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Safari 10 Now Available for OS X El Capitan and OS X Yosemite

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safari-iconApple released macOS Sierra today with Safari 10 preinstalled, but Mac users still running the latest versions of OS X El Capitan or OS X Yosemite can now download the all-new version of the web browser too from the Mac App Store.

Safari 10 for OS X Yosemite and OS X El Capitan does not include all of the new features available in macOS Sierra, like Apple Pay on the web and picture-in-picture support for videos, but the update includes the following new functions:

  • Safari Extensions such as 1Password, Save to Pocket, and DuckDuckGo
  • New Bookmarks sidebar, including double-click to focus in on a folder
  • Redesigned Bookmarks and History views
  • Site-specific zoom: Safari remembers and re-applies your zoom level to websites
  • Improved AutoFill from Contacts card
  • Reader improvements, including in-line sub-headlines, bylines, and publish dates
  • Legacy plug-ins are turned off by default in favor of HTML5 versions of websites
  • Allow reopening of recently closed tabs through the History menu, holding the "+" button in the tab bar, and using Shift-Command-T
  • When a link opens in a new tab, it is now possible to hit the back button or swipe to close it and go back to the original tab
  • Improved ranking of Frequently Visited Sites
  • Web Inspector Timelines Tab
  • Debugging using Web Inspector

Safari 10 also includes a number of security updates, including fixes for six WebKit vulnerabilities and issues related to Reader and Tabs.

Tag: Safari
Related Forums: OS X Yosemite, OS X El Capitan
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macOS Sierra: Save Disk Space With the New 'Optimize Storage' Option

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macOS Sierra, available today, includes a built-in storage optimization feature that's designed to free up storage space on a Mac by storing rarely used files in iCloud, regularly emptying the trash, removing unnecessary files, and more.

It's a handy feature that can give you a good amount of additional storage space with a set of tools that you normally had to download a third-party storage optimization app to use. Here's how to take advantage of Sierra's Optimize Storage feature:

  1. Click on the Apple logo at the top of the menubar and select "About This Mac" from the list of options.
  2. Choose the "Storage" tab at the top to see an overview of how much storage you're using on your Mac.

    optimizestoragemanage

  3. Click on "Manage" to open up the optimization options.

When you open up Optimize Storage, there's a breakdown of where your files are stored and a list of recommended actions you can take to free up space, all of which is new.

➜ Click here to read rest of article...

Related Forum: macOS Sierra
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iWork Apps for macOS Sierra Updated With Real-Time Collaboration

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With the release of macOS Sierra today, Apple also updated its line of iWork apps, including Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. The new update for each app introduces the same real-time collaboration feature, in beta form, brought to the iOS versions of each app last week.

Using real-time collaboration, users are able to edit one document in any iWork app simultaneously, no matter if they're using a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iCloud.com. Within Pages, Keynote, and Numbers, live updates of each user's cursor and a list of document editors keep everyone up-to-date on the progress of any document, spreadsheet, or presentation.

iwork-for-mac

What's New in Version 6.0
- Real-time collaboration (feature in beta)
- Edit a document with others at the same time in Pages on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iCloud.com
- Share your document publicly or with specific people
- See who else is in a document
- See participants' cursors as they're editing

- Open and edit Pages '05 documents
- Use tabs to work with multiple documents in one window
- Wide color gamut image support

In Keynote, there's a new "Keynote Live" feature that lets users present a slideshow that anyone can follow from a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iCloud.com. Pages and Keynote also both feature support for opening and editing Pages and Keynote '05 documents.

Apple's line of iWork apps are free to users who have recently purchased a new Mac or iOS device. Otherwise, each iWork app for Mac is available for $19.99 while each iWork app for iOS is available for $9.99.

Pages for macOS [Direct Link]
Keynote for macOS [Direct Link]
Numbers for macOS [Direct Link]

Tag: iWork
Related Forum: macOS Sierra
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macOS Sierra: How to Use Apple Pay on the Web

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macOS Sierra and iOS 10 both include a new Continuity feature that allows Apple Pay to be used to make purchases on the web using Safari, giving Apple users an alternative to other web-based payment services like PayPal.

On Macs, Apple Pay for the web requires an iPhone with Touch ID and Apple Pay support or an Apple Watch, as payments are authenticated through the phone or watch. Apple Pay on the web requires merchants to adopt Apple Pay, so it isn't yet available everywhere, but support has started rolling out.

applepayweb
Sites like Time Inc., Wayfair, and Apple's own online Apple Store have started accepting Apple Pay, and payment processors like Stripe, Big Commerce, Shopify, and Squarespace all offer support, so it may be almost everywhere in just a couple of months.

Here's how it works:

  1. Visit a website that supports Apple Pay on the web, like Apple.com. I'll be using Apple's online store as an example.

    checkoutwithapplepay

  2. Choose a product you want to purchase and click "Add to Bag."
  3. On Apple's site, you're automatically taken to the cart, where "Check out with Apple Pay" is an option. Choose it.
  4. At the next checkout screen, choose delivery options and then click on the Apple Pay button.
  5. If you're wearing an authenticated Apple Watch, you'll be asked to verify the payment with the watch. Double tap on the side button (watchOS 3) to confirm and make the purchase.

    applepayonapplewatch

  6. With no Apple Watch, a confirmation screen will pop up on a connected iPhone, locked or unlocked. It requires a fingerprint to be placed on the Touch ID home button to confirm the payment.

    applepayiphone

  7. Once the payment is confirmed on the Apple Watch or the iPhone, that's it. The purchase is made and on its way.

When checking out on the web, all payment and shipping information is entered automatically, so you don't need to do anything but tap the confirm button to pay. It's quick, simple, fast, and safe. There is, however, a popup that will let you select the card you want to use, choose the shipping address, and more, if you need to make alterations.

applepayconfirm
Apple Pay on the web is a Continuity feature so it requires a Mac with Bluetooth 4.0 support. It is compatible with the following machines running macOS Sierra:

- MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (2012 or newer)
- MacBook Air (2012 or newer)
- Mac mini (2012 or newer)
- iMac (2012 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)

Apple Pay also requires an iPhone 6 or later running iOS 10 or an Apple Watch with watchOS 3, and it only works with the Safari browser. Apple Pay on the web is also available on iOS devices and will be available as long as one card has been added to the Wallet app on the iPhone.

Related Forum: macOS Sierra
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Tweetbot for Mac Updated With Support for macOS Sierra and Extended Tweets

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tweetbotFollowing the release of macOS Sierra moments ago, Tweetbot for Mac has been updated with support for the latest operating system. The update also includes support for extended tweets, uploading videos up to 140 seconds long to Twitter, and better media previews for search results.

In terms of extended tweets, Twitter no longer counts photos, videos, GIFs, polls, and quote tweets towards its 140-character limit. Previously, media content took up approximately 24 of the 140 available characters, and older versions of Tweetbot still enforce the 140 character limit accordingly.

Tweetbot for Mac version 2.4.2 is available now as a free update [Direct Link] for existing users on the Mac App Store. The app initially costs $9.99.

Tags: Tweetbot, Tweetbot for Mac
Related Forum: macOS Sierra
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Apple Releases macOS Sierra With Siri, Apple Pay, Apple Watch Unlock, Universal Clipboard, and More

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Apple today released macOS Sierra to the public, making the latest Mac operating system available for free to all Mac users around the world. Apple seeded eight betas of macOS Sierra and multiple versions of the golden master before its official launch.

ios_10_macos_sierra
macOS Sierra can be downloaded directly from the Mac App Store, and Apple should begin offering it through the Software Update function shortly. It's compatible with the following Macs:

2009 and Later
- iMac (Late 2009)
- MacBook (Late 2009)

2010 and Later
- MacBook Air (Late 2010)
- MacBook Pro (Mid 2010)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010)

macOS Sierra (10.12), which follows OS X Yosemite (10.10) and OS X El Capitan (10.11), features a new name that brings it in line with Apple's other operating systems, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The update focuses heavily on introducing new features to better integrate with the iPhone and Apple Watch and improve user experience.

macOS Sierra brings Siri to the Mac, allowing users to conduct voice searches to find files, look up information, and more, with the ability to pin searches to the Notification Center for continual monitoring. There are new Continuity features including an "Auto Unlock" option for unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch, and a "Universal Clipboard" option for copying text on one Apple device and pasting it on another.

Better iCloud integration allows files stored on the desktop and in the Documents folder of a Mac to be accessible on all of a user's devices through iCloud Drive, and there are new deep learning algorithms in Photos for improved facial, object, and scene recognition that make searching for specific photos a whole lot easier.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

A "Memories" feature in Photos displays collections of pictures and resurfaces old events, while Messages features rich links, bigger emoji, and Tapback response options.

Apple Pay is coming to the web in macOS Sierra, with payments authenticated through an iPhone or Apple Watch, and new features like multiple tabs, Picture in Picture multitasking, optimized storage, and revamped emoji are also available.

More information on macOS Sierra can be found in our macOS Sierra roundup, which includes details on all major features and a list of more minor changes. Our forum members are also discussing Sierra's new features in our macOS Sierra forum, and we encourage readers to join in with questions and new discoveries.

Related Forum: macOS Sierra
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Apple Music Attracting New Streaming Subscribers to Aid in Music Industry's 'Fragile Recovery'

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The music industry is facing a "fragile recovery" at the hands of popular streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify, according to new data collected by the Recording Industry Association of America (via Bloomberg). In total, the music industry in the United States is on track to grow for the second year in a row, which would mark "the first back-to-back growth since 1998-1999."

RIAA's data showed that streaming revenue in the U.S. grew 57 percent in the first half of 2016, reaching $1.6 billion, and accounted for almost half of industry sales, while subscriptions totaled $1.01 billion. Altogether, the industry grew 8.1 percent to $3.4 billion in the first half of 2016, which is on track to best the $7 billion yearly average of the last six years.

music-streaming-stats
Apple Music and Spotify remain the biggest forces in the streaming market, and a few label executives noted that "most of the users for Apple Music are people new to paying music, not former Spotify customers." At the last recorded subscriber count, Spotify had 40 million paid subscribers worldwide, while Apple music had 17 million.

Nor is this the first time new technology has come along to get people to pay online. Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs convinced record labels that iTunes would save the industry from piracy, only to vaporize album sales by selling singles instead.

Yet Apple is no longer the only player in the market for digital music. Spotify operates a larger paid subscription service and has showed no signs of slowing down since Apple Music began competing in that market. Most of the users for Apple Music are people new to paying music, not former Spotify customers, according to label executives.

Understandably, retail spending on physical media isn't accounting for any of the overall industry growth. Physical music sales dropped 14 percent in RIAA's data of the first half of 2016, while paid downloads -- like those offered in the traditional iTunes store -- "also shrank by a double digit percentage." Free streaming grew 24 percent in the same data, to $195 million, but "those services aren’t doing enough to convince people to pay for music," nor are they making enough money off free users to continue staying afloat.

That could potentially be why popular free music platforms, like Pandora, are gearing up to introduce new paid listening tiers for users. Amazon is planning to do the same, and both services are predicted to match Apple Music's $9.99 per month cost, while offering similar on-demand singles, albums, radio, and playlists for listeners.

Tag: Apple Music Guide
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How to Easily Check iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Availability at Apple Stores Worldwide

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While the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus launched last week, the usual trend of demand outstripping supply has resulted in limited availability of the smartphones around the world. Fortunately, prospective buyers can easily check stock at their local Apple Stores using the website iStockNow.

iStockNow uses Google Maps to visualize the real-time status of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus availability at Apple Stores in the U.S., Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K., likely based on Apple's reservation system backend.

istocknow-map
The website allows users to filter their search by iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, storage capacity, color, location, and U.S. carrier. There is also a "no CDMA" filter that narrows the search to iPhone models built for GSM networks, but note that CDMA models support both CDMA and GSM networks.

Apple Store locations with availability based on the search criteria display a green marker, while stores that are out of stock display a red marker. Clicking on an individual marker opens a window with an expanded model-by-model breakdown of availability, and the time that stock was last updated at that location.

istocknow
iPhone 7 Plus availability appears to be slowly improving in parts of the U.S., particularly in the New York and Los Angeles areas. In Manhattan, for example, select iPhone 7 Plus models are currently available at Apple's Fifth Avenue, Grand Central, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and World Trade Center locations.

Shoppers can still use Apple's front-end reservation system, but iStockNow provides a more convenient way to view in-store stock at a glance.

Tags: Apple Store, iStockNow
Related Forum: iPhone
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Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt Updated With Compatibility for iOS 10 Home App

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Lock maker Schlage recently updated its iOS app to introduce compatibility between the company's Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt and Apple's new Home app in iOS 10. Once users update the Schlage Sense app in the iOS App Store, the smart deadbolt can be added into Home, and subsequently controlled via Control Center and voice commands through Siri.

shlage-update
The update also brings push notifications whenever the deadbolt is locked or unlocked, and ultimately makes "it easier for users to keep an even closer eye when their lock is used," according to Schlage. Within the Schlage Sense app, users can manage access codes, change lock settings, view the last 100 times the lock was used, receive installation help, and contact customer service.

An update to the Schlage Sense app is now available in the App Store which allows the Schlage Sense lock to work in tandem with iOS 10’s new Home app. This integration provides users with a centralized platform to access their favorite HomeKit-connected devices alongside their Schlage Sense deadbolt. Through this update, all iOS users (9.3 and above) will also receive push notifications when their deadbolt is locked and unlocked. These updates make it easier for users to keep an even closer eye when their lock is used.

The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt also has a touch keypad so anyone with an access code -- with up to 30 storable codes available at a time -- can gain entry into a home without the Schlage or Home app. The system is available on Schlage's website for $229.00, and the Schlage Sense app can be downloaded for free from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tags: Schlage, Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt
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The CW's Apple TV App Coming Next Week With No Cable Subscription Required

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A few shows on The CW have begun tweeting out a confirmation that the network's Apple TV app will arrive sometime "next week," along with apps on Roku, Chromecast, Xbox, and Amazon Fire TV (via iDigitalTimes). The hint of an incoming Apple TV app was discovered last week, but an official Apple TV app for The CW -- and not just the clip-based "Seed" platform -- has been in the works for over three years. The Apple TV app will also support AirPlay.

the-cw-apple-tv

"Every show on The CW" will be available to watch on the app, which will also be free and require no login or cable subscription to access its content. Previously, The CW shows premiered on Hulu the day after they aired, but a new deal with Netflix will have entire seasons available to stream a few days after season finales air. That still left viewers without a cable subscription, who prefer to keep up with a show weekly, out to dry.

The new app should help alleviate that problem, since all of its biggest shows will be available to watch, including Supergirl, The Flash, Jane The Virgin, Arrow, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, iZombie, Supernatural, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The 100 and The Originals. Catching up on previous seasons won't be the focus of The CW's app, however, as it appears only the "latest episodes" will be showcased.

Users interested can opt in to be notified when the Apple TV app becomes available to download through a form on The CW's website.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: The CW
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater
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Teardown Confirms Digital-to-Analog Converter in Lightning EarPods and 3.5mm Adapter

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Vietnamese website Tinhte has shared a teardown of Apple's new Lightning EarPods and Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack adapter included in the box with iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The video confirms that, as expected, each accessory is equipped with a small digital-to-analog converter.

lightning_dac
The chip in the adapter, labeled 338S00140 / A0MU1621 / TW, does not have branding for any particular manufacturer, but Apple typically sources its audio-related chips from Cirrus Logic, which produces digital-to-analog converters. The chip in the EarPods is nearly identical, with a label of 338S00140 / A0QK1623 / TW.

The inclusion of a digital-to-analog converter, or DAC for short, enables both the new EarPods and traditional analog headphones with 3.5mm jacks to function over the Lightning connector, which delivers digital audio. The tiny chip is protected by a metal shield and two layers of plastic.


Apple controversially removed the 3.5mm headphone jack on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, forcing customers to use a growing selection of Lightning-equipped headphones like Apple's own EarPods, wireless Bluetooth headphones, or traditional headphones connected via the Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter.

Tags: EarPods, Lightning
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Apple's All-New Birmingham Store Opens September 24, Bullring Location to Close

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Apple has announced its all-new store in Birmingham, England, located at 128 New Street, opens on Saturday, September 24 at 9:00 a.m. local time. Apple's nearby Bullring Shopping Centre store will permanently close on Friday, just one week after customers lined up for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

apple-birmingham

Apple Birmingham under renovations via MacRumors reader Barry Rimmer

Apple has taken over a six-story building recently vacated by British bookstore Waterstones, and originally built in 1879 for Midland Bank.

Major planning documents for the inside of the 20,000-square-foot former banking hall were submitted to the Birmingham City Council last year, and renovations have been in progress for the past several months. Apple's logo and the grand opening date were added to a construction barrier outside of the building last week.

bullring_hero

Apple Store at nearby Bullring Shopping Centre

Apple Bullring opened in April 2005, and like many of its earlier locations, it is now too small and narrow to accommodate for increased foot traffic. Apple is in the process of relocating several of its retail stores to larger spaces, based on the company's next-generation retail design language inspired by Jony Ive.

Tags: Apple Store, United Kingdom
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Apple Hires Toronto Doctor 'to Help Chart the Future of Family Medicine' With Apps

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evans-michaelApple has hired Toronto healthcare doctor Mike Evans "to help chart the future of family medicine" at the company, although the specifics of his role have not been disclosed (via CBC).

Evans was said to catch Apple's attention through a series of videos he's posted on his YouTube channel, called DocMikeEvans, where he narrates discussions about health and mindfulness topics over cartoon characters.

Evans previously held a position as a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, and is said to already have started his "digital health care work" at Apple. For the time being, he plans to communicate between his home of Toronto and Cupertino, while his son finishes high school. Apple had already approached Evans about a position at the company, which he turned down the first time, but said he eventually was won over by the company's messaging.

"I think why they are engaging me is the messaging," Evans told Matt Galloway on CBC's Metro Morning on Monday. "We're searching for consistency, not perfection."

"It's exciting. It's a bit nauseating and anxiety-provoking. We love Toronto but it's a chance to live another chapter of our lives somewhere else. I'm super-excited."

Evans' hiring also aligns with Apple's recent push into healthcare initiatives, especially with the doctor's beliefs on how technology can help with the treatment of sick individuals. Eventually, he sees a future where apps are "prescribed" to help guide patients through their prescription routine, diagnosis, and even diet, so as to balance out how little doctors see each patient throughout the year.


"What happens now is I see you. Let's say you have high blood pressure. I prescribe you a pill for that. I see you two or three times a year," he said.

"In future, I'll prescribe you an app. One of our whiteboards will drop in and explain what high blood pressure is. The phone will be bluetoothed to the cap of your pills. I'll nudge you towards a low salt diet. All of these things will all happen in your phone. I see you two or three days a year. The phone sees you everyday."

It's easy to see how his ideas could potentially fit into Apple's HealthKit platform, bolstered by apps on both the iPhone and even Apple Watch. Apple is continually trying to push itself to help customers live healthier lives, which it's begun to do through company acquisitions, new advertisements, and the announcement of the fitness-focused Apple Watch Series 2. Earlier in the year, CEO Tim Cook discussed Apple's push into the "next frontiers," including health initiatives, on Mad Money.

Tag: Health and Fitness
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Google Photos Update Brings Faster Sharing and Movie 'Creative Concepts'

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Google has announced it is updating its Photos app to make sharing photos and videos faster, with a new movie-making feature based on creative concepts also on the way.

Usually, Google Photos users who want to share photos in the app have to call up the iOS Share Sheet and select which app to share through. Photos now offers an arguably faster alternative to that, with a new option that lets users select individual people they want to share media with instead.

Google Photos faster sharing
If the people selected are on Google Photos they get a notification. If the user opts to share by phone number, people get a link to the photos and video via SMS, while email addresses get sent a link from Google Photos.

In addition, Google is bringing movie 'creative concepts' to the app that are similar to the Memories feature found in Apple's Photos app on iOS 10.


Photos already features automatically generated movies made from users' recently uploaded photos, but the update is introducing new themed movie concepts, such as watching kids grow up, capturing good times during the summer, and for formal events like weddings.

Google says it's rolling out the updates today, with the first movie 'creative concepts' coming this week, and more on the way.

Google Photos is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: Google Photos
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HTC Announces Art Deco-Inspired Desire 10 'Lifestyle' and 'Pro' Phones

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HTC today announced two new mid-range Android smartphones, a budget-oriented model called the Desire 10 Lifestyle and a more capable, more expensive handset called the Desire 10 Pro.

The Lifestyle model is a 5.5-inch device with a 720p Gorilla Glass display, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB or 3GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB expandable storage, a 13-megapixel f/2.2 rear camera, 5-megapixel f.2.8 front-facing camera, and 24-bit Hi-Res sound certified by Dolby Audio.

HTC Desire 10
The Pro handset is the same size and has the same storage capacity options and audio features, but comes with a 1080p display, 64-bit Octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor, 3GB or 4GB RAM, a 20-megapixel f/2.2 camera with laser autofocus, a 13-megapixel f.2.2 front-facing camera with selfie panorama, and a fingerprint reader.

The two "Art Deco" inspired phones – which include a headphone jack – are matte plastic with a metal trim, and take design cues from the HTC 10, the company's flagship smartphone for 2016, coming on the heels of last year's HTC One M9 device. Both phones will be available in black, white, light blue, and dark blue.

HTC 10 Desire
HTC's new Desire 10 range represents the company's attempt to compete below Samsung's and Apple's flagship high-end smartphones, in a cheaper market segment populated by devices like the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus.

HTC says the handsets will be released exclusively in Europe to begin with, with the Lifestyle available from today and the Pro model coming in November. Prices are as yet unconfirmed for the latter model, but the Lifestyle costs £249, which converts to around $325.

HTC 10 Desire
Some MacRumors readers may remember HTC was forced to deny claims last year that the company's flagship One A9 copied the iPhone. Apple declined to comment on the claims, but has taken legal action against Samsung for perceived copying in the past.

Tag: HTC
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iPhone 7 Plus Availability Improving Through Apple's Upgrade Program

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A spot check of Apple's reservation system for iPhone Upgrade Program members reveals iPhone 7 Plus availability is slowly improving in the United States.

iPhone 7 Plus models in select storage capacities and colors, sans Jet Black models, are available for reservation at select Apple retail stores in California, Florida, New York, and some other states as of the time this article was published. iPhone 7 models continue to be more widely available.

iphone-7-plus-wtc
Apple Century City in Los Angeles, for example, currently has 128GB iPhone 7 Plus models for AT&T and Verizon in Rose Gold available for reservation at 4:00 p.m. local time. Similarly, Apple Williamsburg in Brooklyn has 128GB iPhone 7 Plus models for AT&T and Verizon in Black, Gold, Rose Gold, and Silver.

iPhone 7 Plus reservations are available at six other Apple stores in New York City, including its Grand Central, SoHo, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, West 14th Street, and World Trade Center locations. Each location has iPhone 7 Plus models for all four major U.S. carriers, aside from T-Mobile models at Apple SoHo.

iPhone 7 Plus reservations in Florida are available at Aventura Mall in Aventura, St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, and International Plaza in Tampa Bay.

Elsewhere, customers can reserve the 5.5-inch model at Highland Village in Houston, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Pasadena, Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine, West County Center in St. Louis, Woodland in Grand Rapids, Fayette Mall in Lexington, Jordan Creek in West Des Moines, and some other stores.

iPhone 7 Plus stock both in stores and online has been limited compared to iPhone 7 since last Friday's launch. New data suggests the 5.5-inch model has outsold the 4.7-inch version for the first time ever, likely fueled by exclusive features such as dual cameras, longer battery life, and 3GB of RAM.

Yesterday, it was reported that some Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus pre-orders will be delivered sooner than expected as shipping estimates improve.

Tags: Apple Store, iPhone Upgrade Program
Related Forum: iPhone
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Opera Desktop Browser for Mac Officially Launches With Built-In VPN

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Norway-based company Opera Software has brought its VPN feature to the masses with the release of Opera 40 desktop browser for Mac.

For those unfamiliar with the technology, a VPN creates an encrypted tunnel from the user's computer to the VPN server, which hides browsing activity from other users on the local network and enhances security and privacy online. It shields a user's real IP address, allowing them to bypass firewalls, block tracking cookies, and access geo-restricted content regardless of their true location.

opera-vpn-press-image
"If people knew how the internet truly works, I believe they all would use a VPN," said Krystian Kolondra, SVP of Opera browser for desktops, in a blog post. "By making our browser VPN free and easy to use, we hope to make it an essential tool, just as the lock and key is to your house."

We know that people are concerned about their privacy online and that the interest for VPN is increasing. However, two major obstacles are blocking people from using it: VPNs are too complicated to use, and they require a monthly subscription. Opera resolves both issues by introducing its free and easy-to-use service right into the browser.

Opera's VPN supports AES-256 encryption and auto-selects the best server to route users' traffic through, based on speed, latency, and traffic congestion. Currently the service has server locations in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

VPNs typically come in the form of separate plug-ins or client apps, making Opera one the first major browsers to include one as standard. The feature comes after the company's acquisition of U.S. VPN company SurfEasy last March. Opera has been testing the VPN in developer betas since April, and says that neither it nor SurfEasy logs any information about a user's browsing history.

Opera 40 also includes an automatic battery saving feature, Chromecast support, video pop-outs, a newsreader with RSS support, built-in ad-blocking, and an overhauled browser engine.

The Norwegian firm is on the verge of a $600 million deal with a Chinese consortium which will transfer ownership of its apps to a group that includes anti-virus company Qihoo 360.

Users can download Opera 40 browser from the company's website.

Tags: Opera Browser, VPN
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Apple Now Accepting iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, and 6s Plus Trade-Ups, Offers Up to $315

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iphone-trade-upFollowing last week's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus launch, Apple has added the iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus to its trade-up program in the United States, offering estimated trade-in values of $160, $275, and $315 respectively towards the purchase of a new iPhone.

Apple has also lowered its estimated trade-in values for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus by $25 each to $200 and $225 respectively, while the iPhone 5s now scores $90 instead of $125. iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c trade-in values are now $50 and $40 respectively, down from $75 each, and the iPhone 4s is no longer eligible for trade in.

• iPhone 5 - $50
• iPhone 5c - $40
• iPhone 5s - $90
• iPhone SE - $160
• iPhone 6 - $200
• iPhone 6 Plus - $225
• iPhone 6s - $275
• iPhone 6s Plus - $315

The iPhone trade-up program, not to be confused with the iPhone Upgrade Program, allows customers to trade in their old iPhone to Apple in exchange for credit to lower the full cost of a new iPhone, or to reduce the monthly payments of a carrier financing plan. Trade-in values, managed by third-party vendor Brightstar Corporation, may vary based on the condition of the iPhone traded in. Select Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone devices are also eligible for trade in.

iPhone owners looking to get the best value for their old smartphone should consider selling privately through websites like eBay or Craigslist, but Apple's trade-up program does provide a convenient and safe resale option.

Tag: Apple Trade-In Guide
Related Forum: iPhone
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