lightning port for a lag-free, reliable gaming experience.

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    There are several similar controllers for the iPhone, but the Gamevice is the only option that lets you hold the iPad mini while playing, so there's no need for a stand or a flat surface to rest the tablet on. I went hands-on with the Gamevice to see how it compares to more standard controllers on the market, and while I wasn't impressed with the size, I did enjoy the gameplay experience.

    Design

    The Gamevice consists of two halves of a controller that are held together with a soft, flexible piece of rubber. The left side of the controller has an analog stick, a d-pad, and a power button, while the right side of the controller has a second analog stick, a pause button, and four action buttons in a familiar ABXY Xbox-style layout. There are also two sets of trigger buttons on each side of the controller. Design wise, the Gamevice looks like the product of a mating between the Xbox One controller and the Wii U GamePad.

    Made of a lightweight matte black plastic, the controller exterior feels a bit cheap, but if it were made of a heavier material, it would be too heavy to hold for long periods of time. Materials wise, I'd say it's on par with many of the other Made for iPhone game controllers on the market, but the buttons/analog sticks are superior quality and feel much better underhand. In fact, I'd suggest this is the MFi controller with a feel closest to the Xbox One controller because of how much it borrows from Microsoft.

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    The analog sticks are smooth and easy to use, reminiscent of the analog sticks on an Xbox One controller, and they have rubber around the top for a solid grip. The action buttons also reminded me of an Xbox controller, and while they sound very clicky when pressed (as do the triggers), they're smooth and easy to press with no sticking. The d-pad is a standard four-direction pad and not one of the circular directional pads that are on many other similar controllers.

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    Related Roundup: iPad mini
    Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
    Related Forum: iPad

    Microsoft today released updates for each of its Office 2016 apps, introducing feature improvements, security enhancements, and bug fixes to Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. All apps have been updated with a security fix for vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution should a user open a specially crafted Office file.

    officeformac2016
    All of the apps have also gained new Chinese and Japanese default fonts and improvements to the Visual Basic Editor that allows users to add modules and references and use debug shortcuts. Other fixes and improvements are listed below:

    Outlook
    - Improved VoiceOver support for weather in the Calendar feature.
    - Email address is now included in the default message attribution when you reply and -forward.
    - Message list is now displayed correctly when you switch folders by having the Reading Pane turned off.
    - Improved Reminders functionality to reduce CPU consumption.
    - Improved use of advanced search operators for non-English languages.

    Word
    - Ribbon extensibility. Use ribbon customization XML to customize the ribbon the way that you want it.
    - Custom paper sizes in Page Setup are now supported.
    - Find/Replace is corrected to move to the next matched word when Track Changes is turned on.
    - Fixed crashes that occur when you use Mail Merge together with Outlook.
    - Headers/Footers: Page numbering: Number of Pages option is corrected to display numbers greater than two digits.

    Excel
    - Ribbon extensibility. Use ribbon customization XML to customize the ribbon the way that you want it.
    - Improved support for pasting from external applications.
    - Scroll bars now correctly respect OS X scroll bar settings

    PowerPoint
    - Ribbon extensibility. Use ribbon customization XML to customize the ribbon the way that you want it.

    It is not clear if today's Office 2016 update fixes problems that Office users have been having with Office 2016 and OS X El Capitan, as Microsoft does not outline specific fixes for those issues in the software release notes. Problems with Office 2016 and OS X El Capitan include frequent crashing, inaccessible email, and an inability to open some apps.

    Microsoft has also released an update for Office 2011 that preserves ribbon customization in documents and allows calendar events with online meeting details to be edited in Outlook for Mac and opened in Outlook for Windows. Microsoft previously released an Office 2011 update that fixed issues users were having with OS X El Capitan.

    The updates can be downloaded through Microsoft's AutoUpdate tool which is available within each app. The updates are available for OS X Yosemite and later.

    Update October 14 11:18 AM: Microsoft has posted a support document acknowledging that this update does not address the crashing issues under OS X El Capitan and suggesting the fixes will require an update to El Capitan itself.

    On October 13, 2015, we released an update to Office 2016 for Mac containing great new features, security fixes, and stability improvements. This update doesn’t address the issues experienced by Office customers with OS X 10.11 El Capitan. We are actively working with Apple to ensure resolution with the next update of OS X 10.11 El Capitan.

    Just one month before Apple Pay is rumored to launch in Canada, large bank TD Canada Trust briefly provided evidence of the forthcoming launch by prematurely listing the iPhone-based mobile payments service as a method of payment on its website, as spotted by blog iPhone in Canada. The link has since been removed.

    Apple Pay was briefly listed under "Ways to Pay" at the bottom of TD Canada Trust's website, but the link now leads to a blank page. When it was live, the page said that Apple Pay will soon support TD Canada Trust debit and credit cards, with purchases subject to a $100 transaction limit like other contactless payments in Canada.

    Apple-Pay-TD-Canada-Trust
    In April, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple was in negotiations with the Royal Bank of Canada, TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal, CIBC and National Bank of Canada about a potential November launch of Apple Pay in Canada. The six financial institutions combined account for more than 90% of Canadian bank accounts.

    Apple Pay launched in the United States last October, and expanded to the United Kingdom in July.

    TD Canada Trust has around 11 million customers in Canada.

    Related Roundup: Apple Pay

    The charging stand has been one of the most popular and ubiquitous third-party accessories for the Apple Watch since the wearable device launched in April. A handful of well-known manufacturers have launched their own versions of a charging solution for the Apple Watch, including Pad & Quill with its Luxury Pocket Stand which debuted alongside the new Apple wearable earlier in the year.

    Pad & Quill has now expanded its lineup of Apple Watch accessories with two new charging cradles -- the Timber Catchall and Timber Nightstand -- that hope to provide simple daily solutions for users to rest and charge their Apple Watches. Not only that, but each stand also offers a little extra space to store an iPhone and even the extra bands Apple Watch fans may have accumulated over the past few months.

    Timber Nightstand

    Pad & Quill sent me a Timber Nightstand in the lighter American Cherry color option, and the $89.95 stand is crafted with the company's usual care to detail and sturdiness. The back of the Nightstand includes an indentation designed to cradle an extra Apple Watch band or two, while the front is meant for the Apple Watch itself. The Nightstand's biggest feature is that it's designed to support the Apple Watch in Nightstand mode, which displays the time and any alarm set in a sideways nighttime-friendly green display.

    nightstand 1
    The Timber Nightstand is also available in a darker American Walnut variety, but that option will cost users $119.95. Both versions function identically, requiring a separate Apple Watch charging cable to be threaded through to the bottom portion of the stand so the inductive charging puck can rest inside of the Timber Nightstand. There's also a small rubberized strip placed right below the carved out portion on the front of the stand so that the Apple Watch's stainless steel or aluminum won't directly come in contact with the Nightstand's wood and get scuffed or scratched.

    ➜ Click here to read more...

    Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
    Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

    Dutch electro-house DJ Hardwell, one of the most popular EDM artists worldwide, has announced on Twitter that he will be talking about his career and performing a special live set at the Apple Store in Amsterdam on Thursday, October 15 at 7:15 PM local time.

    Apple-Store-Hardwell
    Hardwell's set will be recorded for broadcast on Beats 1 radio on Apple Music. Apple is accepting a limited number of reservations for the free performance on its Dutch website. You must have an Apple ID to make a reservation.

    Apple Stores often hold free events with authors, actors, musicians, filmmakers and other notable individuals. Hardwell will be one of the more famous guests, with more than 2.4 million Twitter followers and his debut album United We Are peaking at No. 2 on Billboard's electronic music charts.