Microsoft is now accepting trade-ins for Apple iPads at its retail stores. The promotion sees Microsoft giving gift cards worth at least $200 for the iPad 2 and newer, meaning purchasers need only spend $149 to get an entry-level Microsoft Surface RT tablet.
How to redeem this offer
- Bring in your gently used iPad 2, 3, or 4 and get a minimum of a $200 gift card to the Microsoft store.
- Looking to upgrade your tablet? Check out the Surface RT or Surface Pro.
The offer is valid until October 27, 2013 at Microsoft Retail Stores in the U.S. and Canada, with a limit of one per customer.
Microsoft has been aggressively trying to compete with Apple in the tablet market in recent months; Microsoft has run a number of anti-iPad television advertisements in addition to a recent price cut to its tablets.
After a lengthy beta period, Apple today released the final version of OS X 10.8.5 (build 12F37) after seeding the ninth beta, build 12F36, to developers last week. The update, which can be accessed via the Mac App Store, includes fixes for Mail, AFP file transfer performance, screen savers, and Xsan.
-The OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.5 Update is recommended for all OS X Mountain Lion users. It improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac. This update:
- Fixes an issue that may prevent Mail from displaying messages - Improves AFP file transfer performance over 802.11ac Wi-Fi - Resolves an issue that may prevent a screen saver from starting automatically - Improves Xsan reliability - Improves reliability when transferring large files over Ethernet - Improves performance when authenticating to an Open Directory server - Addresses an issue that prevented a smart card from unlocking preference panes in System Preferences - Contains the improvements included in MacBook Air (Mid 2013) Software Update 1.0
The update also includes Safari version 5.1.10 for OS X Snow Leopard (48.40 MB), which contains security fixes and is recommended for all Snow Leopard users.
Apple is also working on the next version of OS X, Mavericks, which is expected to debut in the fall. Mavericks includes multiple new features like a tabbed Finder, full screen dual monitor capabilities, Safari improvements, and new apps for both Maps and iBooks. Apple has thus far released seven Developer Previews of the new operating system.
The game uses an in-app purchase free-to-play mechanism across 100 new levels, a new challenge mode, and more. The original game was very positively reviewed when it was first released and all three editions have been incredibly popular.
Get ready to join Swampy, Allie, and Cranky on their NEXT exciting adventure!
The sequel to the most addicting physics-based puzzler from Disney has finally arrived. Where’s My Water? 2 launches with three brand new locations including the Sewer, the Soap Factory, the Beach. Best of all, the puzzles are all free! Cut through dirt, and guide fresh water, purple water, and steam to help Swampy and his friends!
Key Features:
- Play 100+ levels and challenges with a brand new look in the Gator universe featuring Swampy, Allie, Cranky, and Mystery Duck! - Introducing ‘Challenge Modes’ to replay the levels in explosive new ways! - Dig as fast as you can and get as many duckies as possible in ‘Duck Rush’ levels! - ‘Tri-ducking’ is now faster, better and more fun with boosts, such as Vacuum, Dropper, and Absorber! Small fees may be required for these additional boosts. - Connect through Facebook and see if you can beat your pals on the adventure! - Experience fun mechanics that are uniquely designed for each character! - Complete achievements and earn special themed duckies such as gladiator-duckie, astronaut-duckie, hula-duckie, and many more! - Stuck on a level? Use hints to help you solve the puzzles!
The in-app purchases allow users to buy 'energy' which slowly drains during play, hints on how to complete levels, and various power-ups.
Pivvot, a popular strategy game from developer Whitaker Trebella, has been named Apple's App of the Week, which means it can be downloaded for free.
Regularly priced at $2.99, Pivvot is a relatively new game that was released in late July and is described as a "thrilling game of strategic avoidance that will consistently test and challenge your ability to make quick impulsive decisions."
Our sister site Touch Arcade took a look at Pivvot when it was released, calling it a "clever and challenging" game.
The way Pivvot works is you travel along a winding, maze-like track not totally unlike the twisty levels in Groove Coaster. Your actual character, if you can call it that, is a simple circle attached like a ball and chain to a center point that travels along the winding track. The radius from that center point to your circle is like a "safe zone", able to travel right through the stuff on the track that gets in your way.
The name of the game, literally, is to "pivot" your circle around the center point by touching either side of the screen and avoid the various kinds of obstacles that come up along the track.
Pivvot is a universal app and it will be free for a one week period. [Direct Link]
T-Mobile has announced its pricing for Apple's new iPhones, offering the iPhone 5c with no down payment and the iPhone 5s for a $99 down payment.
The 16GB iPhone 5c will require 24 monthly payments of $22 per month for a total device cost of $528, while the 16GB iPhone 5s will require 24 monthly payments of $22.91 for a total device cost of $648.84.
While the iPhone 5s pricing is inline with the price of an unsubsidized device directly from Apple, the iPhone 5c from T-Mobile offers a slight discount of $20 off of the standard $549 price of the phone.
As with other carriers, T-Mobile will begin offering pre-orders for the iPhone 5c on Friday, September 13 at 12:01 AM PT. The iPhone 5s, which will not be available for pre-order, can be purchased from T-Mobile on September 20.
Shipment volumes of the display panels used in Apple's new iPhone 5s are expected to reach 10-15 million units in the third quarter of 2013, according to industry sources cited by Digitimes. Primary Apple supplier Sharp is expected to produce 7 million units, with LG Display and Japan Display expected to pick up the rest of the orders for the recently announced device.
In addition to Sharp, LG Display and Japan Display are expected to pick up the rest of the orders, making the three companies the main panel suppliers for the iPhone 5s, the sources said.
Additionally, more than 20 million panels for the device are expected to be shipped in the fourth quarter of 2013, the sources said.
The report also states that display panel orders for the lower-cost iPhone 5c are expected to reach 30 million units in the fourth quarter, with analysts suggesting that the high volume of panel shipments for the iPhone 5c may signal an expectation set by Apple for the mid-range device to do well in the region.
Market observers added that panel shipments for the iPhone 5c are expected to surpass those of the iPhone 5s, showing that Apple is more optimistic about growth in the mid-range handset segment in markets such as China.
Previously, it was reported that iPhone 5s production would be limited to 3-4 million units in Q3 2013 due to shortages of the device's fingerprint sensor, which Apple is touting as a key feature. Additionally, a report earlier this year stated that Apple had sent orders for LCD panels for the iPhone 5S to all three companies in June, with Japan Display gearing up production levels as of last month.
The iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will go on sale in nine countries on September 20, with the iPhone 5c available for pre-order on September 13. Apple is not accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 5s.
Alongside the new A7 main chip unveiled in the iPhone 5s this week, Apple also featured a new "M7" motion coprocessor designed to capture motion data to support new features such as health and fitness applications. As Apple notes on its feature page, the chip can also enhance mapping and location functions, helping the iPhone 5s sense and interpret movement.
The new M7 coprocessor is like a sidekick to the A7 chip. It’s designed specifically to measure motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass — a task that would normally fall to the A7 chip. But M7 is much more efficient at it. Now fitness apps that track physical activity can access that data from the M7 coprocessor without constantly engaging the A7 chip. So they require less battery power.
M7 knows when you’re walking, running, or even driving. For example, Maps switches from driving to walking turn-by-turn navigation if, say, you park and continue on foot. Since M7 can tell when you’re in a moving vehicle, iPhone 5s won’t ask you to join Wi-Fi networks you pass by. And if your phone hasn’t moved for a while, like when you’re asleep, M7 reduces network pinging to spare your battery.
But beyond those mapping and navigation features, Apple is also working on tapping into the power of the M7 to add additional enhancements in future software updates, according to a report from 9to5Mac. Those improvements include the ability to help find a parked car as well as new features for public transit navigation and indoor mapping.
Sources say that Apple is testing a tool for its Maps app that, with the M7 chip, could analyze when your car is parked. When you park your car, the iPhone will register the car’s location. Now when you return to the parking lot, your iPhone will be able to help you assist with finding your car since it knows the vehicle’s location.
Besides the car-finding feature, Apple is also working on other mapping features. Apple is said to be planning notable updates to its Maps app in iOS 8, and the company is currently working on implementing both public transit directions and indoor mapping features (which Google already has on iOS).
These potential additions should be no surprise of course, as Apple has revealed its interest in such features through recent acquisitions of several smaller companies. In particular, Apple has acquired public transit app firms HopStop and Embark and indoor mapping firm WifiSLAM within just the past six months.
The iPhone 5s with Apple's new M7 chip launches on Friday, September 20.
The Humble Indie Bundle 9, a collection of games that are compatible with the Mac including Mark of the Ninja, Brutal Legend, FTL: Faster Than Light, FEZ, Trine 2: Complete Story and a beta for upcoming game Eets Munchies, has been released. As with previous Humble Bundles, the user selects the amount of the purchase and how much money of the purchase goes to chairtable foundations or game developers. This compliation also marks the first time that FEZ and Mark of the Ninja have been compatible with Apple’s OS X platform.
Six spectacular games to fill you with glee. Humble Indie Bundle 9 features six wondrous games. Pay what you want and get the visually brilliant magical action-puzzle platformer Trine 2: Complete Story; the sleek side-scrolling stealth game Mark of the Ninja; the deliciously delightful physics-based puzzler Eets Munchies; and the heavy metal action/adventure/RTS rocker Brütal Legend. If you pay over the average, you'll also receive the award-winning space strategy sim FTL: Faster Than Light and the critically acclaimed adorably detailed puzzle platformer FEZ.
Buyers are able to obtain Trine 2: Complete Story, Mark of the Ninja, Eets Munchies Beta and Brutal Legend with any contribution, with FTL: Faster Than Light and FEZ requiring a purchase of more than the average contribution, which currently stands at $4.59, to unlock. Soundtracks are also included with select games, and all downloads are distributed DRM-free while users contributing at least $1 will receive keys to access the titles through video game platform Steam. The Humble Indie Bundle 9 can be purchased through the official Humble Bundle website, and is available through September 25.
Walmart, which has traditionally offered discounted pricing on the iPhone relative to standard pricing from Apple and other retailers, will be bringing that pricing strategy to the launch of Apple's new iPhone 5s and 5c models.
As noted by CNET, Walmart stores will be offering pre-orders of the iPhone 5c starting tomorrow with pricing on the 16 GB version set at $79, a $20 discount compared to Apple's standard pricing with two-year contract. The iPhone 5s, which is not being made available for pre-order and launches on September 20, will be priced at $189 for the 16 GB model, a $10 discount from standard pricing.
As with many other retailers, Walmart is also immediately cutting prices on the current models, dropping the 16 GB iPhone 5 to $79 and iPhone 4S models to $0.97. Beginning September 16, customers interested in purchasing the last of Walmart's iPhone 4 stock will also be able to do so for just $0.10 while receiving a $100 Walmart gift card.
At its media event earlier this week, Apple noted that it had increased the battery capacity of the iPhone 5c relative to the iPhone 5, and the company's tech specs show that users can expect longer for battery life on both the iPhone 5s and 5c for certain tasks.
In particular, both new iPhones offer up to 10 hours of talk time on 3G and the same 10 hours of LTE Internet use, up from 8 hours for both tasks on the iPhone 5. Standby time on the two new models has also increased to up to 250 hours compared to 225 hours on the iPhone 5.
Apple has not, however, revealed the exact battery capacity for the new iPhones, but AnandTechdug into the FCC documents and discovered that the iPhone 5c carries 5% higher battery capacity than the iPhone 5, while the iPhone 5s carries a 10% larger battery.
While I'm somewhat skeptical sometimes of the accuracy of battery capacities as reported in FCC disclosures (which I noted about the battery size for the Nexus 5), these numbers seem credible given what I've heard, the statement Apple made during the keynote about the 5C battery size going up, and what I'd expect with some board re-layout for the 5S.
The iPhone 5s number reported in the FCC documents is close but not identical to what was seen on a leaked December 2012 prototype. The battery in that device was listed as 5.92 Whr, while the FCC documents report a capacity of 5.96 Whr.
iPhone 5c battery
The documents report a capacity of 5.73 Whr for the iPhone 5c battery, which matches that seen in photos of the part posted by C Technology today.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 5c begin at 12:01 AM Pacific Time tomorrow morning, with availability of both the iPhone 5s and 5c set for Friday, September 20. Apple is not offering pre-orders for the iPhone 5s.
Popular RSS feed viewer Reeder has launched Reeder 2 for iOS devices, marking the return of the service to the App Store since it went without major updates following the shutdown of Google Reader this past July. The new app sports a revamped design and is compatible with numerous RSS services such as Feedly and Readability, as well as sharing services such as Instapaper, Facebook, and App.net. Gesture-based navigation and view modes with filters are also included within the app’s settings.
Reeder is a RSS reader and client for Feedbin, Feedly, Feed Wrangler, Fever, and Readability.
- Feedbin syncing - Feedly syncing - Feed Wrangler syncing - Fever syncing - Readability syncing - Local/standalone RSS (no sync) - Support for multiple accounts
An internal Apple video depicting the construction of an Apple pop-up store at the 2011 South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas has surfaced on YouTube (via Sonny Dickson). Specifically, the video starts with the store’s unveiling and then transitions to the construction of the store, with floor construction, movement of products, and final decoration to match the internals of a standard Apple Retail Store. The video then shows the store’s grand opening as employees are briefed and closes with the following quote from CNET senior writer Daniel Terdiman:
No matter how many giant stages Pepsi builds or parties Facebook or Digg throw, no matter how many giant buses CNN has there...when all is said and done the one launch everyone will remember from SXSW this year will be the pop-up Apple Store and the iPad 2 going on sale.
Apple opened the temporary store at SXSW in 2011 for the launch of the iPad 2, but chose not to create a store for the festival in the following year or in subsequent years. Among recent high-profile projects, Apple opened a new, glass-enclosed Apple Store at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California, and is working on a new two-story retail store in Shanghai's new IPAM mall.
While Apple announced at yesterday's media event that pre-orders for the iPhone 5c will begin on Friday, September 13, the company has not yet specified at what time it will begin taking orders. Information from U.S. carrier partners Verizon and Sprint indicates, however, that the pre-orders should go live at roughly midnight Pacific Time on Friday morning.
Given that Apple and its U.S. carrier partners typically begin pre-orders at the same time and the timing published by Verizon and Sprint is in line with that seen for the past several iPhone releases, it seems likely that the coordinated launch will once again take place at that time.
Verizon email sign-up
Verizon's pre-order information, available on the "Why Verizon?" tab of the carrier's iPhone 5s/5c feature page, allows potential customers to sign up for email updates on availability of the two new iPhones and states that pre-orders will be going live at 3:01 AM Eastern Time (12:01 AM Pacific Time) on September 13, but does not mention that those pre-orders are limited to the iPhone 5c models. Apple will not be offering pre-orders for the iPhone 5s ahead of its September 20 launch, and the company's carrier partners will undoubtedly be following Apple's lead.
Sprint iPhone 5c information
Sprint has posted similar information on its website, announcing a 2:00 AM Central Time launch for iPhone 5c pre-orders, which corresponds to midnight Pacific Time.
Outside the United States, pre-orders for the iPhone 5c will also be going live on Friday for customers in the following countries: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK. Apple's pre-order timing is likely to be the same for all countries, so customers should check their time zone conversions from Pacific Time. Local carriers may also have different pre-order start times in those countries.
Apple has begun requiring users to input an Apple ID when making Genius Bar appointments, reportsTechCrunch. Previously, Apple only asked for a name, address, and email to book an appointment.
According to TechCrunch, the new policy is designed to unify user actions within Apple's ecosystem, provide better customer service to people visiting the Genius Bar, and cut down on no-show appointments.
An additional reason for this change, we understand, is to give the control of a Genius Bar appointment to a user directly, who must know their credentials and enter them before being able to confirm a payment. There is also the convenience of having a customer's data automatically filled out with a simple entry of the Apple ID. This should allow Geniuses to reference past purchases and access warranty info and dates much easier as well.
Along with the Apple ID requirement, Apple has been making other significant changes to its customer policies in recent months, launching a redesigned AppleCare website with 24/7 live chat support in August and implementing new AppleCare+ fees earlier this week.
Amid fears about the security of Apple's new Touch ID fingerprint sensor, an Apple spokesman has told The Wall Street Journal that the phone will only store the data used to recognize fingerprints, rather than actual images
Apple's new iPhone 5S, which comes with a fingerprint scanner, won't store actual images of users' fingerprints on the device, a company spokesman confirmed Wednesday, a decision that could ease concerns from privacy hawks.
Rather, Apple's new Touch ID system only stores "fingerprint data," which remains encrypted within the iPhone's processor, a company representative said Wednesday.
In practice, this means that even if someone cracked an iPhone's encrypted chip, they likely wouldn't be able to reverse engineer someone’s fingerprint.
Announced yesterday, Touch ID is a new security feature built into the home button of the iPhone 5s, designed to allow users to unlock their phones and authorize iTunes purchases with a finger scan. The sensor captures a high-resolution image of a fingerprint, analyzing it to provide accurate readings.
During its Touch ID presentation, Apple was quick to specify that all fingerprint information is encrypted and stored "in the Secure Enclave inside the A7 chip on the iPhone 5s" rather than being stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud. Developers are also not being provided with access to user fingerprints as a means of authentication.
Apple also gave the The Wall Street Journal a few other tips on the fingerprint sensor, noting that it occasionally malfunctions with moist fingers or fingers scarred by accidents and surgery. The company also explained that Touch ID must be supplemented with a passcode.
Apple customers who wish the use Touch ID also have to create a passcode as a backup. Only that passcode (not a finger) can unlock the phone if the phone is rebooted or hasn’t been unlocked for 48 hours. This feature is meant to block hackers from stalling for time as they try to find a way to circumvent the fingerprint scanner.
The iPhone 5s, with the new Touch ID functionality, is set to be released to consumers on September 20. Apple is not accepting pre-orders for the device.
Apple is planning to release updated Apple TV hardware next month, according to the well-connected MG Siegler. The TechCrunch writer tweeted earlier today:
I guess those excited about a software refresh in a week are gonna be *really* excited when new Apple TV hardware is unveiled next month.
— MG Siegler (@parislemon) September 11, 2013
The Apple TV box is well overdue for a update, having gone 553 days since a major release, though the Apple TV box was given a stealth update earlier this year that did not affect any functionality.
The Apple TV will receive a software update alongside iOS 7 next week that will allow users to play their purchased iTunes content on Apple TV's that are owned by others.
Mark Gurman is reporting separately that Apple has been testing Xbox Kinect-like motion control for televisions, though he says it is unclear when if this will make its way to the Apple TV set-top box or is being held for a standalone Apple television set.
Mysterious shipment records indicating 'set-top box' shipments were spotted earlier this month that could be a new Apple TV box. Apple is planning to unveil the next versions of the iPad and iPad mini in October, so this would be a likely time for an Apple TV update as well.
Following yesterday's introduction of the iPhone 5s, a new GFXbench result showing partial graphic benchmarking results has appeared revealing significant improvements compared to the iPhone 5 on the Egypt HD 2.5 test (via @nerdtalker and @anexanhume).
A comparison between the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 on the Egypt benchmark show a significant increase in frame rate for the iPhone 5s, with the offscreen 1080p score moving from 29.8 fps to 56.0 fps and the onscreen score improving from 41.1 fps to 53.0 fps.
Comparison of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 graphics benchmarks for Egypt HD 2.5 test
Certainly there are some caveats associated with the benchmark given that it includes only a single test and a need for developers to optimize their apps for the new 64-bit A7 architecture with support for OpenGL ES version 3.0 in the iPhone 5s will undoubtedly yield differing levels of improvement in real-world situations. Still, based on this single snapshot it appears the graphics performance will indeed see a significant improvement in the new device.
Apple's operations department is currently overseeing the shipment of millions of iPhones to nine countries around the world for a launch event on September 20. The iPhone 5c and 5s will go on sale simultaneously in the U.S., Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the UK.
Bloomberg examined how Apple manages such a rollout and the logistical operation it uses to get the phones where they need to be.
Apple moves finished iPhones from Foxconn and Pegatron factories to shipping companies with a protective security detail. Then they are loaded onto airplanes via "pre-bought airfreight space" including former Russian military transports and, for shipments to the U.S., aboard FedEx Boeing 777 freight planes, like the one pictured above.
Bloombergsays the company makes constant adjustments to iPhone shipments based on real-time product demand. Apple organizes teams from sales, marketing, operations and finance to estimate how many devices will be needed, and millions of phones are shipped to distribution hubs around the world ahead of the public announcement of the launch.
Before Apple's formal unveiling on stage, iPhones are shipped to distribution centers around the world, including Australia, China, the Czech Republic, Japan, Singapore, the U.K. and the U.S., said one of the people with knowledge of the matter. Security personnel are with the devices every step of the way, from truck depots, airports, customs and storage warehouses until the product is finally unveiled, two people said.
FedEx ships Apple handsets to the U.S. mainly using Boeing 777s, according to Satish Jindel, a logistics-industry consultant and president of SJ Consulting Group. Those planes can make the 15-hour flight from China to the main U.S. hub for freight shipments in Memphis, Tennessee, without refueling, Jindel said. The 777s can carry about 450,000 iPhones and cost about $242,000 to charter, with fuel accounting for more than half the expense.
After the new product launch, Apple continues to "manage the flow of orders from people looking for a specific color [or] memory size". The iPhone 5s will come in 3 colors and 3 capacities, while the 5c has 5 colors and 2 capacities -- not to mention different models for each carrier around the world.
By monitoring sales from its retail stores, website and third-party resellers, Apple reallocates handsets based on where demand is strongest, one of the people said. iPhones coming off the assembly line in China originally destined for retail stores in Europe could be used to fill a bump in online orders, for instance. The process involves crunching a lot of data.
The iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will go on sale in 9 countries on September 20. The iPhone 5c will be available for preorder on September 13.
Apple is planning to release updated Apple TV hardware next month, according to the well-connected MG Siegler. The TechCrunch writer 
