MacRumors

A number of parts from Apple's upcoming iPhone 6 models have leaked in recent months, but a new photo set from Feld & Volk [Instagram page] offers some fresh details on the new devices.

At the top of the list is the rear camera from the 5.5-inch iPhone 6. As shown in comparison photos, the module is thinner and otherwise larger than the one from the iPhone 5s, but with Apple shaving down the iPhone's thickness, previous leaks have indicated the company has needed to create a slight protrusion on the rear of the device to accommodate the camera.

Feld & Volk says the rear camera does indeed appear to include optical image stabilization (OIS), as the camera assembly has some freedom to float within its module. Rumors have differed on whether the iPhone 6 will include OIS and if so, whether both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models will support it.

Feld & Volk indicates the 5.5-inch camera module does not fit in the 4.7-inch rear shell the firm has on hand, suggesting the two iPhone 6 models will use different camera modules. Supply chain analysts have indeed predicted that OIS will be a differentiating factor for the larger iPhone 6 model.

Along with the rear camera, Feld & Volk also draws attention to several other parts, including protective mesh for the speaker and microphone holes, color-matched to the various iPhone color options.

While the iPhone 6 power button has been seen previously, Feld & Volk has highlighted the presence of a rubber seal around it, which is a new addition for the iPhone line. The seals would help increase dust and moisture resistance for the iPhone 6.

The photos are the latest in a long line of recent leaks from Feld & Volk, which has been working to acquire iPhone 6 parts in an effort to quickly release its own version of the device. The company specializes in luxury modified versions of the iPhone selling for thousands of dollars, and is planning to launch its iPhone 6 models as soon as possible after Apple's official announcement next Tuesday.

Dell yesterday unveiled its new $2500 27-inch 5K monitor (UP2715K) that boasts an impressive 5120 x 2880 resolution at 218 pixels per inch. This ultra-high resolution places the monitor on par with Apple's Retina MacBook Pro, which has a pixel density of 220 pixels per inch, and would be the equivalent of a Retina 27-inch iMac or Apple Thunderbolt Display.

Dell does not detail the technology powering the monitor, but AnandTech believes the company is using Multi-Stream Transport (MST) to stitch together two 2560 x 2880 panels in order to provide 5120 pixels horizontally. Dell demoed the monitor to Maximum PC using a 5K H.265 video streamed from a workstation-class NVIDIA Quadro K5000 video card.

As outlined in our display roundup, customers have been looking toward a higher-resolution large display from Apple for some time, whether it be a true Retina version of the existing display or a somewhat lower resolution 4K display, particularly since Apple has been touting the 4K capabilities of the new Mac Pro. Rumors of Retina iMacs date back to 2012, but the machines have yet to appear, likely due to both cost and technological constraints.

With Dell listing its display at $2500, it is clear pricing remains a challenge for Apple's ambitions to launch Retina iMacs and standalone displays. Standalone displays may stand a better chance, as Apple has historically been willing to develop expensive large-screen displays priced in the thousands of dollars for its pro-level customers. An iMac almost certainly priced well north of $3000 could be a difficult proposition, however, so Apple may yet need more time for prices to come down before such a machine becomes commercially feasible.

Besides its impressive resolution, Dell's monitor ships with Dell's PremierColor technology and an edge-to-edge glass that includes both anti-smudge and anti-reflective properties. Also included in the display is an integrated media reader, six USB ports and 16W Harmon Kardon speakers. Video out support includes dual DisplayPort 1.2 ports for 5K video and a miniDisplayPort for 4K operation.

Dell's UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K monitor will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

With still a few days to go until Apple's media event where it will undoubtedly announce its launch plans for iOS 8, the company is already preparing to seed its carrier partners with an iOS 8.0.1 update for testing, according to BGR. Details on the update are unknown, as is a release timeframe, although last year Apple released a launch-day iOS 7.0.1 update for the iPhone 5s and 5c to fix a few bugs on those devices.

MacRumors has seen a significant increase in iOS 8.0.1 web log activity coming from Apple's networks over the past couple of weeks, although the first signs of the version appeared as long ago as mid-July.

The last developer release of iOS 8 came one month ago in the form of iOS 8 beta 5, with the company likely holding back further seeds as it finalizes the software for its upcoming hardware. A sixth beta was reportedly seeded to carrier partners a couple of weeks ago, but with much more limited distribution for that release, developers have not had access to dig into it to look for new hints about the next-generation iOS devices.

Motorola has officially launched its Moto 360 smartwatch, an Android Wear device featuring a circular 1.65-inch scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass display, a leather band, "all-day" battery life, and a built-in pedometer and optical heart rate monitor. Motorola has also included wireless charging capabilities with an included dock and also states that the device is "water resistant."
The Moto 360 can pair with any smartphone running Android 4.3 or higher, as users can then receive notifications about weather, flight alerts, traffic, and more through Android Wear. The device also includes built-in Google Now functionality, as users can say "Ok Google" to send texts, set reminders, see directions, and more. Existing Android apps such as Facebook Messenger and Lyft also work with Moto 360.

The launch of the Moto 360 comes less than a week before Apple's special September media event, which is rumored to feature the unveiling of its iWatch wearable device alongside the iPhone 6. According to recent reports, Apple's iWatch will pair with the iPhone and feature a flexible curved display, wireless charging, and number of advanced biometric sensors to track a range of health and fitness data.

The device is also said to come in multiple sizes and material options when it launches, and incorporate near field communications (NFC) technology for mobile payments. Apple is said to be weighing a $400 price range for the device, and may start shipping it in early 2015.

The Moto 360 will be available later today for $250 from Motorola's website, Google's Play Store and Best Buy. Motorola will also be releasing metal bands for its wearable device later this fall.

Apple will add security alerts for iCloud users, broaden two-factor authentication and make a more aggressive effort to alert users about protecting their accounts, Apple CEO Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal in his first interview since the recent hacking incident involving celebrities' iCloud accounts.

To make such leaks less likely, Mr. Cook said Apple will alert users via email and push notifications when someone tries to change an account password, restore iCloud data to a new device, or when a device logs into an account for the first time. Until now, users got an email when someone tried to change a password or log in for the first time from an unknown Apple device; there were no notifications for or restoring iCloud data.

Cook said the new notifications will begin in two weeks and will allow users to take action on potential hacking immediately, allowing them to either change the password to retake the account or alerting Apple's security team. Cook echoed Apple's previous press release on the hackings, stressing that the best prevention for future incidents are more human than technological.

"When I step back from this terrible scenario that happened and say what more could we have done, I think about the awareness piece," he said. "I think we have a responsibility to ratchet that up. That's not really an engineering thing."

Apple will also broaden use of its two-factor authentication system, allowing it to also cover access to iCloud accounts from mobile devices like iPad and iPhone. Cook said the majority of Apple's users don't use two-factor authentication, so the company is planning on aggressively getting its users to turn on the feature. Cook also mentioned that had the celebrities been using two-factor verification, the hackers would not have been able to guess their security questions.

Apple has previously explored expanding two-factor authentication to some iCloud services, but an official expansion of the feature had not yet been introduced.

Apple today updated its Apple Store app to version 3.0, adding several new improvements and design updates. The app now features new icons along the bottom bar, with the "Products" section renamed to "Shop" to make it easier for users to make purchases within the app. The overall app icon has shifted from a cart to a bag.

There's also a new icon for "Stores," and an "Account" tab that replaces the previous "More" tab. Several other UI elements have been redesigned as well, giving the iPhone app a cleaner feel that's more in-line with the iPad version.

According to Apple's release notes, it's now possible to start shopping on one device and seamlessly switch to another device, including a Mac or PC. That means that a user who puts an item in the cart in the app will see the same item in the cart on Apple's website if logged in, allowing for easy transitions between devices.

Along with purchasing improvements, the "Stores" tab has been updated to display information about upcoming events at a user's local retail location, and the app, which is now universal, has been updated with the ability to create One to One reservations on the iPad.

What's New in Version 3.0
- Now start shopping on one device and finish on another, or even on your Mac or PC.
- Find out about upcoming events and workshops at nearby Apple Retail Stores using the new Stores tab on your iPhone.
- On iPhone and iPod touch, there's an all-new design with more refined navigation and imagery.
- On iPad, you can now make One to One reservations.

The update to the Apple Store app comes just days before Apple's upcoming iPhone 6 event and a few weeks before the iPhone 6 is expected to go on sale. Prior to this update, the Apple Store app was last given a minor update in March to add notification improvements. The app's last major update came in late 2013, when the company released a version of the app for the iPad.

Apple's newly updated Apple Store app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Update: As the iPhone version of the Apple Store app is now universal, replacing the original Apple Store app for the iPad, users in countries outside of the U.S. are now able to install the app on their iPads. Previously, the Apple Store app for the iPad was limited to U.S. customers.

Adding to this morning's report from The Wall Street Journal pointing towards a curved OLED screen for Apple's upcoming "iWatch", The New York Times has released several details about the wearable device, suggesting it will have a flexible display and wireless charging capabilities.

Echoing past rumors, The New York Times says the iWatch will come in two separate sizes, focusing on health/fitness and mobile computing tasks, and that it will allow people to make purchases with included NFC support. Its flexible display is described as "unique," and Apple is said to have settled on wireless charging after a failed experiment with solar charging.

It has a flexible display panel that is protected by a cover composed of sapphire, a type of tougher glass, they said. The device's circuit board, which includes its sensors and chips, was described as tiny, about the size of a postage stamp.

For replenishing the battery, the smartwatch will rely on a wireless charging method. Apple had at one point tested solar charging for the watch, but that experiment failed.

According to unnamed employees who spoke to The New York Times, Apple's iWatch is "one of Apple's most ambitious projects to date," with an "enormous" amount of time and money put into the health and fitness sensors in the device, which will be "much more" accurate than existing fitness devices. Rumors have suggested the iWatch will measure an array of different health-related metrics, from steps taken and sleep quality to blood pressure.

The iWatch is said to take advantage of HealthKit, a set of APIs Apple introduced alongside iOS 8 that will integrate into existing health devices and apps, reporting data to a central location. It's also going to rely on Handoff, a Continuity feature that lets users seamlessly transition tasks from one iOS or Mac device to another.

The report also echoes a litany of rumors that have suggested Apple's wearable device will not be available for purchase until 2015, despite Apple's plans to unveil the iWatch at its September 9 media event. The gap between the introduction of the iWatch and its debut will give Apple time to finish work on the device as well as provide an opportunity for developers to create new apps suited to the smaller form factor.

(Image: 2.5-inch iWatch concept by SET Solutions)

In a lengthy article covering Apple's iWatch and iPhone 6 plans for next Tuesday's media event, The New York Times reports the iPhone 6 will support an optional "one-handed mode" to make it easier for users on the larger-screened devices.

To deal with concerns that a bigger phone will make typing with one hand difficult (the current iPhone has a 4-inch screen), some changes to the design of the iPhones’ software interface will allow people to type or use apps with just one hand — there will be a one-handed mode that can be switched on and off, two employees said.

The report reiterates rumors that the iPhone 6 will come in 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch sizes, considerably larger than the 4-inch screen included on recent iPhone models. Apple has touted the ease of one-handed use on its current lineup as competitors have moved to even larger displays, and this new one-handed mode will clearly serve as an answer to Apple's own previous criticism of large-screen phones. Exactly how this mode will work is unclear, however.

The New York Times also reiterates circulating rumors that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will be priced higher than the 4.7-inch model, with both devices also including near field communications (NFC) to support a new mobile payments initiative.

Apple's media event kicks off at 10:00 AM Pacific Time next Tuesday, and Apple will be providing a live video stream of the event. MacRumors will also be providing coverage of the event with a liveblog and Twitter updates.

As part of its upcoming payments initiative, Apple has reportedly negotiated deals for lower credit card transaction fees with several credit card issuers. According to Bank Innovation, Apple has entered into agreements with American Express, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Capital One, and Bank of America.

The banks have agreed to allow all of Apple's transactions to be conducted as "card present," a set fee charged when a customer uses a card in a physical retail location. Typically, there's also a higher "card not present" fee that's charged when a card is used online, due to security issues. Apple's also managed to secure a lower "card present" fee on top of that, cutting its costs further.

Beyond that, Apple has also managed to bump down the actual "card present" rate by 15 to 25 basis points, according to people with knowledge of the talks. Normal "card present" discount rates, which are shared by issuers and networks but determined by the network, are about 1.5%, which means that Apple appears as though it will get around a 10% discount on the processing rate it will pay. Last quarter, Apple generated $4.5 billion of iTunes revenue -- this implies that Apple will save at least $27 million as a result of these deals with the banks. Of course, more revenue volume is expected upon launch of Apple's payments venture.

Apple has reportedly been able to negotiate this lower rate by ensuring banks that transactions will be secure, both through the use of the NFC chip which reports location, and through Touch ID, which will be used to authenticate transactions.

In addition to signing deals with several financial institutions, Apple has also managed to secure deals with major credit card companies Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, and it's also been speaking with various retailers about its upcoming payments service.

Rumors have suggested that Apple's payment service will allow iPhone owners to use their devices to make payments both online and in retail stores, possibly linking credit cards to existing iTunes accounts. Apple is expected to announce its mobile payments initiative during its September 9 media event.

Apple today updated its website to announce that it will indeed be streaming the September 9 iPhone event. A new Live page includes a countdown to the event and a note that it will host the event stream next Tuesday.

Apple will also likely stream the event to the Apple TV with a dedicated channel, as it has done for past events. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of the event as well, both on MacRumors.com and on the MacRumorsLive Twitter account for those unable to watch Apple's live stream.

The September 9 event, which kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, will be held at the Flint Center at De Anza College in Cupertino, where Apple first unveiled the original Mac 30 years ago. Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 6 in two separate sizes, its upcoming wearable device, and its payments initiative at the event.

As part of its planned September 9th event, Apple is building a massive structure in front of the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on the De Anza College campus in Cupertino, California. The structure is covered by a white barricade that conceals the details of the building underneath.

Earlier photos gave us a hint of the building, but recent aerial footage captured using a drone piloted by Sachin Patel reveals the size and scope of the project (via 9to5Mac). The building sits in front of the Flint Center on top of the college's Sunken Garden and wraps around the sides of a pre-existing sculpture.

Speculation about the building has run the gamut from performance stage to model home, with the most reasonable prediction suggesting Apple may use the venue for product demonstrations. Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 6 along with the iWatch at the event, which means it could use the building's ample space to showcase any home automation or fitness features of its new hardware.

The Flint Center is the venue where Steve Jobs introduced the original Mac. Apple has not held an event at the location for some time, opting instead to announce new products at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts or its own Cupertino campus Town Hall theater. Due to this change in venue, it is not yet known whether Apple will be live streaming the announcement as it has done with its most recent press events. MacRumors, however, will be providing live coverage both on MacRumors.com and through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Update: Shortly after this post was published, Apple confirmed it will be streaming its September 9th iPhone event to compatible Mac, iOS and Apple TV devices.

Apple's upcoming "iWatch", reportedly set to be unveiled at next Tuesday's media event, will include near field communications (NFC) technology, according to The Wall Street Journal. The technology, which has already been seen on a leaked iPhone 6 logic board, will likely be used to support a mobile payments initiative.

NFC wireless is central to Apple's plans to incorporate so-called tap-to-pay into its mobile devices, allowing users to pay for goods and services using credit cards stored with iTunes, people close to Apple said.

The report goes on to claim the iWatch will be available in two sizes and carry a curved OLED display. And as extensively rumored, the device will include a variety of health and fitness sensors.

The report also reiterates recent claims that while the iWatch will be unveiled next week, it will not begin shipping until somewhat later, perhaps not until early 2015.

People familiar with Apple's plans said it is unlikely that Apple will release the smartwatch this year, because the Cupertino, Calif., company is still working out engineering kinks in production. Earlier in the year, Apple had targeted a November release, these people said.

One person familiar with Apple's suppliers said there is "no way" that it will be able to ship the iWatch this year. However, Apple hasn't changed its timetable for component suppliers that are shipping parts as scheduled to Taiwan's Quanta Computer Inc., the proposed device's manufacturer.

Sources indicate Apple will accept pre-orders for the iWatch, but timing and pricing are unknown. A previous report from Re/code claimed Apple has been weighing pricing in the $400 range, although some models would be cheaper.

(Image: iWatch concept from ifyoucouldseethefuture.com)