Guide to Mac, iPod, iPad and iPhone news and reviews
Here’s the dream I’ve had for the iPad for a few years now: I head to a café and pull the tablet with its Smart Cover out of my bag and start to write. I don’t just mean write emails, but write little stories and blog posts over a period of an hour or two. […]
They came, they saw, they purchased! At this writing, Apple hasn’t yet posted sales figures for the iPhone 6 launch weekend, but judging from the long lines, we’re guessing they’ll have plenty to brag about in addition to the four million preorders racked up more than a week ago. Today’s Morning Report kicks off with a look at new LTE enhancements from Verizon, out-of-warranty repair costs for the latest handsets, and how Windows users have an edge over Mac (for now).
Verizon Wireless promised HD Voice and video calling on its 4G LTE network last week, and the carrier has now delivered for owners of compatible handsets. According to MacRumors, that includes the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models, thanks to Verizon’s Advanced Calling service, which takes advantage of the Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) feature Apple executive Phil Schiller gushed over during the keynote two weeks ago.
VoLTE not only offers a wider pipe with higher resolution for voice calls, but also allows Verizon Wireless customers to hold a conversation at the same they’re accessing a data connection — a convenience AT&T subscribers have enjoyed all along. Verizon customers will need to activate the free Advanced Calling 1.0 feature from the carrier’s website first, then make sure Voice & Data are selected under Settings > Cellular > Enable LTE.
In addition to the new iPhone 6 models, Verizon’s Advanced Calling features also work with two recent Android models, the LG G2 and the Samsung Galaxy S5.
Did you pick up AppleCare+ when you purchased that new iPhone 6? If not, you may reconsider after seeing Apple’s updated US repair options, which were posted Friday to the support section of the company’s website. Although all iPhones include a one-year limited warranty, that doesn’t cover accidental damage, which the $99 AppleCare+ will cover for two incidents for a $79 service fee each time.
Without AppleCare+, out-of-warranty repairs will cost a flat $329 for iPhone 6 Plus, with the iPhone 6 only $30 less; the previous two generations (iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5) cost $269, with iPhone 4s at $199 and all older models (including the original 2007 model) at $149. All repairs are also charged a $6.95 shipping fee above and beyond these costs.
Thankfully, the more common screen damage and battery repairs are more affordable at $109 for iPhone 6, and $129 for iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, or iPhone 5. Likewise, all iPhone models can have a battery serviced out-of-warranty for only $79.
Hey, no fair! ArsTechnica is reporting that Apple updated iCloud for Windows along with iOS 8 last week, and the new version arrived with one feature that most Mac owners can’t yet enjoy: iCloud Drive support. Although not as full-featured as what OS X Yosemite will bring next month, iCloud for Windows does indeed allow access to iCloud Drive folders and files via Windows Explorer — basic functionality which the current OS X Mavericks cannot do.
Windows users shouldn’t start feeling too superior, however: The report states iCloud for Windows can’t use iCloud Keychain to sync passwords or Notes, or offer any sort of Find My iPhone support. In addition to iCloud Drive, the update does retain existing support for syncing iCloud bookmarks, calendars, contacts, reminders, and Photo Stream.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
(Image courtesy of MacRumors)
iOS 8 app extensions allow for apps to share information and for one app to interact with another without the second app having to be open. This feature makes the Share button immensely more useful and powerful. I expect Pocket, the superb read-it-later app, will be one of the apps that gives the Share button […]
If you updated to iOS 8, played around for a while, and found things to be unbearable, too frustrating,or otherwise not an improvement over iOS 7.1.2, you can still downgrade your iPhone or iPad from iOS 8 back to iOS 7.1.2. But this is almost certainl…
Today’s featured iPad painting is this beautiful portrait of a striking big feline – titled ‘Lynx Pardinus’, or Iberian Lynx. It’s the work of Jaime Sanjuan Ocabo, and is the first in a series he plans to do on endangered species. I’m sad to hear that this Lynx is endangered, but looking forward to seeing […]
One of the areas that Apple has opened up in iOS 8 is access to Notification Center – as in access for third party apps. Now it’s supported and you can add Notification Center widgets for some of your favorite 3rd party apps. Here’s how: – Open Notification Center – with a swipe down from […]
iOS 8 is a really great improvement for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with a lot of changes, some big and some small, but let’s face it, there are a few things that are a little annoying too. Whether you just got a brand spanking new iPhone 6 and moved your stuff over, or … Read More
This weeks featured Mac setup is the absolutely beautiful nearly minimalist home workstation of Poyan P., a police officer. Not only will you find some great modern hardware, but there’s a bit of retro goodness too. Let’s jump right in and take a peak at this great Apple setup: What Apple hardware is in your … Read More
It’s amazing the quality of games that are now available on the iOS and Android platforms. How cool would it be to be able to create a great game for our favorite mobile devices? Well, today’s iPad Insight Deal just might help you find out. The featured deal is A Lifetime Of Elite iOS & […]
Great apps make great platforms, and iOS and iPad are a great proof of that. One of the most captivating things about the iPad is the incredible range of great apps we are able to use and enjoy on Apple’s tablet. Each Saturday we share a favorite outstanding app as iPad App of the Week. […]
One of the nice new features of the App Store in iOS 8 is Bundles. Bundles are sets of multiple apps from the same developer, on offer to download together at special, discounted prices. If you already own any of the apps in a particular bundle, you can rest of the bundle for a reduced […]
It was release week and that means we’ve got a round up of stories that are all about two things: new iPhones and new iOS. So let’s not waste any more time. If you want a quick rundown of the who, what, where, and when, this is the tasty place to be.
With patent lawsuits flying back and forth between Apple and Samsung, it was probably only a matter of time until Cupertino reduced its reliance on components from the Korean manufacturer — and that day seems to have arrived with the iPhone 6.
Chipworks has spent the day poring over components extracted from the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and has discovered that Apple’s new smaller, more powerful A8 processor has actually been fabricated by someone other than Samsung.
While the Korean electronics giant (and frequent Apple patent foe) has indeed manufactured previous-generation chips including the A7 found inside last year’s iPhone 5s, rumors earlier this year leading up to the launch of the iPhone 6 suggested that may no longer be the case.
According to Chipworks, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) was responsible for the 20-nanometer A8 processor, which is physically smaller than the previous 28-nanometer chips, which requires less power despite actually running faster than the A7.
Apple reportedly partnered with TSMC in an effort to put some distance between the iPhone maker and longtime component supplier Samsung, although future iOS devices are expected to aim for even smaller 14-nanometer chips, suggesting Cupertino may rely upon both TSMC and Samsung in the future.
During last week’s media event, Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller claimed the A8 processor inside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus would offer a 25 percent boost in CPU performance, as well as a 50 percent increase in graphics performance when compared to the iPhone 5s.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
(Image courtesy of Chipworks)
As you may have heard, the first iPhone 6 purchased from a retail store in Perth, Australia tumbled right out of its owner’s hands this morning — but judging from the sheer number of drop tests being performed on Apple’s latest smartphone, it’s all good.
PhoneBuff became the first to purchase the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on Friday morning with the intention of dropping them on the concrete to test their durability, and posted the video evidence on YouTube earlier this morning.
In what has become an annual ritual, bloggers raced to be the first to buy the hottest iPhone only to torture it without mercy. As shown in a five-minute YouTube video, PhoneBuff’s stunt ended with a cracked display when dropped on the concrete face-down, but the damage was minimal otherwise.
The folks at Android Authority became the second website to perform a drop test, and aside from a few scuffs, both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus came out largely unscathed — and more importantly, free of any damage to the screen.
Check out both drop test videos embedded above and below, but be forewarned: This definitely falls under the “do not try this at home” category, and may result in readers clutching their iPhone just a little tighter than they did previously.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
(Image courtesy of Android Authority)
If you were planning on dropping your beautiful new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus onto concrete or another hard surface, you may want to reconsider your plans, or perhaps buy a case. Why, might you ask? Well, and this may come as a shock so brace yourself,…
The iPhone 6 just arrived at the MacLife offices, and we thought we’d film the historic occassion. (Be sure to check out our iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Buyer’s Guide!)
