9to5Toys Lunch Break: Apple TV 4th gen $109, Spigen Apple Watch dock $3, 15″ Retina MacBook Pro $1,600, more
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TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:
Apple TV 4th gen: 32GB $109 (Reg. $149), 64GB $154 (Reg. $199) w/ VISA Checkout
Apple Watch Docks: Spigen w/ support for Nightstand Mode $3, Native Union ANCHOR $15, more
Apple 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro (Newest Version) 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB: $1,600 shipped (Reg. $1,999)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi 128GB in all colors: $760 shipped (Reg. $949)
Walmart launches iPhone SE $100 discount, other Apple/Samsung devices too!
App Store Free App of the Week: CHOMP interactive storybook goes free for the first time ($3 value)
The classic-style Doom and Destiny RPG games drop to just $1 each on iOS (Reg. $3 ea)
Game Dev Story for iOS now matching its lowest price ever: $1 (Reg. $5)
Apple offers Day One 2 iOS journal app for free ($10 value)
Take It Easy iOS puzzler/brain teaser goes free for the first time in years (Reg. $2)
Zentomino HD puzzler for iPad drops to $1 (Reg. $5) or entire trilogy for $2 (up to $15 value)
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Daily Deals: Logitech Canvas Keyboard Case for iPad Air in Red (Refurb) $19, more
- Smartphone Accessories: Aukey Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount Holder $9, more
- Track your fitness, heart rate and oxygen levels w/ the Withings Pulse O2 for $80 (Reg. $100)
- Start programming with the ‘Learn Python 3.0 Visually’ Kindle eBook for $1 (Reg. $10)
- Apogee releases its most affordable full-featured Mac recording interface yet
- Games/Apps: Shadow of Mordor GOTY $20, iOS freebies, more
- Mizuno Wave-series running shoes for men and women: Rider 18 $50 shipped (Reg. $65+), more
Star Wars Steelbook Blu-ray Bundle w/ Ep. 1-6: $75 shipped (~$102 value) wp.me/p1xTlR-OoV https://t.co/RTn7NGl4xi
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9to5Toys (@9to5toys) April 05, 2016
Star Wars Force Awakens releases today on Blu-ray, here's a breakdown of retailer exclusives wp.me/p1xTlR-OoV https://t.co/8l0ERjU3ZO
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9to5Toys (@9to5toys) April 05, 2016
MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:
AT&T buy 3 accessories, save 20%: iPad Pro Smart Keyboard $143 (Reg. $169), Apple Pencil $87 (Reg. $99), more
UE BOOM 2 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker in all colors: $150 shipped (Reg. $200)
- Amazon’s popular Kindle e-readers are up to 37% off w/ prices starting at $50 shipped
- iTunes gift cards w/ free email delivery: $100 for $90, $50 for $45, more (10% off)
- Amazon Fire TV 4K Streaming Media Player $85 (Reg. $100), more
- Headphones: Philips Over-Ears $59 (Reg. $78+), Marsboy Bluetooth Earbuds $10 (Reg. $25)
- Amazon is giving Prime members up to 3 magazine subscriptions for free: Wired, GQ, more
- Green Deals: Etekcity 3-pack of Remote Outlet Switches $17 (Reg. $25), more
- Browse the web anonymously: $60 (Orig. $80)
- Samsung 48-inch Smart UHDTVs: 3D 120Hz $925 (Reg. $1,200+), Curved 60Hz $629 (Reg. $830)
- Smartphone Accessories: Poweradd Solar 10000mAh Dual 2.1A USB Battery/light: $12, more
- Here’s how you can get a 90-day membership to BJ’s Warehouse for free
- Fashion: 40% off Perry Ellis – Slim Fit Twill Chino $33 (Reg. $55), more
- Final Fantasy XV gets a new playable demo, now available for free on PS4 and Xbox One
- Green Deals: WORX WG156 2-in-1 Electric Trimmer/Edger $80 shipped (Reg. $107+), more
- Kindle First eBook freebies for April: Golden Age, The Secret Healer, Blood Defense, more
- Google Play Metal Albums for $0.99: Trivium’s Silence In The Snow (Orig. $11), more
- Buy Galaxy S7 from AT&T & get a FREE 48” Samsung TV ($500 value) w/ DirectTV (or U-verse)
- iOttie Car Mounts for iPhone: Easy One Touch 2 $13 (Reg. $20), w/ Qi Charger $40 (Reg. $55)
- Amazon adds over 70 products to its Dash Button lineup: Doritos, more
- Free MP3 Albums: Black Sabbath Paranoid, Chris Janson Buy Me a Boat
- Twelve South HiRise Apple Watch Dock: $40 shipped (Reg. $50)
- Free PS Plus Games for April: Dead Star, Zombi, more
- T-Mobile offers buy one, get one half off for the new iPhone SE (& 6s/Plus, more)
- Bluetooth Speakers: Sony w/ AirPlay $350 (Reg. $500+)
- Best Buy: $50 gift card w/ iPhone SE purchase & up to $350 off iPad Pro 9.7 on Verizon
- Media: Zootopia + Batman v. Superman pre-order deals, more, more
- SNES30 Bluetooth Controller brings old-school buttons to touchscreen games: $35 (Orig. $45)
Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $27 Prime shipped (Reg. $35)
Buy a refurbished Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi router w/ 1-yr warranty for $49 shipped (Orig. $99)
NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:
The Yecup 365 travel mug uses your iPhone to heat or cool your drink
- ROAM-e follows you around in the sky and takes selfies on demand
- Sprint customers can now (but probably shouldn’t) pay monthly for Amazon Prime
- Seagate unveils the “world’s first” USB-powered 8TB desktop hard drive
- Sony’s new RX10 III digital camera goes big with a 24-600mm lens and 4K capabilities
- Unboxing the awesome, pricey C-3PO and Stormtrooper Bluetooth speakers [Video]
- QWERKYWRITER is a mechanical Bluetooth keyboard that takes us back to simpler times
- Build an Alexa-enabled device using a Raspberry Pi
- Review: Fitbit Alta pairs smart fitness tracking with a small and beautiful design
- The Kuvée smart wine bottle brings the Internet of Things to grapes near you
- This Kickstarter project allows up to 10 people wirelessly listen to nearly any source
- TCL’s new 4K Roku-enabled UHDTVs hit every price point
- The Tovala iOS-connected oven scans and automatically prepares your dinner
Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon, app deals, Apple iPad Pro, Apple TV, Apple Watch docks, Best Buy, Daily Deals, free apps, Gold Box, Retina MacBook Pro, video games
Apogee releases its most affordable full-featured Mac recording interface yet
From 9to5Toys.com:
Apogee, one of the leading audio interface companies in the business, has just released its most affordable option for Mac yet. The new ONE for Mac is very much based on the company’s small-footprint ONE interfaces, but this time with a more focused approach just for Mac users. While you wont get the dual functionality of the previous generation iOS/Mac options, the new interface also won’t reach into your pocket quite as deep.
Filed under: Mac Tagged: AD/DA conversion, Apogee, audio interface, die cast aluminum, ONE for Mac, Waves plugin
Following Apple’s lead with iMessage, WhatsApp rolls out end-to-end encryption for all communication
Although the battle over encryption between the FBI and Apple has currently subsided, the issue of privacy and security in technology continues. Today, WhatsApp is announcing that all messages, photos, phone calls and videos sent over its messaging app will be encrypted end-to-end. This means that no one can access any communications apart from the people in the conversation. This means if WhatsApp is subpoenaed by government for information, WhatsApp will not be able to help them as it simply cannot help them.
Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS, iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: Apps, Encryption, privacy, WhatsApp
France competition watchdog says Apple owes carriers 48.5M euros for unfair contract requirements
According to a report from BFM.TV (via iphone.fr), France’s Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) has launched a case before a court in Paris claiming Apple owes 48.5 million euros. The complaint points to clauses in contracts Apple has with mobile operators in the country that the DGCCRF, a governing body under the Ministry of Finance, claims are illegal and essentially provide Apple with too much power over the carriers.
The DGCCRF outlined 10 clauses in Apple’s contracts specifically that it wants the company to remove. The clauses relate to stipulations Apple enforces including the amount of product carriers must order, advertising requirements, mobile plans and other guidelines the carriers must follow in order to sell iPhones. Other clauses relate to Apple’s permission to use patents held by carriers, requirements for carriers covering costs of iPhone repairs and in-store displays, and the fact that Apple doesn’t have to adhere to similar guidelines within the contracts. We’ve translated them from French below: more…
Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, Bouygues Telecom, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, DGCCRF, Directorate General for Competition, fines, France, Free Mobile, Orange, SFR
iPhone SE diary: It’s day 5, and my decision is already made
I use this diary format to provide my take on iDevices for three reasons. First, because initial impressions can be misleading. Second, because tastes, of course, vary. And third, in recognition of the fact that you can’t really look at a single device in isolation – we also need to understand the role it plays in our own personal Apple ecosystem.
If I were looking to have just two devices – a laptop and a phone – then there would be only one sensible choice for me: the iPhone 6s Plus. As a pocket computer (which is of course what the iPhone is), the iPhone 6s Plus is an extremely capable device which offers an excellent compromise between a smaller iPhone and an iPad.
But, for me, that would be too great a compromise. I’d be giving up the ability to carry it in most trouser pockets (YTrousersMV) without gaining the usability benefits of an iPad-sized screen. It is, to me, a little too large for comfortable handling and a little too small for comfortable viewing and typing.
I am, though, in the fortunate position of not having to make that kind of compromise. I have an array of iDevices, so I’m able to assign each a much more specific role – something which has a significant impact on my perception of the relative pros & cons of the iPhone 6s versus the iPhone SE …
Filed under: iOS Devices, Opinion Tagged: iPhone, iPhone SE, iPhone SE diary, iPhone SE review
Starz hits Apple TV with $8.99/month package, Twitter scores live NFL “Thursday Night Football” streams
Tim Cook’s pitch for the fourth generation Apple TV so far has been largely that “the future of TV is apps”, and this week yet another premium cable and satellite network is launching a standalone version of its network for cord cutters. Starz, which before now has required a traditional cable or satellite package for access, is launching a streaming version of its network for a monthly rate competitive to HBO and Netflix. The new Starz app is available on iPhone, iPad, and the fourth generation Apple TV for $8.99/month if you don’t have the network in your cable package. Also in the streaming space, we learned today that Twitter has emerged victorious is scoring the rights to stream 10 NFL “Thursday Night Football” games in the next season…
Filed under: Apple TV, Apps Tagged: Apple TV, Football, NFL, Starz, Twitter
Apple Music featuring commemorative anniversary playlist, songs from Apple ads over the last 40 years
Continuing the celebrations of its 40th birthday, Apple has posted a special Apple Music playlist featuring songs from Apple ads over the last four decades. The playlist contains 38 songs in total, with music from The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Gorillaz and more.
Apple turns 04. Forty songs from Apple ads to celebrate 40 years of ideas, innovation and culture.
Unfortunately, the playlist has little accompanying context so you don’t know which songs correspond to which ads. Most the songs appear to be derived from old iPod commercials, like this one.
Filed under: AAPL Company, Tech Industry Tagged: ad, apple 40 in 40, Apple Music, iOS, Playlist
T-Mobile adds 16 more services to Binge On & Music Freedom data-free streaming incl. Amazon Music, EPSN Radio, Spike, more
T-Mobile is adding more services to its Binge On and Music Freedom features, which allow its customers to stream video and audio content from certain apps without eating into their wireless plan’s data allowance.
“It’s a fact … Un-carrier Data is different than Carrier Data. It’s better! Nobody does data like T-Mobile!” said Legere. “Un-carrier Data is not only faster, it lasts a lot longer than the other guys… As of today, you stream unlimited music and video from over 100 providers – without ever touching your Un-carrier Data or worrying about overages—and you can stash what you don’t use for later. Try that with Carrier Data. It’s gone in a flash, and you’re getting hit with penalties—or they repossess it after a month or two. Ridiculous!”
Among the 16 total new services being added today, users can now stream audio data-free from Amazon Music, Chilltrax, ESPN Radio, OHIO.FM, PreDanz and Uforia.
And for video, services officially added to the list today include Dailymotion, EPIX, OVGuide, OWNZONES, Viki, YipTV, 120 Sports, Nickelodeon, Spike, and TV Land.
T-Mobile shared some stats about the Binge On and Music Freedom initiatives noting that users have streamed approximately 90 billion songs without using data since launch (around 210 million songs a day). It also pointed out that its users “are watching 2x more from free streaming sites on plans with limited data and have streamed over 190 million hours of video for free.”
The addition of the new services today brings up the number of audio and video services supported by Binge On and Music Freedom to 100 total. You can view a full list of supported services on T-Mobile’s website.
Filed under: Apps Tagged: Amazon Music, binge on, Data, ESPN Radio, music freedom, Nickelodeon, OHIO.FM, Spike, T-Mobile
Apple Pay adds another 32 banks and credit unions across the US
Earlier today we reported that Barclays in the UK finally added Apple Pay support after a lengthy delay, and back in the US there are 32 more banks and credit unions that now let you add their issued debit and credit cards to use with Apple’s mobile payment solution. These are the latest additions:
Filed under: Apple Pay Tagged: Apple pay, Apple Pay banks
Force Touch likely headed to the Magic Mouse, as Apple granted patent
With Force Touch so far implemented on MacBooks, the Magic Trackpad 2 and the iPhone 6s (with 3D Touch branding), it’s no surprise that Apple has plans for the Magic Mouse to get in on the act.
The last update to the Magic Mouse, back in October, swapped the removeable batteries for a curiously placed Lightning-charged built-in one, and added a new pairing method – but as yet there’s no way to use Force Touch features. That looks set to change as Apple highlights the missing functionality in a new patent granted today …
Filed under: iOS Devices