The Mac Pro, which is assembled and packaged in Austin, Texas, comes in a sleek black box with a plastic handle at the top. Inside, there is minimalist, environmentally friendly molded foam with the aluminum Mac Pro wrapped in plastic for protection.
Several reviewers have commented on the surprising density of the Mac Pro, saying it is heavier than they expected.
Update: MacFormat also has a 15-minute video showing the unboxing and providing an overview of the machine.
Following today's launch of the new Mac Pro, Other World Computing has announced new RAM upgrade kits for the machines. The ECC 1866 Mhz quad-channel kits are available in both 32 GB and 64 GB at prices up to 31 percent lower than factory upgrade options.
- OWC 32GB Kit (8GB x 4 matched 1866MHz): $449.00 - OWC 64GB Kit (16GB x 4 matched 1866MHz): $895.00
The same upgrades directly from Apple are priced at an additional $500 for 32 GB and $1300 for 64 GB of RAM in the lower-end quad-core Mac Pro and $400/$1200 in the higher-end 6-core Mac Pro.
Crucial has memory upgrade options available as well, with a 32 GB kit priced at $439.
OWC is also offering a trade-in rebate for the original factory memory, giving customers up to $100 towards the purchase of a memory kit. Apple's Mac Pro, which went on sale at midnight, is currently shipping in February at the earliest.
With the new Mac Pro beginning online orders today, review units have begun to arrive at select publications. The Verge is one of the first to show off their unit, posting a short piece with some photos and first impressions.
It's astonishingly reflective — I can see the screen clearly, and anyone who walks by is immediately recognizable — and it picks up fingerprints really easily. But it's beautiful, understated, and looks great on a desk next to the 4K Sharp monitor we've paired it with. It's particularly good-looking with its case off, exposing the Mac Pro's machinery, but the case is required to dissipate heat. You can't even use the Mac Pro with it off.
All the device's ports are on the back, bordered by a light that turns on and pulses when you spin the computer toward you. When you first turn it on, the fan kicks in, smelling a little like a new car at first. But we've been using it for a few minutes and it's quiet and cool, with little indication that it's even on in the first place. It's so unassuming and unadorned that you almost overlook it — that's a huge improvement from the big, boxy previous models.
The site promises benchmarks and further testing soon.
The new game follows the familiar theme set by the prior games, Om, the candy-loving creature, sees spiders trying to steal his candy, though there is a new cast of characters and gameplay elements. The game is $0.99, though there are in-app purchases, mostly focused on special power-ups and cosmetic changes. The game itself is fully unlocked with purchase.
Like most level-based puzzle games and its predecessor, Cut the Rope 2 starts off slow to give the player a chance to learn its most basic functions and controls as ropes are sliced in perfect time to toss the candy into Om Nom's infectious grin. Things like air cushions and balloons help keep the candy from falling off of a cliff and turning Om Non's adorable grin into an "awww" producing frown but a bunch new characters add a ton of creative new elements to an already creative game.
What appears to be hedgehogs crossed with aardvarks can spit out their tongues across a chasm creating a bridge to stop or roll the candy towards its final destination. Baby elephant looking creatures turn their long noses into springs to bounce Om Nom or the candy closer together and in the path of stars that can add to the game's longevity. These whimsical characters add a fun new dimension to what could have been an otherwise dull experience if the developers had just created new levels under the game's already brilliant design. They expand on a simple concept and give the puzzle creators more possibilities and challenges to throw in front of their players, which gives the players ample opportunities to replay it as they try to capture those elusive stars.
Cut The Rope 2 is available for $0.99 for the iPhone and iPad. [App Store]
Apple has filed for a United States patent (via AppleInsider) detailing an interactive mapping program that allows users to view different layers of information based on factors such as location, points of interest, and the context of a current situation. While the concept of various layers of information for digital maps is not new, Apple seeks to enhance layering by drawing upon several types of information based on the user's needs through various "modes".
The patent introduces itself by describing the problem with existing maps applications and the need for a user to rely on multiple ones in order to gain a complete set of information relevant to a current situation. For instance, the patent gives an example of a user who views a weather map and sees that a storm is coming, and then has to switch to another app to locate a shopping mall or nearby building to take refuge while the storm passes.
The application described in the patent however, would essentially contain all of the various types of information for quick and unified access. With the application in patent, the user in the first example would be able to reveal the weather layer to note that a storm was coming, and then hide that layer and reveal another one giving the locations of nearby buildings to reach safety.
In another aspect, user input can be directed at specific features displayed on the map, such as clicking a mouse button while a cursor is positioned over a dot representing a city, or touching a highway indicator on a map displayed on a touch screen device. In response to such input, the map displays information that pertains to the feature of interest. For instance, clicking on a city dot might result in the display of information pertaining to the city, such as demographics, hotels, flight schedules, etc. Touching a highway indicator, such as a route number shield, may cause the map to display the locations of fueling stations, hotels and restaurants along the route.
Users would also be able to select different modes in order to emphasize map layers that could be useful to a particular interest, such as a commuting mode that would reveal the locations of nearby trains or bus stops and their specific transit times. Other modes could include a shopping mode that would reveal information while in a mall about special deals and sales, similar in nature to how shopping app Shopkick and Macy's teamed up for the first retail-based iBeacons last month that allowed customers to find location-specific deals, discounts and recommendations while looking at items in the store.
This would also be relevant to search results, as searching the word "food" in tourist mode would give results for locations such as restaurants and cafes, while searching the same term in the outdoor recreation mode would give the locations of camping supply stores.
Another application would be the ability to create routes by touching two points on a map with distance calculations, which would also give the best possible route to select based on context. For instance, if a person is deciding what route to take across a certain area, the mapping application would show the best possible route in terms of traffic density, possible restaurants, weather, and so forth.
Finally, the application would also include geospatial capabilities that can be integrated to provide information based on a specific location. For instance, if a user had a tourism mode toggled and walked through a location of historical significance, then information about facts related to the area could pop up to compliment an experience.
While it is unknown as to whether Apple will actually integrate the technology detailed in the patent into its existing Maps application, the company clearly continues to look to improve its mapping services, as evidenced by a number of recent acquisitions.
For instance, Apple's purchases of companies such as Embark, HopStop, and Locationary would allow it to pursue some of the mapping capabilities discussed in the patent, and could also be bolstered by the technology provided by PrimeSense, another recent acquisition. With Apple Maps now the clear-cut favorite among iOS users, it would only make sense that Apple look to improve the app beyond any other effort from its competitors.
Just hours after Apple began taking orders for the new Mac Pro with shipping estimates of "by December 30" for stock configurations, availability has already slipped significantly with new orders currently being quoted shipping in February.
The rapid move to push shipping off by over a month indicates that Apple has indeed been struggling to have any Mac Pro units at all ready to ship in order to meet its previously announced launch timeframe. Reports had indicated that Intel's chips are in short supply and may have been one of the major bottlenecks for Mac Pro production, but with an all-new design, high-end technology throughout, and Apple shifting assembly to the United States, there are any number of areas where Apple may be experiencing production constraints.
Apple has filed for a United States patent detailing a quantum dot-enhanced liquid crystal display with a dichroic filter that can provide a greater accuracy of colors over traditional displays, reports AppleInsider. Similar technology is currently being used by Amazon in the Kindle Fire HDX 7, which significantly outperforms that of the Retina iPad mini with regard to color gamut and accuracy.
The patent describes quantum dots as being similar in shape to traditional nanocrystals found in regular displays, but can also change sizes in order to emit light of different colors more effectively. For instance, bigger quantum dots can emit a longer wavelength light color such as red, while small quantum dots can emit shorter wavelength light should as blue light or violet light. This results in the quantum dots being able to cover a wider and more varied color spectrum compared to current LEDs, which can only emit light in a fixed spectrum.
As one example, Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductors in the form of nanocrystals that provide an alternative display. The electronic characteristics of the QDs are generally governed by the size and shape of the nanocrystals. Quantum dots of the same material, but with different sizes, can emit light of different colors when excited. More specifically, the emission wavelength of the QDs varies with a size and shape of the quantum dots. As one example, larger dots may emit longer wavelength light, such as red light while smaller QDs may emit shorter wavelength light, such as blue light or violet light.
Apple goes on to note that one of the issues with quantum dots is the toxic nature of their contents, going on to suggest that cadmium-free quantum dots or heavy metal-free quantum dots could be used in order to alleviate the problem. The patent also suggests that there "remains a need" for designing the quantum-dot enhanced display to achieve more breakthroughs before it becomes ready for general use, including reduced toxicity, improved performance, and lower cost in fabrication.
Meanwhile, the dichroic filter that would be deployed on the quantum dot display would help reduce the density and toxic content of the quantum dots, and would also improve color and luminance levels, resulting in a more vibrant and accurate display. The filter itself would help in transmitting red light and a green light while reflecting most of a blue light, so that white light can be produced and ultimately benefit color accuracy as a whole.
It is not known exactly if or when Apple plans to integrate quantum dot enhanced displays in its products, but the company would have incentive to do so given criticisms of the Retina iPad mini display compared to Google's and Amazon's 7-inch tablets. Beyond mobile devices, quantum dot displays may also make their way to notebook computers, televisions and other consumer electronics over time.
Alongside today's launch of the redesigned Mac Pro and updates to Final Cut Pro X and its associated professional video apps, Apple has also released updated versions of its professional audio apps. Updates include:
- Adds 3 new Drummers and 11 new Drum Kit Designer patches - Significant enhancements to Channel EQ and Linear Phase EQ plug-ins including redesigned interfaces that are also accessible within the Smart Controls area - Solo now works as expected on channel strips using an External I/O plug-in - Volume and pan automation is now included in XML interchange with Final Cut Pro X - Loops that belong to the same family can be selected and changed using a new control in the region header - The waveform size in an audio region now adapts to the value of the region Gain parameter - The Link mode button is now available for the Piano Roll editor - Includes stability improvements
- Compatible with Logic Remote v1.0.3 - Save & load times are significantly faster - Workspace can be hidden to allow a larger area to view Channel Strips - Various stability improvements
Alongside the start of online orders for the redesigned Mac Pro, Apple has released a major update for Final Cut Pro X. The program now supports optimized playback and rendering utilizing the dual AMD FirePro graphics chips found in the new Mac Pro, along with support for video monitoring at resolutions up to 4K via Thunderbolt 2 and HDMI on select Mac computers. The update also includes 4K-optimized content, and a host of other additions and performance enhancements. Final Cut Pro X companion apps Compressor [Direct Link] and Motion [Direct Link] have also received similar improvements.
What’s New in Final Cut Pro X version 10.1
Final Cut Pro X version 10.1 adds the following features:
- Optimized playback and rendering using dual GPUs in the new Mac Pro - Video monitoring up to 4K via Thunderbolt 2 and HDMI on select Mac computers - 4K content including titles, transitions, and generators - Libraries allow you to gather multiple events and projects within a single bundle - Easily open and close individual libraries to load just the material you need - Option to import camera media to locations inside or outside of a library - Automatically back up libraries to a user-specified drive or network location - Project Snapshots let you quickly capture the project state for fast versioning - Audio fade handles on individual audio channels in the timeline - Add precise retime speeds by entering them numerically in the timeline - Non-rippling retime option - One step Replace and retime - Custom project frame sizes - Through edits displayed on all clip types - Join Through Edit command removes bladed cuts to clips in the timeline - Detach audio with Multicam clips in the timeline to manipulate audio and video separately - Make video- or audio-only edits into the timeline with Multicam Clips as sources - Blade and move audio in J- and L-cuts - Ability to roll audio with J- and L-cut splits open - Option to hide the Event browser to gain more screen space for viewing - Native support for .MTS and .MT2S files from AVCHD cameras - Used media indicators on source clips - Improved performance with large projects - Improved performance when modifying or adding keywords to many clips at once - Easily move, copy, and paste multiple keyframes - Option for the linear animation with Ken Burns effect - Improved image stabilization with InertiaCam and Tripod mode - Import photos from iOS devices - Proxy and playback quality controls accessible in Viewer menu - Support for portrait/landscape metadata in still images - Effects parameters, fonts, and text size included in XML metadata - Improved support for growing media and edit while ingest - API for custom Share operations using third-party software - FxPlug 3 with custom plug-in interfaces and dual-GPU support - Share directly to YouTube at 4K resolution
Final Cut Pro X is available in the Mac App Store for $299.99. The 10.1 update is free for current customers. [Direct Link]
In line with yesterday's announcement, Apple's redesigned Mac Pro is now available for order through the company's online stores. The Mac Pro currently ships by December 30, though upgraded versions list a non-specific "January" shipping estimate.
The new Mac Pro is available in two stock configurations, starting with a $2999 model equipped with a 3.7 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon E5 processor, 12 GB of RAM, dual AMD FirePro D300 graphics chips, and 256 GB of flash storage. A higher-level $3999 model bumps the specs to a 3.5 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon E5 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and dual AMD FirePro D500 graphics. Additional build-to-order options are available for up to a 12-core processor, 64 GB of RAM, dual AMD FirePro D700 graphics, and 1 TB of flash storage.
Aside from the two stock models, build-to-order options can be configured individually, with pricing compared to the base $2999 Mac Pro as follows:
The Mac Pro also includes options to add on both Apple's 27-inch Thunderbolt Display and Sharp's 32-inch 4K Display that Apple temporarily began offering in Europe in early December. The Sharp display is available for $3595. Mac Pro buyers can also choose to add on a newly released matching black Thunderbolt cable, available in 0.5 and 2 meter lengths for $29 or $39, respectively.
A fully loaded 12-core Mac Pro with 64GB of RAM, dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs and 1TB of PCI-e based flash storage retails for $9599 in the United States.
Ahead of the Christmas holiday, several major retailers are offering significant discounts on popular Apple products like the iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, and various iPads and Macs. We've gathered the best holiday deals below for consumers looking to get the latest Apple products for lower prices.
Some of these deals, many of which are in-store only, may vary by location and are only available while supplies last. All iPhone deals listed require a two-year contract.
iPhone 5s (Regularly Starts at $199):
- $119, 16GB: Walmart (In-store only through Dec. 24) - $119, 16GB: Sam's Club (In-store only through January) - $125/$225/$325, 16/32/64GB: Best Buy (In-store and online) - $120/$220/$320, 16/32/64GB: MacMall (In-store only through Dec. 19) - $150, 16GB: Target (In-store only) - $119/$219/$319, 16/32/64GB: Fry's (In-store only)
iPhone 5c (Regularly Starts at $99):
- $25, 16GB: Sam's Club (In-store only through January) - $27, 16GB: Walmart (In-store only through Dec. 24) - $20/$120, 16/32GB: MacMall (In-store only through Dec. 19) - $50/$150, 16/32GB: Best Buy (In-store and online) - $50 with $50 Target gift card, 16GB: Target (In-store only)
16 GB iPad mini (Regularly $299):
- $260: Toys R Us (In-store only) - $299 with $50 Walmart gift card (In-store only through Dec. 24) - $299 with $100 RadioShack gift card (In-store only through Dec. 24) - $299 with $30 Target gift card (In-store and online)
- $100 off MacBook Airs: Best Buy - $160 off 21.5-inch iMacs, Models ME086LL/A and ME087LL/A: Best Buy - $160 off 27-inch iMac, Model ME088LL/A: Best Buy - $24-$49 off current generation 13-inch Retina MacBook Pros: MacMall - $59-$99 off current generation 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros: MacMall - $29 off current generation 13-inch MacBook Air: MacMall - $10-$102 off current generation iMacs: MacMall
MacMall's Mac deals last through December 19, while Best Buy's are through December 24. Both are available both in-store and online.
A recently resolved criminal case shows how a man was able to hack a high school classmate's laptop in order to take nude photographs with her computer's camera without her knowledge, before attempting to use the images to extort her, reports The Washington Post.
Though Apple's FaceTime camera is designed to always illuminate the adjacent green light at the top of the screen, software has been written to separate the camera and light hardware, allowing both illegal -- and legal, the FBI has used similar software in criminal investigations -- ways.
While controlling a camera remotely has long been a source of concern to privacy advocates, conventional wisdom said there was at least no way to deactivate the warning light. New evidence indicates otherwise.
Marcus Thomas, former assistant director of the FBI’s Operational Technology Division in Quantico, said in a recent story in The Washington Post that the FBI has been able to covertly activate a computer’s camera — without triggering the light that lets users know it is recording — for several years.
A pair of students at Johns Hopkins examined Apple's webcam indicator [PDF] and discovered both how to disable the LED indicator, and a way to modify OS X's kernel to keep nefarious users from taking control of the LED. The vulnerability they described does not work on Macs built after 2008, but it is likely that similar hacks exist for newer machines.
In the older vulnerability described in the Johns Hopkins study, the software bypasses a hardware interlock that the camera uses in an attempt to ensure the indicator light illuminates whenever the camera is active. It is not known precisely which software package the defendant in the case used to compromise his classmate's computer, but the Hopkins study is the first public confirmation that Apple's camera system can be compromised.
The easiest way for users to protect themselves -- aside from standard security protocols like not downloading strange applications, or allowing untrusted people access to the computer -- is to put a small piece of tape across the camera.
Apple and China Mobile have not yet finalized a deal that will allow the world’s largest carrier to sell the iPhone, reports Reuters. Earlier in December, a report from The Wall Street Journal suggested that negotiations were all but complete, with the two companies on track for a release sometime around December 18, the expected date for the carrier’s 4G launch.
A China Mobile store promoting Apple products last week
While China Mobile did launch its 4G network earlier today, bringing 4G speeds to its more than 700 million customers, there has been no sign of an iPhone deal.
Xi Guohua, the chairman of the world’s largest mobile phone carrier, said on Wednesday morning that his company had no announcement to make on any deal to carry Apple’s smartphones. Xi was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Guangzhou, a southern city of China.
Multiple signs of an approaching deal between the two companies have popped up during the final months of 2013, with Apple receiving licensing needed to operate on China Mobile’s TD-LTE standard in September and releasing the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c with TD-LTE support.
Though a deal has not been struck, it is clearly in the final stages as China Mobile has been accepting iPhone pre-orders and heavily promoting both the iPad and the iPhone in stores across China.
China Mobile is expected to bring millions of new customers to Apple, significantly increasing the company's presence in China. While Apple currently has deals with smaller carriers China Unicom and China Telecom, both carriers combined have fewer subscribers than China Mobile.
Apple's stock price is currently down nearly 1.8 percent following the lack of a deal announcement.
Pebble, the company behind the popular Pebble Smart Watch, today announced the opening of its new Pebble Developer Portal. With the Developer Portal open, Pebble app developers can upload apps that will be distributed in the company’s upcoming Pebble appstore, slated to launch in early 2014.
The appstore, which will function similarly to other app repositories from companies like Apple and Google, will allow Pebble users to download an array of apps for their smart watches, from watch faces to more complex applications developed especially for the device.
When it launches in early 2014, the Pebble appstore will be a first-of-its-kind wearable tech application directory—giving Pebble users a one-stop-shop for searching, browsing, and installing Pebble watch faces and apps directly from the iOS or Android Pebble smartphone app.
Pebble’s Developer Portal comes after the November release of its Pebble SDK 2.0, which added four new APIs including Javascript, Accelerometer, Data Logging, and Persistent Storage. Pebble also recently gained support for iOS 7 notifications via the Pebble Smartwatch app, greatly enhancing the functionality of the device.
The Pebble Smart watch can be purchased from the Pebble website for $150. The accompanying Pebble Smartwatch app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Popular iPhone photography app Camera+ was updated to version today, adding a new design and a slew of new tools and filters. Along with a revamped app icon, Camera+ has gained an iOS 7-style redesign that also includes all new in-app icons.
In version 5 of Camera+, the exposure compensation and exposure lock controls have been split for greater control over camera shots and a more streamlined shooting experience. Several new tools have been added, like adjustable Clarity and Vibrance controls, manual straightening, color tinting, and duotone tinting.
The app has also gained adjustable Soft Focus and Film Grain filters, along with controls for sharpening blurry photos, creating blur, tinting photos, changing the temperature, fixing exposure, manipulating highlights and shadows, and altering brightness and contrast. Essentially, there are a huge number of new tools to work with in the app, which are listed below.
Clarity Pro At the head of The Lab you’ll find Clarity Pro, which gives you adjustable Clarity and also adds a Vibrancy Boost adjustment which really brings out the life in your photos.
Straighten Not only can you manually straighten your photos in The Lab… we’ve also included a slick auto-straighten feature.
Tint Easily tone your photos whatever color you please. Go just a tad to set a subtle mood, all-out to make a bold statement, or anything in-between. And if you’re having a hard time choosing a color, simply roll the dice to get a random one… will it come up lucky seven or snake eyes??
Duotone This takes the Tint adjustment and brings it to a whole other level. Try it. We’ll leave it at that.
Soft Focus Give your photos a beautiful, ethereal quality with Soft Focus. This one’s addictive so promise not to overuse it, ok?
Film Grain For the look of analog film. Fully adjustable so you can get the exact look you want.
Sharpen This can often be the answer to a photo that came out a bit blurry.
Blur Soften harsh pics. Or go to the extreme to make the perfect iOS 7 wallpapers. More on this later… ;)
Saturation Take it down for a cool, faded look. Or crank it up to make your pics pop.
Temperature Easily enables you to make your pics look "warmer" or "cooler". It can be used for a simple compensation, or turned way up for a bold look.
Exposure Photo overexposed? Underexposed? This is the fix.
Brightness & Contrast Two classic photo adjustments. You’d think that not much needs to be said about these two… but we went out of our way to make them look really good.
Highlights & Shadows Boost or cut the bright and/or dark parts of your photos. Compensate for imperfect lighting conditions, or go for an intense, artistic effect.
Vignette Top-off the perfect set of adjustments with a stylish Vignette. Not only can you put on a traditional dark one, you can also go light for an airy feel.
Camera+ is an iPhone-only app that can be downloaded from the App Store for $1.99. [Direct Link]
Apple today announced that its redesigned Mac Pro will go on sale tomorrow through the company's online and retail stores, as well as select authorized resellers.
Apple today announced the all-new Mac Pro will be available to order starting Thursday, December 19. Redesigned from the inside out, the all-new Mac Pro features the latest Intel Xeon processors, dual workstation-class GPUs, PCIe-based flash storage and ultra-fast ECC memory.
Designed around an innovative unified thermal core, the all-new Mac Pro packs unprecedented performance into an aluminum enclosure that is just 9.9-inches tall and one-eighth the volume of the previous generation.
Pricing for the Mac Pro begins at $2999, with a second stock configuration available for $3999. Apple has yet to announce full build-to-order pricing, but earlier this week we outlined expected retail pricing based on price quotes being offered to some business customers. Based on these quotes, a fully loaded Mac Pro will cost approximately $9999.
Update: Apple CEO Tim Cook has posted a Tweet regarding tomorrow's launch, including a photo of new Mac Pro units on the assembly line in Austin, Texas.
We have begun manufacturing the Mac Pro in Austin. It’s the most powerful Mac ever. Orders start tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Jrd1Gic3Ya
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 18, 2013
Samsung has signed a contract to produce 30% to 40% of Apple's 14-nm A9 chip family in 2015, with the remainder of the production load being handled by other Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), reportsDigitimes.
The news comes after a report back in July stating that Apple had signed a deal with Samsung to cooperate in producing A9 processors based on a 14-nanometer process node, though it was not known then whether Samsung would be the sole supplier of the chips. The claim also came weeks after TSMC confirmed a deal with Apple to begin producing A-series chips in 2014, but was also followed up by a report in September stating that Samsung would also be helping out with A8 chip orders as well.
Apple has apparently been seeking to reduce its reliance on Samsung as a component supplier as the two companies have become fierce rivals in both the mobile marketplace and in the courtroom. The two companies have, however, continued working together in several areas, particularly where Samsung's competitors in the component market are unable to match its technology, production capacity, or pricing.
Furthermore, a look into the A7 processor in September revealed that Samsung was indeed the manufacturer for the chip, with the chip produced at a smaller 28-nm node compared to the 32-nm A6. Currently, the A7 chip is used in the iPhone 5s, the iPad mini with Retina Display, and the iPad Air. Teardowns of all three devices revealed that the iPad Air includes a slightly faster variant of the A7 chip clocked at 1.4 GHz compared to the iPhone 5s and Retina iPad Mini which both include an A7 chip clocked at 1.3 GHz.
Apple is being forced to change its refund policy to fit under Australian consumer law after it was found to be lying to consumers about what they were entitled to by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Apple and its suppliers told Australian consumers they were only entitled to what Apple wanted to offer them when products failed, rather than what they should have been entitled to under Australia's new consumer laws.
Under Australian consumer protection law, Apple is required to provide either a full refund or replacement for products with "major failure" and to offer free repairs, refunds or replacements for products with "minor faults". Apple is also responsible for non-Apple products sold in Australian Apple Stores. Apple's warranty practices and AppleCare packages must offer services in addition to Australian consumer law, rather than replacing them.
Instead, the ACCC found that Apple was telling Australian consumers they were only entitled to a full refund if the product was returned within two weeks rather than the two years under Australian law. Apple was also apparently telling consumers they could only get a full refund or replacement on products within a year of purchase, rather than two years. Finally, Apple was saying it was not responsible for non-Apple products it sold and only offered store credit rather than full refunds or replacements.
In response, Apple will start reassessing all claims about faulty products purchased over the past two years starting on January 6, and will provide customers with new warranty benefits once reviewed. The older claims will take 90 days to review, with the ACCC potentially taking further action if Apple does not follow through. In addition, Apple will publish a note on its website detailing Australian consumer rights, stock ACCC consumer rights brochures in its retail stores, and retrain staff and resellers.
Apple has run into trouble with its warranty practices in the past. In March, Apple adjusted its warranty policies to fit under Australian consumer law as well. Apple has also faced fines over AppleCare practices in Italy and lawsuits from other countries in the European Union.
Popular iPhone photography app Camera+ was updated to version today, adding a new design and a slew of new tools and filters. Along with a revamped app icon, Camera+ has gained an iOS 7-style redesign that also includes all new in-app icons.
Apple today 
Samsung has signed a contract to produce 30% to 40% of Apple's 14-nm A9 chip family in 2015, with the remainder of the production load being handled by other Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), 
Apple is being forced to change its refund policy to fit under Australian consumer law after it was found to be lying to consumers about what they were entitled to by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), 
