The MacBook Pro controversy isn't dying down yet so Apple dispatched Craig Federighi, its Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, who discussed the new Pro and thinking behind the Touch Bar feature in a short video interview with CNET in which he also defends no-touchscreen Mac stance.
He goes on to reveal that Apple had in fact built several touchscreen prototypes that however didn't impress Apple executives enough to greenlight the project.
Variety is reporting today that U.S. wireless carrier AT&T will incentivize customers to subscribe to its DirecTV Now Internet-based live TV service by gifting a free Apple TV to each and every customer who commits to at least three months of paid service. AT&T earlier this month announced plans to acquire the media conglomerate Time Warner for $80 billion.
Google today pushed an update to Gmail for iOS, bringing out several new productivity-focused enhancements. Gmail 5.0.3 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, a free download from the App Store, has been overhauled to make navigation easier than before. More importantly, the refreshed mobile Gmail client packs in an Undo Send feature, improved search with spelling suggestions, a new swipe to archive or delete feature and more.
Mac and Linux games publisher Feral Interactive has confirmed today that it will be bringing the iconic PC strategy game ROME: Total War to the iPad this coming Thursday. “On November 10, the grandeur, glory and brutality of Ancient Rome comes to iPad,” said the company.
The premium title is priced at $9.99 and includes no In-App Purchases whatsoever. Feral is promising touch-friendly controls, optimized Retina graphics with updated textures and other enhancements.
This marks the first time ROME: Total War has been ported to mobile devices.
As we reported, Samsung last month bought Viv Labs, a San Jose startup co-founded by former Siri creators who have developed a brand new Viv artificial intelligence assistant. The Galaxy maker has now confirmed to Reuters that it will be integrating Viv technology into an advanced personal digital assistant of its own.
Samsung's Viv-based AI assistant will debut on next year's Galaxy S8. According to The Wall Street Journal, the handset should have a dedicated button to summon the new service though the Galaxy S8 may be delayed until April following the costly Note 7 debacle rather than at the Mobile World Congress trade show in February.
The fairly reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara is reporting that Apple is considering adding a brand new colorway to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus lineup: Jet White. Based on purported information received from suppliers, the outlet speculates Apple may be planning to add a Jet White model to the iPhone 7 lineup, although plans could change and Apple could abandon the idea. Mac Otakara cautioned that its sources “may be unreliable.”
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is predicting iPhone sales will drop in the first quarter of 2017 because he is not expecting a refreshed iPhone SE model that could perhaps reinvigorate demand during the slow post-holiday quarter.
Kuo's note to investors Friday says Apple's been putting pressure on component makers to reduce prices in order to protect its high gross margins that are the envy of the industry.
In addition to discounting USB-C adapters and peripherals, it appears Apple is also offering 25% off the new 4K and 5K LG displays for a limited time. On the company's website, you can see that both models have seen significant reductions in price with a "special pricing" note.
Apple on Friday announced that it would be temporarily cutting the prices on USB-C adapters and peripherals it sells in its stores. In a statement sent to several publications, the company said that it recognizes many users still rely on legacy connectors to get work done, and it wants to help them move to the latest technology.
Neil Young's full back catalogue has returned to Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming services, reports Music Ally. Young had removed his music from all streaming services back in July of 2015, telling fans it wasn't about the money, but rather the sound quality. "I don’t need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution."
As you know, Apple recently unveiled its new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar touch display. What you may not know, is that Microsoft was at one point working on a Touch Bar-esque keyboard feature of its own.
The Verge points to a website for Microsoft's applied sciences group, which highlights concepts revolving around keyboard innovation. The group rounded out the initiative in 2009 with an "Adaptive Keyboard."
Apple captured 103.6% of smartphone industry profits in the third quarter of 2016, making it by far the most profitable company in the business, according to BMO Capital Markets analyst Tim Long. This represents a notable increase from the year-ago quarter where Apple had grabbed 90% of smartphones profits.