Apple

Infuse 5 is out: Up Next, Split View, PiP, iCloud sync, cloud streaming & more

aTV Flash Black developer Firecore today released Infuse 5, a major new version of his versatile media player for the Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. It's the single biggest Infuse update Firecore ever released and they've been working on it for the better part of the year.

Infuse 5 packs in a bunch of goodies, including iCloud sync, a new “Up Next” discovery list for the Apple TV, Split View and Picture in Picture support on compatible iPads, cloud streaming and much more.

Schiller: doubling MacBook Pro RAM would’ve reduced space for batteries

Software developer Ben Slaney asked Apple via email to give a more detailed clarification as to why the new MacBook Pro does not provide a 32-gigabyte build-to-order option for power users looking to max out the RAM. He allegedly received a response from Phil Schiller, who is boss of worldwide marketing at Apple and the steward of the firm's developer relations.

Schiller's response reveals that doubling the RAM from 16 to 32 gigabytes would have required a different logic board design versus the notebook's mustache-shaped logic board, one that would have reduced space for batteries.

Here comes Apple’s holiday ad

Apple just aired a brand new holiday-themed television commercial through its channel on YouTube. Titled “Frankie’s Holiday,” the cinematic video runs two minutes long and depicts an unexpected holiday visitor who finally receives the “warm welcome he’s always yearned for.” The unexpected visitor is Frankenstein himself, who happens to be an iPhone 7 user.

The Christmas-themed upbeat commercial conveniently closes with a positive message which invites users to open their hearts to everyone.

Apple challenges U.S. Apple Watch owners to bag a special Thanksgiving Day Activity achievement

Apple has issued a special challenge to U.S.-based owners of the Apple Watch on Monday, inviting them to walk, run or wheelchair a workout distance of at least 3.1 miles, or 5 kilometers, this Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 24. Those who successfully complete the challenge shall be awarded a special Thanksgiving-themed Activity achievement.

And to let you brag about your completed challenge and earned achievement, Apple will also unlock a special iMessage sticker which you can send to friends via Messages.

Bloomberg: Apple disbands its router unit, stops developing AirPort wireless appliances

Apple has quietly “disbanded” its router hardware division and reassigned employees to work on more lucrative products that account for the vast majority of the company's revenue, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported Monday citing people familiar with the matter. The company last updated the AirPort-branded Wi-Fi accessories back in 2013 with support for the speedy 802.11ac wireless standard.

McLaren confirms it was in talks with Apple that never “matured to a definitive proposition”

Back in September, The Financial Times, The New York Times and Bloomberg ran reports that Apple was considering either a full takeover bid or at least a large investment in the British supercar maker McLaren Automotive. A potential acquisition was valued at between $1.3 billion and $1.9 billion though McLaren later said it was “not in discussion with Apple in respect of any potential investment.”

Saturday, McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt confirmed in an interview with Reuters that his company did hold talks with Apple after all, but said the discussions never progressed towards a definitive proposition.

Three finger drag gesture via new MacBook Pro’s trackpad acting up for some users

Three finger drag, a productivity-boosting multi-touch trackpad gesture in macOS, isn't working properly for some owners of Apple's new MacBook Pro. Both 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pros have larger trackpads than their predecessors, but for many people the gesture doesn't work at all.

For others, three finger drag works only intermittently or performs erroneously when used in one of the sides of the new MacBook Pro's Force Touch trackpad.

Apple denies throttling LTE performance of Verizon iPhone 7

Bloomberg today shared research conducted by Twin Prime and Cellular Insights in a story suggestively headlined “Apple's Chip Choices May Leave Some iPhone Users in Slow Lane” which asserts Apple may have throttled LTE performance of the Verizon iPhone 7 handsets to make them perform about as well as the AT&T iPhone 7 models.

Apple in a statement shot down the report and denied throttling, insisting there's “no discernible difference” in wireless performance between various iPhone 7 models.

Early MacBook Pro adopters confused by misidentified graphics in System Profiler

If you're a proud owner of a 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, you may be wondering why macOS's System Profiler application identifies the GPU as Intel Iris Pro 580 integrated graphics vs. Intel HD Graphics 530, as advertised on Tech Specs webpage.

No, Apple did not accidentally put the wrong GPU in the new MacBook Pro—a company source explains that the problem stems from an error in the System Information database causing the app to misidentify the GPU.