When Apple posted the Messages Beta for the Mac over four years ago, I knew I would feel right at home. iChat was long overdue for an upgrade, and bringing iMessage to the Mac would further bridge the divide between iOS and Mac OS X. I was excited to start messaging my friends and family from the comfort of my computer, until I realized, “Where’s the camera button?”

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Filed under: Feature Request, iOS Tagged: Camera, Feature Request, ISight, Mac OS X, MacBook Pro, Message, messages

The Department of Justice has today filed its latest response to Apple in their fight over unlocking the iPhone 5c used by one of the San Bernardino gunmen. The filling comes a week after the two sides faced off before the House Judiciary Committee over the issue. In the filing, the Justice Department accuses Apple of deliberately increasing security to prevent it from being able to comply with governmental requests.

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Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple, iPhone, legal

Just over a week since the last tvOS 9.2 beta, Apple has released tvOS 9.2 beta 6 for developers with the fourth-gen Apple TV. Apple TV gains several new abilities with the upcoming release including iOS-style app folders, a redesigned app switcher user interface, voice dictation input for search and username/password entry, complete iCloud Photo Library support, and much more. We’ll check out the latest beta version of the upcoming release and highlight any changes below.

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Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: tvOS 9.2

Google-owned Nest is best known for its smart thermostat, but the company works on a number of devices which, albeit being generally good at their given task, do not communicate with each other particularly well. And that’s mostly due to the fact that said devices have always had a hard time detecting whether you are actually at home or not.

With the upcoming implementation of GPS support via the Nest app, however, it looks like your house is about to become decidedly more efficient – and smart…

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Filed under: Apps Tagged: 9to5Google, App Store, Google, GPS, iOS, Nest, nest update

Apple has confirmed it will be livestreaming its just-announced March 21st media event, expected to feature several product unveilings including a 4-inch iPhone SE and 9.7 inch iPad Pro. Although all recent Apple events have been streamed online (with varying levels of success), it is nonetheless reassuring that the trend will continue so everyone can watch Apple’s newest announcements live. Tune in here when the show starts at 10 AM PDT on March 21st.

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Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple event, live, livestream, loop in, Media, video

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

Gold Box: Huawei watches for iOS and Android $80-$130 off, start at $270 shipped, Black Stainless: $320 shipped

Surround Sound 5.1-Ch. Systems: Logitech Z506 $50 (Orig. $100), Harman Kardon refurb $140 (Orig. $600)

Grab the Hitman GO & Hitman Sniper iOS bundle for just $1 (up to $10 value)

oneSafe Premium Password Manager on iOS goes free for the first time (Reg. $5)

Entry-level MacBook Deals: 11-inch Air $720 (Reg. $899), 13-inch Retina Pro $1,049 (Reg. $1,299)

Apple iPad Pro Wi-Fi 32GB: $670 shipped (Reg. $799)

Apple iPad Pro 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $930 shipped (Reg. $1,079)

Apple iPad Pro 128GB Wi-Fi: $800 shipped (Reg. $949)

How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator

The Room Three mystery-puzzler for iOS gets its very first price drop: $2 (Reg. $5)

BADLAND 2 for iOS gets its very first price drop: $2 (Reg. $5)

App Store Free App of the Week: Toca Kitchen 2 goes free for the first time ($2 value)

Dr. Seuss Birthday iOS/Android App Sale from $1 ea: The Lorax, One Fish Two Fish, Horton Hears a Who!, many more

Save $100 on Apple Watch and get a free $75 gift card + a watch band of your choice

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Daily Deals: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Headphones $100, JBL Charge 2 Bluetooth Speaker $80, more

• Get a pair of Fandango movie tickets for just $16 (up to $26 value)
• Smartphone Accessories: Photive 6 Port USB Charger $20 Prime shipped, more
• Green Deals: GRDE 10000mAh Solar Dual-USB Power Bank $13, more
• Download 5 rare Paul McCartney songs in MP3 format for free
• simplehuman trash cans and soap pumps, deals from $12 Prime shipped
• Games/Apps: Nintendo 2DS handheld (refurb) from $60, iOS freebies, more
• Pick up a DJI Phantom 3 & $10 gift card for $744 shipped (Orig. $1,000)

Car & Driver magazine 4 year sub for just $15 shipped (up to $48 value) wp.me/p1xTlR-Ozu https://t.co/nU4r3hv0kN

—
9to5Toys (@9to5toys) March 10, 2016

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Solartab: Powerful Solar Panel/13,000mAh dual USB battery in iPad form factor: $94 shipped ($35 off)

Put an extra 256GB in your MacBook Air or Retina Pro w/ Transcend’s JetDrive Lite: $139 (Reg. $155)

• Smartphone Accessories: Aukey 10000mAh QC 2.0 Power Bank $17 (Reg. $25), more
• LEGO project on your iPhone w/ these Belkin cases, deals from $27
• Raspberry Pi Model B+ and 8GB SD Card $18 shipped (Reg. $40)
• Bluetooth speakers: UE Boom (Refurb) $80 (Reg. $100), more
• Canon All-in-One Printers w/ AirPrint: Laser $140 (Reg. $174+), InkJet $119 (Reg. $149)
• Console Wars Kindle e-Book details the battle between Sega and Nintendo for $2 (Reg. $15)
• WD Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive: $70 shipped (Reg. $80)
• T-Mobile and AT&T both offering Galaxy S7 & S7 Edge in buy-one-get-one rebate deals
• The Blue Fairy Book Children’s Novel as a free Kindle eBook (Reg. $9)
• Magazine bundles w/ titles from $3.50/yr: Wired, Dwell, GQ, ESPN, many more
• Storage: Samsung 850 Pro 512GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $199, Seagate 5TB Desktop HDD $120
• Media: $4.75 Blu-ray Sale – Gangs of New York, Cast Away, Dark Shadows
• Power banks: OLALA 4000mAh w/ Micro USB cable $9 (Reg. $13)
• UE’s highly-rated MEGABOOM Bluetooth Speaker for $200 shipped (Reg. $270)
• New Nintendo Select title pre-orders now 20% off from $16 shipped
• Belkin QODE Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad Air in Black: $39 (Reg. $70+)
• Fashion: Gap 35% off sitewide – Slim Fit Oxford $32 (Reg. $50), Jeans, Hoodies, more
• Get a Free 3 Year Subscription to “Innovation & Tech Today” Magazine ($120 Value)
• This TP-Link 802.11n Wireless Travel Router is a no-brainer at $8 shipped (Orig. $40)
• Toshiba 1TB USB 3.0 HDD w/ 16GB Flash Drive + 16GB microSD card $50 (~$82 value)
• PNY’s LEGO USB Flash Drives: 16GB $7 (Reg. $13), 32GB $13 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
• Amazon’s best-selling Kindle e-readers $20 off, deals as low as $60 w/ free shipping
• Canon Rebel T5 DSLR w/ 18-55mm & 75-300mm Lens Kit (refurb) $260, more
• Big screen 1080p 60Hz HDTVs: Insignia 50-inch $300, Toshiba 49-inch $300
• Mackie 5-inch studio monitor speakers w/ Bluetooth streaming (pair) $200 (Reg. $250)
• Mpow’s iPhone 6/s magnetic car mount is down to just $5 shipped today
• Pebble Time Round Smartwatch $180 (Reg. $200+), Gear S2 $249 (Reg. $300), more
• Disney finally shares Blu-ray combo pack release details for Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Logitech’s popular MX Mouse lineup is on sale today: Anywhere 2 from $53 (Reg. $70+)
• Macphun’s Intensify CK (Pro) image manipulation app for Mac: $40 (Reg. $60)

12-inch MacBook now $300 off: 256GB $1,000, 512GB $1,300 + extra $50 savings w/ .edu email

Apple Mac Pro 12-core Xeon/64GB/1TB: $8,799 (Reg. $9,599), more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

popSLATE’s second generation iPhone 6/s/Plus e-ink case drops the bulk for a slender design

• LittleBits’ latest creation focuses on robotic kits and STEAM education
• The new DODOcase Virtual Reality kit for iPhone and Android hits Indiegogo
• Amazon launches more affordable Echo Dot and Amazon Tap Bluetooth speaker
• New Normal blends style and PowerBeats-like design for a new take on wireless earbuds
• LEGO releases four new Minecraft sets
• How-to: Save up to $10/month on your cable bill by buying this $40 DOCSIS 3.0 Modem
• This attractive Kickstarter timepiece blocks out your schedule on its watch face
• DJI’s Phantom 4 drone is coming later this month with a new obstacle avoidance system
• Grovemade’s new wooden MacBook Dock offers a Made in America home for your device
• Brooklyn’s own Grado Labs introduces its first Made for iPhone earbuds w/ Siri control

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon, app deals, Best Buy, Daily Deals, free apps, Gold Box, Hitman Go, Hitman Sniper, Huawei watches for iOS, iPad Pro, Logitech Z506, oneSafe, Surround Sound 5.1-Ch. Systems, video games

Apple has officially announced its upcoming spring event (via @tim) scheduled for March 21st in Cupertino at Apple’s 1 Infinite Loop campus at 10 am PT/1 pm ET. The company is expected to introduce the 4-inch iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, new Apple Watch bands, software updates, and more. As for what’s in store for this event, this is what’s rumored and what we expect to see:

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Filed under: Apple Watch, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple event, Apple Music, Apple watch, iOS 9.3, iPad Air 3, iPhone 5se, iTunes, OS X 10.11.4, tvOS 9.2, watchOS 2.2

As we’ve reported in the past, Apple is expected to introduce a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro at an event later this month, and now we’ve seen the first alleged case made for the device. Nowhereelse.fr on Twitter has found a pair of cases supposedly made for the iPad Pro 9.7-inch that fall in line with reports that the device will feature Smart Connector support, camera flash, and more.

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Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, cases, iPad, iPad Pro, Smart Connector

Wikipedia today has released an update to its iOS app that adds a host of new features and capabilities. The latest version of the app offers a redesigned interface that places a focus on “exploration” as opposed to the normal quick fact-checking that we’ve come to use Wikipedia for. The update also adds features like 3D Touch support, Handoff support, and more.

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Filed under: iOS Tagged: 3D Touch, app, Handoff, iOS, update, Wikipedia

You might not notice juts by watching it, but Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros’ latest music video debuting today was filmed totally from an iPhone 6s … or six. Cinematographer Reed Morano was behind the filming, which required six iPhones plus a few accessories which you can see in the shot above, to produce the 6-minute music video from New Orleans.

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Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, iPhone 6s, Music video