News

Torture tests expectedly find iPhone SE less durable than iPhone 6s

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 4, 2016

Extended warranty provider SquareTrade has put the new iPhone SE through its paces in terms of durability. After pitting the device against the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models in bend, drop and water tests, the firm has found the iPhone SE to be less durable than the iPhone 6s series, made from a strengthened aluminum alloy.

“While it holds its own against the much bigger iPhone 6s Plus, the new iPhone SE still has some growing up to do before it can compete with the durable iPhone 6s,” concluded SquareTrade. A video of the tests shows the four-inch iPhone SE being submerged in water, dropped on its corner and bending under pressure.

KGI: dual cameras to be exclusive to 5.5″ iPhone 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 4, 2016

Apple's upcoming iPhone 7 will feature dual cameras for improved photography features, but only on the flagship 5.5-inch model, according to an investment note by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider this morning.

The analyst, who has a strong track record in predicting Apple's future product plans, thinks that iPhone shipments will fall below 200 million units this year due to a soft iPhone SE launch and weakening demand for the current flagship iPhone model, the iPhone 6s.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits iTunes as HD download ahead of physical release next Tuesday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 7, 2016

Apple has been accepting pre-orders for J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the iTunes Store for a few weeks now.

Today, April 1 (not a joke), the movie released on the iTunes Store. The $19.99 high-definition download includes iTunes Extras like deleted scenes and interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

The movie is not yet available for renting. The SD version will follow on April 5 for $14.99, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens is scheduled to launch at physical retailers.

Taylor Swift wipes out on the treadmill in latest commercial for Apple Music

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 17, 2017

Pop artist Taylor Swift, whose public critique of Apple Music not originally paying out royalties to artists for free trials did force Apple to change its stance, is now the star of the latest commercial for the subscription streaming-music service.

In a comical 60-second video, published this morning on Beats 1's YouTube channel and aptly titled “Taylor vs. Treadmill”, the singer preps for a cardio workout.

She browses workout playlists on Apple Music and then sings along to a track by Drake and Future for a while before falling off the treadmill while still continuing to rap along, with the tagline describing Apple Music as “distractingly good”.

Ottm Apple Watch bands are made of 100% hardwood

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated July 1, 2016

When it comes to wearable technology, such as the Apple Watch and many other competing smartwatches on the market, fashion plays a big role. This isn't just something you take in and out of your pocket all day long; it's something you wear.

For that reason, a startup is launching an Indiegogo campaign for a new Apple Watch band made completely of wood, and it's being called Ottm.

Ottm will come in different kinds of wood colors and fit both 38mm and 42mm Apple Watches, as well as other smartwatches, and they're hand-crafted to ensure they're of the highest quality possible.

Apple releases iOS 9.3.1 to fix web links crashing bug

Sébastien Page ∙ March 31, 2016

Ten days after releasing iOS 9.3 to the public, Apple has released iOS 9.3.1 today to fix an issue where some devices would crash or become unresponsive after tapping on some web links. Holding build number 13E238, iOS 9.3.1 is available now via an over-the-air update or via iTunes to all devices capable of running iOS 9. It is also available for download now from our Downloads section.

Disney Infinity drops support for the new Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Less than five months after Apple started selling Disney's Infinity 3.0 starter kit, the interactive division of the Mickey Mouse house has decided to stop supporting the Apple TV edition of Infinity.

According to a message posted on the official Disney Infinity boards by its moderator, “the team is currently focusing on the traditional gaming platforms” and there are “no plans for further updates to the Apple TV version of the game”.

Teardown of iPhone SE finds hardware is a collage of 5s, 6, and 6s parts

Anthony Bouchard ∙ March 31, 2016

The first legitimate hardware teardown of Apple's new 4-inch smartphone, the iPhone SE, has been conducted by Chipworks. Apple just unveiled this new handset at its recent 'Let us loop you in' event alongside the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

The teardown finds that the iPhone SE is more than just a new generation of smaller iPhone from Apple, but that it's actually a very clever device that takes the best from the performance world and combines it with the economics of older devices. This allows Apple to provide a product at a cheaper cost, but with similar performance.

As the teardown reveals, the iPhone SE is actually a Frankenstein of iPhone 5s, 6, and 6s parts that all work together to create a powerful 6s-like performance experience in a smaller 4-inch package.

Facebook Messenger gains its first airline bot

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2016

Facebook on Thursday announced it is launching its first airline information bot within the Messenger app.

The social network has been enhancing Messenger's functionality on a regular basis with new features beyond chatting and has recently added a Transportation tab that lets users in the United States request a ride from Uber.

Messenger's airline bot lets KLM Royal Dutch Airlines customers manage their flights and browse their flight information within the app, without ever leaving their chats.

Mittomo, Nintendo’s first app designed for iOS devices, hits US App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

As promised, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo today released its first app designed for iOS devices, Miitomo, in the App Store in the United States and elsewhere following a recent soft-launch in the Japanese App Store.

The free-to-play title lets you customize your Mii avatars by mixing and matching from various costumes and styles. You can share your Miis with friends on social media and discover things that you share in common by engaging in conversations.

Apple releases Safari Technology Preview browser for developers to test latest web technologies

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 11, 2017

Wednesday, Apple announced immediate availability of a brand new browser created specifically for web developers. Safari Technology Preview, as it's called, resembles an ordinary Safari browser with a distinctively purple app icon in the dock. With Safari Technology Preview, web developers can get their hands on improvements to WebKit and other web technologies and optimize their web code before these technologies trickle down in future releases of iOS and OS X.

“Get a sneak peek at upcoming Safari web technologies in OS X and iOS, and easily experiment with these technologies in your websites and extensions,” writes Apple.

T-Mobile promo takes half off any iPhone when you buy a second iPhone and add a line

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 30, 2016

In time for the new iPhone SE, which lands on store shelves tomorrow, wireless carrier T-Mobile announced a new BOGO (Buy One Get One) promotion that gives qualifying Simple Choice postpaid customers half off any iPhone when they buy a second iPhone and add a line.

Devices eligible for this promotion include all iPhones that the company currently stocks, including the new four-inch iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Certified pre-owned iPhones are not eligible for this time-limited offer, which goes live on Thursday, March 31.