The best-known Unified School District program to provide an iPad to every student may have ended disastrously, but a similar program elsewhere appears to have been rather more successful.

In LA, Apple ended up repaying $4.2M to settle a claim by the LAUSD following a failed program that led to a federal review concluding it had been doomed from the start – and corruption investigations by both the FBI and SEC.

But a $42M program to supply iPads to all 20,000 students in Coachella Valley Unified School District has been declared a success …

more…

Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Devices Tagged: Coachella Valley, Coachella Valley Unified School District, Coachella Valley USD, Education, iPad, iPads in education, iPads in schools, school, Unified School District

Reuters this evening reports that Apple is investing $1 billion in Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing. In a statement, CEO Tim Cook explained that the investment will give Apple a chance to learn more about certain segments of the Chinese market, while it will also deliver a strong return.

more…

Filed under: iOS Devices

A recent patent filed by Apple and discovered by PatentlyApple hints at ways in which Apple is planning to make its HomeKit platform smarter. The patent, published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is for an “automated environment” in which HomeKit would be able to track the routines of users and implement automated behaviors based on those habits.

more…

Filed under: HomeKit Tagged: car, homekit, Patent

A big question up in the air for iPhone 7 is what Apple will do with its bundled headphones. If this is the first year Apple is to remove the headphone jack from the device as rumored, that means one of a few things for the bundled EarPods that usually come with its iPhones…

more…

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Adapter, AirPods, Beats, Bluetooth, bundled, EarPod, headphones, in the box, iPhone 7, Wireless

While there hasn’t been an official policy change or new strategy made public, software developers have been noticing dramatically shorter review times when submitting apps through Apple’s approval process on both the iOS and Mac App Stores. Citing data from AppReviewTimes.com, Bloomberg today highlights the positive trend, while noting that iOS App Store review times currently average just two days turnaround time and just one day for the Mac App Store.

more…

Filed under: Developers Tagged: App Store

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 just-released 13-inch 256GB MacBook Air w/ 8GB of RAM gets its first price drop: $1,000 shipped (Reg. $1,199)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest model) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,040 (Reg. $1,299)

iTunes $0.99 HD Rentals (Reg. $5): Sicario, Prometheus, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, much more

Cut the cord for good w/ the AmazonBasics Ultra Thin 50-mile HD Antenna for $32 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

Get Nomad’s premium Italian leather Apple Watch Strap for just $100 shipped (Reg. $150)

Call of Duty iOS titles matching all-time lows: Strike Team $2 (Reg. $7), Zombies $1 (Reg. $5), more

App Store Free App of the Week: Camera Plus w/ AirSnap goes free for the first time in months (Reg. $2)

Grand Theft Auto iOS Sale: Liberty City Stories $3, China Town Wars $3, San Andreas $4, more

Star Wars Mac Games 50% off Sale: Jedi Academy $5, KOTOR $10, The Force Unleashed $10, more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Audio Upgrades: Beyerdynamic DT-770 Over-ear Headphones $139 (Reg. $200), Apogee Groove DAC $235 (or less), more

• JBL Charge Bluetooth Speaker (recertified w/ two-yr. warranty): $50 shipped (Orig. $150)
• AUKEY Bluetooth Car Kit with 3-Port USB Car Charger $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $28), more
• Daily Deals: MiLocks Electronic Touchpad Keyless Door Lock $48, more
• SanDisk SSD PLUS 480GB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $105 shipped (Reg. $120+)
• Nintendo announces official 2DS handheld price drop, more
• Games/Apps: Fallout 4 $31, Rainbow Six Siege $29, iOS freebies, more
• Google Play $1 MP3 albums: Goo Goo Dolls, Pantera, more (Reg. up to $10 ea)

Protect your 15" MacBook w/ this stylish felt carrying case for $9 Prime shipped (Reg. $19) wp.me/p1xTlR-RhT https://t.co/UW2xuwQDIV

—
9to5Toys (@9to5toys) May 12, 2016

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

iPad Pro (9.7-inch) Case with Auto Wake/Sleep in two colors: $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $14)

iFixit 64-Bit Screwdriver Kit lets you open phones, tablets, laptops, games consoles, and more: $35 (Orig. $50, CA Tax only)

• iPhone 5 16GB refurb with OtterBox Defender case: $100 shipped
• iPhone 6/s/Plus, 5/s/SE & Android case sale in a variety of colors/styles from $2 shipped
• OtterBox iPhone 6/6s Plus Symmetry Series Phone Case (Various Colors): $12 shipped
• LifeProof iPhone 6/s FRĒ waterproof case (multiple colors): $40 Prime shipped (Orig. $80)
• RAVPower 3000mAh 2A MFi Battery Case for $24 Prime shipped (Reg. $36)
• Dell 27-inch 1080p Curved Monitor w/ two HDMI inputs: $220 shipped (Reg. $300+)
• Smartphone Accessories: OLALA 13000mAh power bank w/ built-in Lightning cable $30, more
• A/V Receivers w/ 4K + AirPlay: Harman Kardon 7.1-Ch. $269 (Orig. $800), more
• Get a head start at work: learn-to-code learning bundle $59 (Orig. $924), more
• New LG Nexus 5, unlocked with 32GB storage down to $149 shipped (Reg. ~$280)
• New Google Express customers can grab a $40 credit for $15 with email delivery (42% savings)
• Keep your pet in the back seat w/ a 2-pack of Etekcity’s Dog Car Seat Belt for $6 (Reg. $12)
• This Samsung Curved Blu-Ray Player adds smart functionality to nearly any TV: $40 (Reg. $60)
• JBL Control One All-Weather Indoor/Outdoor Speakers: $60 shipped (Orig. $240)
• Green Deals: 4-pack Outdoor LED Motion Lights $40, GE 3-pack A19 LED Lightbulbs $9, more
• Laundry detergent (Prime shipped): 81-pack Tide PODS $14 (Reg. $20), more
• Spring cleaning: Essential products for an organized and clutter-free bathroom
• Taste the Rainbow! 30-Pack Skittles/Starburst Box for $18 Prime shipped (Reg. up to $30)
• Anker 3-ft reinforced Lightning cable (multiple colors): $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $10)
• Samsung Smart HDTVs: 55-inch 4K 3D Curved $1,375 (Reg. $1,800), more
• FREE ebook: ‘Mobile Security: How to Secure, Privatize, and Recover Your Devices’ ($27 value)
• iMac 17-inch Core 2 Duo Computer (Refurb) $110 shipped (Reg. $200)
• Green Deals: Solar 8000mAh Battery Pack $11, Philips 65W LED Flood Light $5, more
• Nike extra 20% off clearance: Free 5.0 Running Shoes (five colors) $64 (Reg. $80), more
• Golfsmith gift cards 20% off: $50 for $40, $100 for $80 with free email delivery
• Burt’s Bees Basic 3-item Face Care Kit for $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $24)
• Fashion: Sperry surprise 30% off sale- Men’s shoes starting at $28 shipped, much more
• Amazon Prime Member Exclusive: free 4-month subscription for top print magazines
• Here’s our first look at the new Battlefield 1 gameplay
• Green Deals: Tegu Natural Magnetic Block Sets from $9 Prime shipped, more
• How To: Save a significant amount of money on your next Walt Disney World vacation
• Mackie CR4 50W Creative Reference Monitor Speakers for $115 shipped (Reg. $150)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

The newest Garmin Fitness Tracker delivers a ‘Suffer Score’ after each of your workouts

• The Thin Ice wearable cools your body in hopes of burning an additional 1,000 calories per day
• This Hybrid Tube Amp system for Raspberry Pi is ideal for DIY Audiophiles
• Vans and Nintendo team up for epic new line of NES-themed sneakers
• NERF’s upcoming Terrascout RC Drone Blaster is going to be a menace in your home
• Straight out of Chicago, this mid-century modern Bluetooth stereo cabinet is beautiful
• Garmin goes classy with its new smartphone-connected vívomove fitness tracker
• Moog brings its $10,000 Model 15 synth to iPad and iPhone w/ new $30 app
• Erato’s Apollo 7 is the latest Kickstarter project with a goal of completely wireless earbuds
• SeeNote puts your iPhone notifications and smart home controls on an e-ink display
• Leica’s latest $6,000 digital camera drops the built-in display for a throwback look
• New MagicMount battery attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android smartphone
• Triby is the first non-Amazon portable Bluetooth speaker with built-in support for Alexa
• The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a lean mechanical gaming keyboard w/ Cherry MX Red switches
• Dyson’s new Supersonic hair dryer will leave your hair healthy and wallet empty

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon, app deals, App Store Free App of the Week, Best Buy, Beyerdynamic DT-770, Daily Deals, free apps, Gold Box, Strike Team, video games

Google parent company Alphabet has once again surpassed Apple in terms of value based on market capitalization. CNBC points out that Alphabet (GOOG) saw its market cap around $498.56 billion during trading today, while Apple (AAPL) saw its market cap down around $496.69 billion.

more…

Filed under: AAPL Company, Tech Industry Tagged: Apple, Google

Apple’s decline in iPhone sales is unsurprisingly having a knock-on effect on its key suppliers, with the WSJ reporting that Foxconn, Pegatron, Sharp, Japan Display and Sony have all reported falling profits or losses as a result.

more…

Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple suppliers, Foxconn, iPhone, iPhone 7, iPhone sales, japan display, Pegatron, Sharp, Sony

While Apple has denied a report that it was planning to stop selling music downloads in either two years or 3-4 years, the denial to Re/code was somewhat vague.

Apple rep Tom Neumayr wouldn’t expand on [the ‘not true’] comment, except to make it clear that he was responding to both timelines proposed in today’s story from Digital Music News.

And really, nobody should be surprised if the broader report is true: that Apple has discussed how and when it might exit the music download business …

more…

Filed under: Apple Music, Opinion Tagged: Apple Music, iTunes, Music, music downloads, music sales, streaming

Since iOS 8, Apple has supported third-party keyboards on iPhones and iPads with Microsoft and others offering their own unique options. Google, which has dozens of apps on iOS, is joining in on the action today with its new feature-packed ‘Gboard’ keyboard for iPhone. The final product lines up with what was reported a couple of months back.

more…

Filed under: Apps