Apple hasn’t been given an easy ride with its plans for a major new European data center in Ireland, but final approval has now been granted by the local planning body, subject to a number of extra conditions.

Apple first announced plans for the $950M data center some 18 months ago, aiming to deliver better connectivity to European customers for all its online services. All looked on track as the company was quickly granted planning permission for the facility, but despite the fact that the center will be entirely powered by renewable energy, an appeal was lodged on environmental grounds …

more…

Filed under: Apple

iPhone assembler Foxconn has reported a 31% drop in its Q2 net profit, a hit being attributed to the recent decline in iPhone sales. The company reported net profits of NT$17.7B ($566) against analyst expectations of NT$23.9B, reports the WSJ.

There was some good news for the company, however, as its acquisition of Sharp got the government approval necessary to make the deal fully official.

The impact on suppliers of reduced iPhone demand was first seen back in May, when it was reported that Foxconn, Pegatron, Sharp, Japan Display and Sony had all seen their fortunes falling. The impact on one supplier in particular has worsened dramatically …  more…

Filed under: Apple

CVS today joined Walmart in continuing to resist Apple Pay, instead launching its own mobile payments solution. In a press release, CVS officially announced CVS Pay, a barcode-based solution to paying for goods and prescriptions in the company’s retail locations.

more…

Filed under: Apple

Apple and Tesla have had a rocky relationship when it comes to poaching employees from each other, but that doesn’t mean Apple employees aren’t fond of Tesla’s work. This is very apparent by this Reddit thread, initiated by an Apple employee. The image attached to the thread shows seven Tesla’s parked right outside of Apple’s headquarters.

more…

Filed under: Apple

As brought out in our recent walkthrough video, Snapchat Stories and Instagram Stories share a lot of similar features. Yet, there are a few differences between the two social services when it comes to posting ephemeral story content.

Snapchat, for example, features the ability to use stickers and lenses, while Instagram Stories is a little more basic in its offerings. But did you know that it’s fairly easy to upload snaps created in Snapchat directly to Instagram? In the following video tutorial, we’ll show you how. more…

Filed under: Apple

According to local media reports, Iran is preparing to allow local retailers to import iPhones legally for the first time. Just last month, the country was threatening to ban the devices in what it was calling an anti-smuggling move. All that threat did in turn, however, was drive up the price of iPhones already in the country and actually increase smuggling.

more…

Filed under: Apple

There has been a lot of talk about the OLED touch bar rumored for the upcoming MacBook Pro refresh expected this fall. But how exactly will the touchscreen work for users?

more…

Filed under: Apple

IFTTT is an incredibly popular tool that allows users to automate a variety of tasks by creating an ‘if this than that’ rule, otherwise known as a recipe. IFTTT has now announced that it will allow developers to embed IFTTT recipes right into their own third-party apps.

more…

Filed under: Apple

It’s no secret that Pokémon Go is quickly overtaking the world. With over 100 million downloads and $10 million per day in earnings, it’s quickly become the so-called “game of the summer.” Now, even Siri is getting in on the Pokémon Go craze, offering up a variety of funny responses when asked about her feelings.

more…

Filed under: Apple

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Apple’s entry-level 13-inch Retina MacBook is on sale for as low as $1,000 shipped w/ .edu (Reg. $1,299)

You can actually afford to pick up an Apple Watch band for every occasion during this Clockwork Synergy sale

Forget the grill, Anova’s Wi-Fi-enabled Sous Vide Precision Cooker will make the best meats: $150 (Reg. $200)

Carbonite Unlimited Cloud Backup: 3-Yr Subscription $118 (Reg. $180) | Stack Social

The Complete iOS 10 Developer Course $29 | 9to5Mac Academy

iTunes has a bunch of terrific movie deals right now: 10 action flicks $25, The Hateful Eight rental $1, more

The popular GoodReader PDF & file manager app for iOS is now down to just $2 (Reg. $5)

You can now grab a free copy of Brushstroke for iOS inside the Apple Store app ($5 value)

App Store Free App of the Week:Hocus puzzler goes free for the first time (Reg. $1)

Fantastical 2 Calendar and Reminders just hit its all-time low on Mac + up to 50% off iOS versions from $3

Best Console Releases for August: Deus Ex, No Man’s Sky, Metroid, Madden, and more

The best headphone stands & hangers to keep your desk/office nice and tidy

Here are our top-picks for your backpack this school year to stay organized and powered up

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Take an extra $10 off your next Jet order of $35 (or more) to score rare savings on big name tech & more

• GRDE 15000mAh Solar Power Bank w/ flashlight $17 (Reg. $22), more
• Creative’s GigaWorks T20 Speaker System: $65 (Reg. $100)
• Daily Deals: Blumoo Bluetooth Universal Remote $50, HP 27-inch Monitor $170, more
• Games/Apps: Dual PS4 controller charger $12, freebies, more
• An ASUS 11-inch Chromebook w/ 4GB of RAM for $169 shipped
• Back-to-School/Office Supplies: 15-Pack Post-it Notes $10, 18-Pack Bic pens $6, more
• This Black & Decker 20-Volt Drill Kit with 100 Accessories is only $60 shipped (Reg. $100)

MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:

Carry your MacBook in a brand new CaseCrown messenger bag for $15, multiple styles/colors available

Samsung’s metal Duo flash drives have USB 3.0 and microUSB connectors: 32GB $12, 64GB $20, more

more…

Filed under: Apple