According to dozens of tweets and emails received by MacRumors, Apple has just begun charging customers who pre-ordered the Apple Watch for their purchases. The charges suggest that early Apple Watch orders will soon shift from "Processing Items" to "Preparing for Shipment" as Apple gears up to begin sending devices to customers ahead of the Apple Watch's Friday April 24 launch date.
As we shared earlier today, bulk shipments of the Apple Watch have already begun arriving at central distribution centers across the United States and are ready to begin heading to customers over the next few days. We haven't seen word of shipments happening yet, but status changes should happen within the next few hours.
Apple Watch pre-orders began selling out within minutes as orders came up on April 10, but those who managed to place an order shortly after 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time will likely receive an April 24 delivery date. Even the earliest Apple Watch pre-orders offered delivery estimates of April 24 to May 8, but Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts suggested the first Apple Watch orders would arrive on April 24 in a memo shared with employees last week.
Customers who were not lucky enough to pre-order within the first few hours that the Apple Watch was available will likely be waiting for several more weeks to receive their devices, but Apple executives did tell one MacRumors reader that those orders could arrive sooner than expected as supplies ramp up. Apple Watch pre-orders placed today offer shipping estimates that range into June and beyond.
Apple Watch will make the flying experience more convenient for both casual and frequent flyers, with a number of airlines updating their apps for the Apple Watch in recent weeks, or announcing support coming soon, including American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, JetBlue, British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, Qantas Airways, Air Canada, WestJet, Emirates and Japan Airlines.
Notable airlines that have not announced or planned Apple Watch support include Southwest Airlines and Virgin Airlines in the United States, and Cologne-based Lufthansa, the largest airline in Europe. As more airlines begin updating their apps for the Apple Watch, however, it is likely that others will follow in an effort to keep up with their competitors around the world.
The roundup below provides a closer look at Apple Watch apps for several airlines across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Ireland, United Arab Emirates and Japan. A handful of other general flight-related apps are also listed that provide general flight statuses, notifications, real-time departure and delay information and more for an easier traveling experience.
United States
American Airlines
American Airlines for Apple Watch provides comprehensive flight information on your wrist, including gate change announcements, an in-flight map with estimated travel time remaining until arrival, and baggage claim and connection details. You can also receive a notification when it's time to leave for the airport and check in to your fight directly from your Apple Watch. American Airlines is free on the App Store.
Delta
Delta Air Lines will also be joining the mix of airline apps for Apple Watch in a future update to its current Fly Delta app for iPhone and iPad. Delta for Apple Watch will deliver notifications about flights to users ahead of their boarding times, and it will give them access to the boarding pass stored on their iPhones directly on the wrist.
Delta for Apple Watch will offer flight numbers, gate numbers, flight times, and other info. If a flight gets changed, for example, users will get a notification on their Apple Watch. There will also be a notification when a flight is approaching a destination city, with information about luggage pickup. Fly Delta is free on the App Store.
United Airlines
United Airlines has not released screenshots or in-depth details about its Apple Watch plans, but it has confirmed that support for the wrist-worn device is in the works. United's app will offer at-a-glance information on upcoming flights, including gate numbers and status, and let users view their flight reservations. It will also pull a traveler's boarding pass from the Passbook app, and it's able to alert users if flight times or gate numbers change. United Airlines is free on the App Store.
JetBlue
JetBlue has updated its app with Apple Watch support, enabling users to purchase onboard premium offerings from their wrists. The new Apple Watch app provides flyers with a Glance flight status, travel countdown and smart mobile boarding pass from the Apple Watch. JetBlue is free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada, the largest airline in Canada, recently updated their app with Apple Watch support for viewing the status of your flights departing within 24 hours, seeing your countdown to boarding time from your Glances, getting notifications for checking in and boarding your flight, using Handoff from your Apple Watch to complete your check-in and viewing boarding passes from Passbook. Air Canada is free on the App Store.
WestJet
WestJet, the second-largest Canadian airline behind Air Canada, recently updated its app for the Apple Watch to allow users to keep track of saved flight statuses and details in Glances, or view a countdown of time remaining until your next WestJet flight. WestJet boarding passes saved to Passbook will also be available on Apple Watch. WestJet is free on the App Store.
United Kingdom
British Airways
Keep up to date with the latest flight information using British Airways for Apple Watch. At a glance, the app allows you to view the status of your next flight, access both scheduled and estimated departure times, and view the latest weather at your destination. The app also provides up-to-date information about the flight's gate status and provides notifications on your wrist when your gate status changes at Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5. British Airways is free on the App Store.
EasyJet
EasyJet, a low-cost airline in the United Kingdom, has also updated their app with Apple Watch support recently, providing personalized flight information and real-time views of travel information checked most frequently by passengers. Apple Watch users can also tweet and post to Facebook at various stages of their trip directly from the watch face. EasyJet is free on the App Store.
Australia
Qantas Airways
Qantas for Apple Watch is designed to eliminate the stress that can be associated with the flying experience. The app will provide a range of up-to-the-minute travel information and notifications on your Apple Watch including: departure time and gate information, in-air departure and arrival time-zone information, transit time information, lounge access eligibility, frequent Flyer login access, baggage carousel information (at selected destinations), boarding pass access (via Passbook) and delay or cancellation notifications. Qantas Airways is free on the App Store.
France
Air France
Air France for Apple Watch will deliver much of the same functionality as the airline's iPhone app, access upcoming reservations, including the ability to check if your flight is on time or confirm that you are checked in. You can also view all of your essential trip information via Glances, including your gate or departure terminal, your seat and the time remaining before boarding, and obtain your boarding pass through Passbook. Air France is free on the App Store.
Ireland
Ryanair
Ryanair has pledged support for the Apple Watch when the wrist-worn device becomes available in Ireland.
United Arab Emirates
Emirates
While the Apple Watch is not available in United Arab Emirates until later in 2015, the airline Emirates recently updated their app with Apple Watch support for a hands-free travel experience. Emirates will be the first airline in the Middle East and African region to offer an Apple Watch app, with similar functionality as others: review your list of upcoming trips, access real-time flight information, receive notifications and access your boarding pass through Passbook. Emirates is free on the App Store.
Japan
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines has developed an Apple Watch app that it will be available when the device launches on April 24. The app will offer similar functionality as the other airlines listed above. JAL is free on the App Store.
General Apps
FlightTrack 5: Flight tracking, real-time departure and delay information, and more
TripCase: Manage your trips, receive free flight alerts, and more
A number of notable apps have been updated with Apple Watch support to start off the week, including Shazam, Microsoft OneDrive, Porsche Car Connect, FIFA 15 Ultimate Team by EA SPORTS, Epicurious, Nick Jr, ESPN, Avea, JetBlue and Letterpad. The updates should be rolling out on the App Store today prior to the Apple Watch launch on April 24.
Shazam for Apple Watch will enable you to discover which artist, song and lyrics you are listening to from your wrist in seconds. You will also be able to see your past Shazams at a Glance with a simple swipe up gesture, turn on Auto Shazam to continue discovering music automatically and use Handoff on Apple Watch and iPhone to buy songs on iTunes, watch videos and more. Shazam is free on the App Store.
Microsoft recently released an update for the OneDrive app to view your photos and albums stored on the cloud storage service on an Apple Watch. You can view your most recent photos, delete photos you don't want to keep, find photos by tag and view your albums directly from your wrist using the latest version of the app. OneDrive is free on the App Store with tiered storage plans available.
Porsche Car Connect for Apple Watch (Image: WatchAware)
Porsche Car Connect has been updated to allow remote display and control of your Porsche from an Apple Watch. The app, compatible with select 2014 models and later, provides safety notifications, journey statistics, vehicle status and a vehicle locator directly on the Apple Watch. Porsche Car Connect is free on the App Store and available for the new Panamera, 918 Spyder, Macan and Cayenne.
EA Sports has introduced new Apple Watch features for FIFA 15 Ultimate Team that help you assemble and manage the ultimate soccer team from your wrist. FIFA 15 Ultimate Team for Apple Watch lets you manage your top five player transfers and get instant game-related notifications. FIFA 15 Ultimate Team by EA SPORTS is free on the App Store with in-app purchases available.
YouTube today announced changes to its YouTube Data API, causing many older apps on various devices to stop functioning. On the second-generation Apple TV or older, the YouTube channel will no longer be accessible, and on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, iOS 7 or later is required for the YouTube app to function.
Second-generation Apple TV users will have no way to watch YouTube videos on their devices after today, but iOS device owners with versions of iOS older than iOS 7 can use mobile YouTube in Safari to watch videos. YouTube is sharing the news via a discontinuation video that's being shared on all older devices.
If your device supports iOS 7 or above, you can download the YouTube app from the App Store. If not, visit m.youtube.com in your mobile browser to access YouTube.
If you're using Apple TV 3rd generation, you can get the latest version of the YouTube app by updating your software:
Select Settings > General > Update Software If there is an upgrade available, click Download and Install If you're using Apple TV 2nd generation or older, unfortunately there’s no current way to watch YouTube on these devices.
Attempting to use the YouTube app on an older iOS device or on an older Apple TV still lets users watch videos at the current time, but the discontinuation video above is always the first result, suggesting access will be shut down shortly after YouTube notifies everyone about the upcoming API change.
The YouTube channel on a second-generation Apple TV
Today's API change affects several other older devices in addition to the Apple TV and iOS devices, including those running old versions of Google TV and many smart televisions and game consoles. The official YouTube app will only be available on most 2013 and newer Smart TVs, blu-ray players, game consoles, and other streaming devices.
Update: According to a blog post from Google, beginning in early May, those who have older devices with unsupported YouTube apps will only see the discontinuation video. In late May, all apps using the old API will display 410 Gone HTTP responses.
Until that time, YouTube apps on older Apple TVs and iOS devices will work as normal, aside from displaying the warning video.
In our ongoing iPad Air 2 keyboard review series, we've looked at the ClamCase Pro and the BrydgeAir. Today we've got a look at another popular iPad keyboard that MacRumors readers suggested we review, the Qode Ultimate Pro from Belkin.
The Qode Ultimate Pro Keyboard Case is one of the more versatile keyboard cases we've looked at, because it's able to detach from the keyboard to serve as a standalone iPad case and it's usable in both portrait and landscape modes. Other standout features include backlit keys, a full keyboard layout, and auto on/off functionality.
What's in the Box and Setup
The box includes the two-piece keyboard, an accompanying micro-USB charger, and instructions on how to get it up and running. Setup is similar to any other Bluetooth device, with pairing done by pressing the Bluetooth button on the keyboard and selecting the keyboard in the Settings menu of the iPad.
We ran into some occasional difficulties with Bluetooth, where we had to remove the device completely from the list of known devices and re-pair, but for the most part, the Bluetooth connection was solid in our testing.
Design
The Qode Ultimate Pro comes in two separate pieces: a detachable keyboard and a plastic case that snaps on to the back of the iPad Air 2. The two pieces connect to one another using several magnets. There's a magnetic flap covered with a leather-like material on the keyboard that attaches to the back of the case to hold the pieces together, and then the case fits into one of two slots on the keyboard where it is held in place by additional magnets (these magnets also control the automatic connection between your iPad and the keyboard). The two different slots allow for slightly different viewing angles.
Using magnets to attach the two pieces of the case together allows the iPad to be used without the keyboard attached or with the keyboard folded back, providing several possible use cases not possible with other keyboard cases on the market.
With Apple Watch's April 24 delivery date getting closer and closer, a few accessory manufactures have been revealing new stands for the wrist worn device.
First is "The Timber Catchall for Apple Watch", a more comprehensive version of Pad & Quill's "Luxury Pocket Stand", which the company announced closely following Apple's "Spring Forward" event. The Timber Catchall aims to provide grooves for keys and loose change with a larger area on its base built for charging a resting iPhone, along with an elevated specified area designed for the Apple Watch.
Pad & Quill's Timber Catchall can be pre-ordered from its website in three different color options at three different price points: American Cherry ($99.00), African Mahogany ($109.00), and Premium American Walnut ($139.00). All versions of the stand have an estimated "Late May" shipping date.
DODOCase's "Charging Stand for Apple Watch" has a similar natural wood finish akin to Pad and Quill's line of stands, but with a weighted base that the company promises will provide "sturdy placement" and less fumbling when removing the Watch from the stand.
As a less traditional charging option, DODOCase is also selling the "Dual Charging Dock Organizer", which is fashioned after a novel and allows users to simultaneously charge their Apple Watch and iPhone. The slot for an iPhone "Holds all iPhone sizes, and can fit most phone cases", according to the company, and a hidden compartment lies underneath to thread the Watch's MagSafe adapter and allow for an easy laid-flat charging solution with the wearable.
Most interesting is a hidden storage compartment underneath the charging area of the stand, big enough to hold headphones, charging cables, and even extra Apple Watch bands when not in use.
Part of our Apple Watch accessory collection: a Dual Charging Dock Organizer for both your iPhone and Apple Watch. Our innovative Charging Dock is made from a Baltic Birch wood tray, which magnetically attaches to a handmade Bookbound Cover. Apple’s inductive MagSafe charger is seamlessly integrated into the wood dock, allowing your watch to lay flat while your phone slides into a carved divot perfectly angled for optimal viewing capability.
The book features a hidden compartment beneath the Birch tray to store cables, headphones, and extra watch straps. When not in use, close the cover and everything disappears into the disguise of a book. The Charging Dock Organizer will become your essential bedside table companion or desktop accessory featuring traditional craftsmanship for today's modern technology.
DODOCase's Charging Stand retails for $99.95, but is on a pre-order sale for $77.95. Similarly, the Dual Charging Dock Organizer will retail for $79.95, but those interested can pre-order it at only $59.95.
Apple Watch pre-orders are being sent to centralized distribution points across the United States as couriers prepare the shipments to be delivered ahead of the wrist-worn device's launch on April 24, according to a source for MacRumors that has provided accurate information in the past.
Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts confirmed earlier this month that Apple Watch pre-order deliveries will begin on April 24 as scheduled, although many customers have received shipping estimates of 4-6 weeks or later and it remains unknown how many Apple Watch pre-orders will be delivered on day one.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders began switching from "Processing Items" to "Preparing for Shipment" on the Apple Online Store for several customers on the Monday prior to Friday delivery, so customers that pre-ordered the Apple Watch early should see their order status change soon. Due to limited stock and the wide 4/24—5/8 delivery estimate for launch day pre-orders, however, there is a possibility that pre-order statuses may take longer to change.
To date, we've not seen any reports of pre-orders changing or credit cards being charged, but our source assures us bulk shipments have begun, so we should see movement on individual order statuses very soon. In the meantime, Apple has begun charging credit cards and preparing to ship Apple Watch accessories such as the charging cable and AppleCare+ Protection Plans.
Apple Watch pre-orders were available on April 10 at 12:01 AM Pacific through the Apple Online Store in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom, and sold out completely in less than six hours. The company also began taking Apple Watch try-on appointments the same day at Apple retail stores and select fashion boutiques such as Selfridges in London, Isetan in Tokyo and Galeries Lafayette in Paris.
Update: In line with this report, Apple is beginning to charge credit cards and Apple Watch pre-order statuses are changing to "Prepare for Shipment."
A new video posted to YouTube over the weekend takes a look at the startup time for a demo Apple Watch, with the device taking exactly 1 minute and 10 seconds to go from a black screen to showcasing the clock face of the Watch. Although that startup time seems lengthy in comparison to those of other Apple products, multiple factors could be affecting the device's boot process.
The Apple Watch in the video is a demo unit, with internals reportedly very close to retail units, but heavy software customization and other factors particular to the demo setup could be impeding this particular Watch's boot time. It's also unclear how much starting up an Apple Watch will be an issue with consumers, with most likely to leave the device on while charging it overnight, similar to an iPhone.
The Apple Watch has been up for pre-order for just over a week, with many models drifting past the initial 4/24-5/8 delivery window from the moment of availability or very soon after, and all models selling out within just a few hours. Customers in the first wave of deliveries should begin getting shipping updates on their Apple Watch orders shortly as the official April 24 launch on Friday draws near.
Apple's latest environmental progress report highlights that 100% of its U.S. operations and 87% of its global operations are run on renewable energy. Apple emitted 34.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during the 2014 fiscal year, with 24.8 million metric tons resulting from manufacturing, 7 million metric tons coming from product usage, and the rest divided between facilities, transportation, and recycling.
Apple has recycling programs in 99% of the countries it operates, recovering 40,396 metric tons of steel and other metals, glass, aluminum, plastics and other materials for reuse in 2014. Apple will also be recycling over 95% of materials from existing buildings for use in Apple Campus 2, and the new headquarters will use 30% less energy than a traditional R&D office building.
Apple's 40-megawatt solar farm in Hongyuan, China
Apple has also uploaded a new video to its YouTube channel called "Better Starts Here" that promotes the company's environmental responsibility throughout its supply chain, data centers and other worldwide operations. Apple emphasizes how it plans to leave the world better than it found it by using renewable energy sources such as hydro power, solar farms and wind turbines, committing to forest preservation, creating energy efficient devices and more.
"Apple’s commitment to the environment starts from the ground up. We strive to create not only the best products in the world, but the best products for the world. And over the past year, we’ve made significant progress through projects that focus on renewable energy and forest preservation. Learn how we are leaving the world better than we found it."
Apple emphasizes its recent partnerships with The Conservation Fund and SunPower Corporation to build two solar plants in China and work to protect forests and paper supplies respectively as part of its environmental commitment. The initiatives are led by Apple's VP of Environmental Initiatives Lisa Jackson to ensure that Apple's supply chain remains sustainable in the future.
iMac shipping estimates have slipped to 3-5 business days on the Apple Online Store in the United States for all models aside from the entry-level 21.5-inch option with a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor. The high-end 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro is also now showing an estimated shipping date of 1-2 weeks. Both the iMac and 15" Retina MacBook Pro were previously listed as in stock.
The majority of the iMac lineup, excluding the low-end 21.5-inch iMac released in June 2014 and iMac with Retina 5K Display launched in October 2014, was last updated in September 2013 with the latest Intel Haswell processors, faster PCI Express-based flash storage options and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Based on its average product cycle, the all-in-one desktop computer is long overdue for a refresh.
Nevertheless, the iMac is not expected to be updated until Intel releases desktop class Broadwell chips during the second quarter of 2015. Intel's first 14nm desktop processors, including the Core i5-5675C, i7-5775C, i5-5575R, i5-5675R and i7-5775R CPUs with Iris Pro 6200 integrated graphics, are expected to be announced during Computex Taiwan in early June, with some chips expected to launch in mid-May, and should become readily available as early as July or August.
Intel's Broadwell desktop chips based on 14nm manufacturing process (via CPU World)
Ultimately, the extended iMac shipping estimates of 3-5 business days could be nothing more than regular stock fluctuations on the Apple Online Store, although it is worth noting as the release of Broadwell desktop chips approaches. At this point, it remains more likely that refreshed iMacs will be announced at WWDC 2015 at the earliest, but Apple's plans could change based on Intel's release timeline.
Earlier today the Apple Watch went on display at Milan's Salone Del Mobile Design, with Apple SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller and design consult Marc Newson in attendance. Now, it appears that Jony Ive also made it to the event, revealing exclusive sport band colors for the Apple Watch at the same time.
Art enthusiast and philanthropist Umberta Gnutti Beretta posted a photo of a tray holding the new band colors on her Instagram account (via 9to5Mac). The colors include what appears to be two shades of blue, the custom red band seen earlier today and a range of "skin-tone" colors, going from darker browns to lighter tans and peaches. This marks the third time exclusive new Apple Watch band options have been seen in the wild, with the previous two being the custom red band and the custom gold link bracelet Karl Lagerfeld received.
Milan is known as one of the more important cities in the fashion world, and an important destination for Apple as it continues to court the fashion world to its brand new product. While it's unknown whether Apple will release these brand new and never-before-seen sport bands for the general public, it's been rumored that the Cupertino company is looking to introduce additional casing materials for the Apple Watch later this year, suggesting that new band options are also in the cards.
As we head further into April, deals have begun to dry up a bit. There are still discounts on a few select iPad models, and low prices on the iMac, older MacBook Air, and older MacBook Pro models. Deals on current products like the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 are unavailable this week, so if you're looking to buy a tablet, you might want to hold off for a bit.
We have several exclusive offers just for MacRumors readers this week, on games from GameAgent and products from Casetify, a site that offers custom iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch accessories. We've also rounded up some great apps you can get on the cheap this week.
iPad Air 2
Best Buy continues to offer the lowest prices we've seen on a single iPad Air 2: the 16GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is available for $499.99, $130 off its regular price.
Best Buy has a couple of original iPad Air cellular models available at low prices. The 16GB Verizon iPad Air is available for $379.99, and the 32GB Verizon iPad Air is available for $429.99.
Both Best Buy and B&H Photo have deep discounts on some remaining stock of now-discontinued higher-capacity iPad Air models, as listed below.
Best Buy, B&H Photo, and Amazon also have remaining stock of now-discontinued higher-capacity iPad mini 2 models, which are a good deal if you're looking for an iPad mini. Compared to the iPad mini 3, the iPad mini 2 only lacks Touch ID.
There are quite a few apps that are on sale at discounted prices or available for free for a limited time. We'll highlight a few here, but make sure to check out our sister site AppShopper for a complete list.
Action adventure game Pursuit of Light was named Apple's app of the week this week, and it will be available to download for free for the next six days.
Casetify is offering MacRumors readers 10% off site wide on all orders with the promo code MR10. Discount's valid from 4/17 to 4/23. Make sure you check out our Casetify giveaway, too!
Woot is offering the Lifeproof Fre case for the iPhone 6 for $54.99, down from $79.99. Woot's also got an Apple Lightning cable 2-pack available for $15.99. StackSocial is selling TuneUp for Mac for $14.99, down from $49.95.
Woot has the Jawbone BIG Jambox for $179.99, down from $299.99. the MyCharge Hub 9000 Power Bank is available for $64.99 from Amazon, down from $139.99.
Groupon is selling the Griffin Survivor Case for iPhone 5/5s for $11.99, down from $49.99. DailySteals has the iPad mini Smart Case in beige for $20, down from $69.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
Developer demand for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference always exceeds ticket supply, so Apple holds a lottery to determine which developers will win the chance to go to the conference. This year, Apple accepted lottery entries from April 14 until today, April 17, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
Now that the lottery has ended, Apple has begun sending out emails to developers who were selected and has charged their credit cards the $1,599 ticket price. Developers who won are currently sharing their good fortune on Twitter after receiving order confirmations.
This year's Worldwide Developers Conference starts on June 8 and will run through June 12 at Moscone West in San Francisco. More than 1,500 Apple engineers will be on hand to host over 100 technical sessions and hands-on labs. The event is also likely to include a keynote to unveil new products, and it will include the annual Apple Design Awards.
At WWDC this year, Apple is expected to unveil the newest versions of iOS and OS X -- iOS 9 and OS X 10.11. There have also been rumors suggesting the event could be used to unveil a new television service, a revamped Apple TV set-top box, and a rebranded Beats music service.
Developers who are unable to attend or who do not win the ticket lottery will be able to watch several live streams of WWDC sessions that will cover a wide range of topics from the iPad and iPhone to the Apple Watch and MacBook, along with other Apple products and services.
Former Apple iOS chief turned Snapchat advisor Scott Forstall has taken on a new project, according to his first ever tweet on Twitter. Forstall is co-producing the upcoming Broadway musical Fun Home, a show that opens this Sunday.
I'm thrilled to be co-producing the Broadway musical Fun Home http://t.co/PqrKKZGcxY opening this Sunday. Bravo to the phenomenal team!
— Scott Forstall (@forstall) April 17, 2015
The Forstalls (Producer). This is Scott and Molly Forstall's first foray on Broadway after years in Silicon Valley. They share their love of theatre with their children, Freya and Nils, both of whom are enthusiastic theatregoers and performers. Thanks to Carole for the magnificent journey.
Forstall's announcement of his position as Broadway producer comes just a day after leaked Sony emails suggested he'd received .11 percent of Snapchat's stock to serve as an advisor to the company. Since being ousted from Apple in 2012, Forstall has kept a very low profile, and this occasion marks his first public announcement and appearance in years.
Scott Forstall first fell in league with Apple in 1992, when he took on a job at Steve Jobs' company, NeXT. When NeXT was acquired by Apple in 1997, Forstall stayed on, working on the Macintosh user design team. He was promoted several times and in 2005, he began working on iOS. Forstall has been largely credited with the skeuomorphic design present in the early years of the operating system, an aesthetic that eventually led to disagreements with other executives at the company following Steve Jobs' death.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Casetify, a site that specializes in a whole range of custom-created iOS accessories, from iPhone and iPad cases to MacBook covers and Apple Watch straps.
Casetify lets users design their own cases using photos, text, and more, and it also offers hundreds of awesome community-created and curated designs that aren't quite like anything else on the market. You can add a collage of photos with dozens of layouts, select one photo, or customize an existing layout with the site's built-in tools or iPhone app. The base cases the company offers are nice quality and the printing comes out well.
Casetify is offering one lucky MacRumors reader the chance to win a massive bundle of accessories, worth over $500. It includes one of nearly all the accessories the company sells for the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch.
The site has long offered iPhone cases in a variety of materials, including a simple polycarbonate snap-on case, a wood case, and the Metaluxe, a polycarbonate/aluminum combo case, featuring extra protection with an interchangeable backplate. Custom iPad Smart Covers are also available.
Recently, Casetify has also introduced two new products that will also go to the winner -- Apple Watch bands for the upcoming Apple Watch and new MacBook sleeves (there are also sleeves for the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro). Apple Watch bands can be customized with images and are made from a polycarbonate silicone.
MacBook Sleeves are made of a lightweight polyester and neoprene, with velvet inside to keep a device safe. Like iPhone cases and iPad covers, MacBook Sleeves can be personalized with any image or chosen from the gallery collection.
Casetify's full prize list is below. The winner will be able to create custom designs for all of these products, or choose pre-designed options from Casetify's store, filled with cool patterns and pictures. The prize pack is entirely customizable:
1 Metaluxe Gold iPhone Case
1 Metaluxe Silver iPhone Case
1 Metaluxe Backplate
1 Classic Snap iPhone Case
1 Wood iPhone Case
1 iPad Cover
1 MacBook Sleeve
1 Apple Watch Band
1 Selfie Pack with Stick and Shutter
2 iPhone Case Gift Vouchers
To enter to win the prize pack, 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 MacRumors Facebook 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, Friday, April 17 at 11:15 a.m. Pacific Time through Friday April 24 at 11:15 a.m. Pacific Time. Winners will be chosen randomly on April 24 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.
Casetify is also offering MacRumors readers a 10 percent discount off all products site wide with the code MR10. Discount is valid from 4/17 to 4/23.
Apple is planning to launch Apple Pay in Canada later this year, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, claims Apple is in negotiations with six Canadian banks about a potential November launch of the mobile payments service, which debuted in the United States last October and has yet to become available in other countries.
The six Canadian banks reportedly in talks with Apple include the Royal Bank of Canada, TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal, CIBC and National Bank of Canada. The financial institutions, which together account for more than 90% of Canadian bank accounts, are open to supporting Apple Pay in Canada, although have expressed concern about higher fees and potential security issues.
"The banks are open to an agreement, but they aren’t happy with Apple’s fee proposals and are concerned about security vulnerabilities like the ones that U.S. banks experienced as they rolled out the service, the people said."
Canada is a well-prepared candidate to receive Apple Pay support, as many retailers and businesses across the country are already equipped with contactless payment terminals that are required for the iPhone-based mobile payments service. The country was one of the earlier adopters of Chip-and-PIN debit and credit cards that can be tapped against a payment terminal when making a purchase, and Apple Pay would be a natural extension of that functionality.
The six Canadian banks have reportedly formed a consortium and hired consultancy firm McKinsey & Co. to develop a security protocol for Apple Pay. The financial institutions have also considered the need for secondary authentication to verify customer information, such as entering a PIN, logging on to a mobile banking app or using a one-time passcode sent via text message before cards can be used on Apple Pay.
Apple announced last year that it is targeting international expansion of Apple Pay, and speculation has mainly been focused upon Canada, China and the United Kingdom. Apple's efforts to launch Apple Pay in China have faced some roadblocks, however, and Apple's talks to roll out Apple Pay in the United Kingdom during the first half of 2015 are similarly stalled as some banks are concerned about potential privacy issues.
After being announced to appear at Milan's Salone Del Mobile Design Fair earlier in the week, today the Apple Watch was displayed for the first time to the public, outside of a retail store or pop up shop, at the design fair (via Macitynet) [Google Translate].
The Apple Watch on display in the Carlo e Camilla restaurant
On display at the Carlo e Camilla restaurant in Segheria, the Watch is displayed in long rows of glass-topped tables, identical to its presentation in Apple's own retail locations. The fair is even allowing customers to experience the same try-on appointments happening in retail stores since pre-orders began one week ago.
The entrance to the Apple Watch showcase at the fair
Interestingly, as the Watch is displayed at the Carlo e Camilla in Italy, pre-orders for the wearable aren't available to Italian customers due to Italy not being included in the first wave of launch countries for the Watch. There to experience the event is senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple, Phil Schiller, and Marc Newson, who works part time at Apple as a designer alongside Jony Ive.
Although Apple has yet to confirm pre-order numbers for the Watch, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the device could have sold more than 2.3 million units during the initial pre-order wave. While the exact number remains a mystery, stock of the Apple watch definitely remains constrained as pre-orders for all devices slipped to a 4-6 week dispatch date, and beyond, only 6 hours after going live.
British cyclist and former professional rugby player Will Carling has shared a pair of newphotos on Twitter that appear to reveal two unreleased Apple products. The first photo shows a stainless steel Apple Watch with what looks like a custom red sport band, while the second photo provides a side-by-side look at an Apple charger with a unique folding plug design for use in the United Kingdom.
Carling claims that Apple design chief Jony Ive provided him with the folding charger, which could be the official charger for the Apple Watch in the United Kingdom, and it is likely that is who gifted him the Apple Watch with a custom red sport band as well. Ive grew up in England and is known to be a rugby fan, and Carling was the former captain of England's national rugby team from 1988 to 1996.
It is possible that the photo is actually of an Apple Watch with the similar looking pink sport band, although the lighting in the shot gives the band more of a red appearance and Carling mentions that he prefers "the red band" on Twitter. Apple has given a custom watch to at least one other iconic figure, with designer Karl Lagerfeld spotted wearing an Apple Watch with gold link bracelet earlier this week.
It is possible that Apple may eventually release a (PRODUCT)RED version of the Apple Watch by offering this custom red sport band for sale. Apple gives a portion of sales generated from (PRODUCT)RED merchandise to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa, raising over $70 million towards the initiative to date. Apple's current (PRODUCT)RED lineup includes iPods, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus cases, and iPad Smart Cases and Covers.
A number of notable apps have been updated with Apple Watch support to start off the week, including Shazam, Microsoft OneDrive, Porsche Car Connect, FIFA 15 Ultimate Team by EA SPORTS, Epicurious, Nick Jr, ESPN, Avea, JetBlue and Letterpad. The updates should be rolling out on the App Store today prior to the Apple Watch launch on April 24.
Apple is planning to launch 
