IDC: Apple Watch sales hit 4.1M in Q4 making Apple #2 in wearables behind Fitbit

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

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IDC is out today with its latest data on the wearable market — both smartwatches and more basic activity trackers— and within we get a look at Apple Watch sales for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Closely mirroring other recent reports, IDC puts Apple Watch sales at approximately 4.1 million units during the important holiday quarter, positioning Apple at #2 only behind Fitbit (which wouldn’t be included at all if we were to look at just full-featured smartwatches). Fitbit, according to IDC’s data, sold almost double Apple with 8.1 million units shipped and 29.5% of the market versus 15% for Apple.

Apple grew its Watch distribution, enjoyed holiday promotions, and drove the company’s overall ‘Other Products’ revenue during 4Q15. However, volumes for the quarter grew only slightly from the previous quarter and total revenues have yet to counterbalance the slowing growth and declines from the company’s other product categories. Expectations are higher for the next-generation Watch that can leverage the company’s platforms (HealthKit, ResearchKit, WatchKit, and watchOS 2) and connectivity capabilities.

The Apple Watch sales estimate is slightly under the 5.1 million units for the quarter that Strategy Analytics calculated in its report from last week. That report looked only at the smartwatch category not including the basic fitness trackers, however, and noted that Apple’s 5.1 million units sold was over half of the total 8.1 million total smartwatch units it estimated were sold during the quarter, a number which for the first time matched sales of traditional Swiss watches. That’s opposed to IDC’s report measuring the wearables market as a whole with 27.4 million units shipped during the quarter (up 126.9% year over year).

As for how the other full-fledged smartwatch makers are competing with Apple, IDC estimates Samsung sold 1.3 million units during Q4 and just 3.1 million during all of 2015. The rest of the smartwatch makers didn’t even chart and were included in IDC’s “Others” category.

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When looking at 2015 in its entirety (above), IDC estimates around 11.6 million Apple Watch units sold, putting Apple just behind Xiaomi for the year and ahead of Garmin and Samsung.

Filed under: Apple Watch, Tech Industry Tagged: 2015, Apple, Apple watch, Data, Fitbit, IDC, Q4, sales, smartwatch, Wearables

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: 13″ MacBook Air $800, Apple Watch/iPhone Dock $23, Civ Beyond Earth Mac bundle $27, more

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

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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:

13-inch-macbook-air

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (newest version): $800 shipped (Reg. $999)

Apple 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (newest version): $720 shipped (Reg. $899)

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Show off and charge your Apple Watch + iPhone w/ this aluminum dock for just $23 Prime shipped (Reg. $39), more

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Get 55% off ‘Civilization: Beyond Earth Collection’ for Mac (Steam code): $27 ($80+ value)

audioengine-hd6

Review: Audioengine turns it up to 11 with its newest Bluetooth HD6 powered speakers

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Networking: D-Link Powerline Starter Kit $40 (Reg. $60), TP-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug $20, more

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Media – 12 classic Pixar films in HD for $15 ea, Mad Max: Fury Road & The Martian $10 ea, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Seiki SE42UM-HDTV-4K-sale-01Seiki 42-inch 4K Ultra HD LED HDTV for $299.99 with free shipping (Reg. $400)

Seiki 39-inch 4K 120Hz LED UHDTV w/ 3 HDMI inputs: $300 shipped (Orig. $700)

Samsung 55-inch Smart 4K UHDTV w/ 3 HDMI inputs: $700 (Reg. $900+), more

iphone-6s-slim-ultimate-thin-light-hard-case-in-royal-gold-2

Ringke iPhone 6s/Plus cases (multiple colors/styles) from $3 shipped (Reg. up to $15), more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

farady-cortland-ebike

Faraday’s latest eBikes hit Kickstarter with a minimalist step-through design and iOS connectivity

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 4K TV, 9to5Toys, Amazon, app deals, Apple Watch stand, Best Buy, Civ Beyond Earth, Daily Deals, free apps, Gold Box, LED HDTV, MacBook Air, Pixar films, Rising Tide, Ultra HD, video games, watch dock

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tvOS 9.2 solves major user experience issue with Siri Remote for Apple TV

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

Apple TV video scrubbing

Apple is currently testing a change in how the Siri Remote interacts with the new Apple TV. The change is available on the latest tvOS 9.2 beta, which is expected to be released around next month’s March 15th event. Starting with tvOS 9.2 beta 4, Apple has changed how you scrub through video during playback. Why does that matter? Two reasons:

First, you’ll need to learn how to scrub through video again if you’ve been using the new Apple TV with Siri Remote and gotten familiar with the original method. Discoverability isn’t obvious here so it can be confusing.

Second, the new interaction model dramatically improves the Siri Remote user experience by cutting down on accidental input.

Previously, swiping across the Siri Remote’s glass Touch surface during video playback would bring up a preview window, then clicking the Touch surface would jump to that part of the video. Video playback wasn’t totally interrupted unless you clicked, but it was too easy to accidentally bring up the preview window when picking up the Siri Remote and dismissing it was an unnecessary distraction.

Starting with the tvOS 9.2 beta 4 software update, which is currently only available to developers but is expected to be available to all users next month, Apple is changing how scrubbing works. In short, precise video scrubbing with a preview window is only available now when video is paused.

What that means is you now need to first click the Touch surface before swiping across the Touch surface for scrubbing forward and backward through video.

You can still swipe down to summon the menu overlay during video playback, but the requirement to first pause before scrubbing should dramatically cut back on accidental interactions when grabbing the Siri Remote. Clicking either the left or right of the trackpad button still lets you jump backward or forward by various small internals depending on the video service too.

Check out 9to5Mac’s Jeff Benjamin demoing the change to see it in action:

tvOS 9.2 has been in beta since early January and introduces loads of new features including app folders, an iOS 9-style app switcher, Siri search for the App Store, dictation for any text input including email and passwords, complete iCloud Photo Library support, Bluetooth keyboard support, and much more.

The new Apple TV also recently gained app video previews in the App Store, which you can see in action here, and more sources for universal search including Disney.

Filed under: Apple TV, Developers Tagged: Apple TV, Siri Remote, tvOS 9.2

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Mac Pro case clone Kickstarter is perfect for your next DIY gold Hackintosh project

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

Dune Case (Featured Image)

We’ve seen DIY solutions in building a Mac Pro-style Hackintosh out of actual trash cans, but others who aren’t as inclined to follow a DIY route may be excited to hear about the Dune Case. Dune Case is currently running a Kickstarter campaign of its Mac Pro-inspired PC case. The case would allow anyone to get a Mac Pro look at a fraction of the cost at only $189. Boasting a design that helps support airflow, strikingly similar to the Mac Pro, the Dune Case comes in either a black or gold color options.

Even though Boot Camp officially supports Windows 10 on current Mac Pros, a lot of users desire the customization of a PC. The Dune Case gives PC-fans the options they want in customization, while still retaining a sleek form factor. The case utilizes mini-ITX components, has room for two 2.5 HDD, and includes three USB 3.0 ports.

The case is a bit heavy at 5.73 lbs, but that is primarily attributed to its aluminum construction. With a 140mm fan at the top, the Dune Case should keep components cooler than traditionally horizontal-oriented systems. The case is designed in a vertical-orientation, just like the Mac Pro, ensuring hot air is pulled up and out of the case instead of circulating within itself.

Pricing for the case will start at $189 when officially launched, but there are still some slots available for backers who can score it at $169 on Kickstarter.

Filed under: General, Mac Tagged: Boot Camp, DIY, Dune Case, Kickstarter, Mac Pro, mini-ITX, PC, Windows 10

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Apple granted design patents for gorgeous Istanbul store and new-style Chinese store

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

turkey

Apple was today granted a design patent on the beautiful Istanbul store that opened back in 2014. The store in Turkey’s largest city is known as the ‘Glass Lantern.’ The store has a glass rectangle atop the larger store beneath, each side of the rectangle comprising a single pane of glass, with a water feature covering the rest of the store’s roof.

A second patent was granted for the Apple Store in Zhongjie Joy City, China. This two-story design with a suspended upper floor and floor-to-ceiling glass walls spanning the full height of the building is one Apple is using in a number of new stores.

china

Patently Apple notes that the Turkish store was awarded the Supreme Award for Structural Engineering Excellence in the year it opened.

Apple has previously been awarded patents for its Fifth Avenue and Shanghai stores, Steve Jobs among those credited as an inventor in the case of the New York store. The company has also successfully trademarked store interior designs in Europe.

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Store, Apple Store design, Apple Store designs, Apple Store Istanbul, china, istanbul, Patent, Turkey

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SoundCloud launches iPhone version of its new ‘Pulse’ app for creators

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

SoundCloud-Pulse-iPhone

SoundCloud today announced that it’s launching an iPhone version of the ‘Pulse’ app for creators that it first launched back in November for Android users.

The Pulse app gives SoundCloud users a dedicated app for managing uploaded content and user profiles separate from the main SoundCloud app on mobile devices where users mainly go to listen, share, and comment.

In addition to managing content, creators can use the Pulse app to interact with fans by replying to comments, view stats, and share content publicly and privately with others. There are also some profile management/admin features with the ability to follow/block users and delete comments. You just need to download the free Pulse app and sign-in with your SoundCloud account to get started.

You can’t yet actually upload music from your iPhone, but that feature is on the way…

This is the first release of the app, but SoundCloud said previously it will be adding more features in the future including, “More in-depth stats, the ability to edit track information, expanded messaging capability” and “the ability to upload tracks.”

The new SoundCloud Pulse app or iPhone is available on the App Store now. There isn’t yet a dedicated iPad version.

Filed under: Apps Tagged: app, App Store, Apple, creators, iPhone, Pulse, SoundCloud, soundcloud pulse, stats, upload

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Spigen’s Style Ring is the perfect iPhone stand + car mount… and only $5.99!

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

StyleRing Collection_01

Over the last year, Spigen has introduced two of the world’s best iPhone car accessories: the Magnetic Air Vent Mount and Style Ring, which you might not have heard of. While the Magnetic Air Vent Mount is solely a car mount, Style Ring does triple duty as a video stand, finger grip, and car mount.

Style Ring adds a sturdy metallic ring to the back of your iPhone, iPad mini, or favorite case, including reusable 3M gel pads and a low-profile hook mount to attach to your car’s dashboard. Each of the parts is beautiful, and the normally $19.99 kit is currently on sale for $5.99 with coupon code 3VUMW6RR. That’s not a typo: yes, it’s only $5.99!

Spigen offers Style Ring in three colors: pink to match Rose Gold iPhone 6s/6s Plus models, black to blend in with dark cases or Space Gray iPhones, and white to match the fronts of most iPhones. Each has a rotating, tilting silver ring that feels really good in your hand, making it easy to prop up or grip your iPhone. Having a centered ring on the iPhone’s back removes your need to grasp the device’s bottom, a major benefit for iPhone 6 and 6s Plus users. This can relieve arm stress when you’re laying down.

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Although we love Style Ring’s classy looks, its best feature is its super-easy car mounting design. Just like the Magnetic Air Vent Mount, you can pop your iPhone onto it in a flash, and rotate it around to your chosen orientation.

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Style Ring’s value is especially clear during the winter months, when car air vents are pumping out hot air that’s not great for your iPhone’s battery. Thanks to a 3M gel pad, you can position the hook mount on any flat part of your dashboard, away from the heat.

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For a limited time, Spigen is selling Style Ring for only $5.99 — 70% off the $19.99 MSRP! That’s an incredible deal even if you’re only planning to use it as a stand OR a car mount, and even better if you use it for both things (or finger stability). Just use coupon code 3VUMW6RR to get the special pricing.

This video shows how Spigen’s latest design quickly and affordably improves your iPhone. If you’re interested in bulk-ordering 20 or more customized Style Rings with a logo/image or text of your choice, Spigen’s now offering that option, as well. In any case, today is a great day to grab a Style Ring, so you can get used to having your iPhone ready for anything and everything!

Filed under: iOS Devices, Sponsored Post Tagged: car mount, iPhone, Spigen, stand, Style Ring, Video Stand

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Opinion: Why Apple’s sales-based retail reward scheme is a bad way to boost iPhone numbers

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

apple-retail-rewards

Mark Gurman revealed on Friday that Apple has introduced a new reward program designed to boost iPhone sales in Apple Stores.

The program’s goal is to push Apple retail employees to sell more iPhones by promising rewards and all-expense paid vacations to Cupertino, California to employees who sell the most iPhones in their region, according to sources.

I do, of course, recognize the pressure Apple is under following flat iPhone sales last quarter and the company warning that its revenue will this quarter see its first ever year-on-year decline since 2003. But Tim Cook has himself repeatedly claimed that Apple focuses on making great products rather than sales numbers, repeating this line earlier this month.

Offering staff incentives to push iPhone sales strikes me as a mistake with the potential to damage the company’s image …

Apple Stores are not always pleasant places to be. Those beautiful empty store images we see in architectural renders and publicity photos don’t reflect the often over-crowded reality of too many people in too small a space. Apple Stores are in many ways victims of their own success.

But Apple’s retail stores have always had one thing going for them: you know you’re not going to be subjected to high-pressure sales techniques. Staff are not on commission, and Apple Stores have always been a place where it’s absolutely fine to go in just to play with the tech, get some help, ask for advice or attend a workshop designed to help you get more from your Apple hardware and software.

To me, that’s an incredibly important reflection of Apple’s ethos. The company wants to make great products, and it wants to help people get the most from them.

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When the 12-inch MacBook came out, I wandered into the Apple Store in London’s Regent Street to take a close look at one. I was particularly curious about the butterfly keyboard, so wanted to spend a decent chunk of time typing on one to at least get some first impressions.

I spent about half an hour playing with it. In that time, a member of staff asked me if I needed any help, and I said no, explaining my reason for being there. I was completely upfront about the fact that I was very happy with my MacBook Air, and couldn’t see myself buying the new machine, I was just curious. “Oh, cool,” he said.

He shared his own view that it takes quite a while to get used to it, and we chatted about Apple tech in general for a few minutes while I typed away. When he was needed to help another customer, he wandered off, saying he hoped I got what I wanted from trying it out. Nobody else bothered me.

There was a time when all the other demo MacBooks were in use, so I stepped back to let someone else play with ‘my’ machine until others became free, and then resumed my testing on another one. At no point did anyone question the time I was spending there, nor try to sell me anything.

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There have been quite a few times when I’ve been waiting a little while in an Apple Store, and I’ve sometimes spent the time eavesdropping on conversations with staff. What struck me was that staff were relaxed, friendly and almost endlessly patient in the face of sometimes dumb questions. Not once did I hear anything remotely resembling pressure to buy something.

You could argue that a reward system with free holidays to California isn’t the same as putting staff on commission. But it kind of is: it’s giving staff an incentive to sell products. Sure, that doesn’t mean they will necessarily start applying high-pressure sales techniques, but it does mean they may be a little less inclined to spend ten minutes explaining iCloud, or pleasantly passing the time of day with a customer who has no intention of buying anything, when they could be using that time to have conversations that might win them a holiday.

You could even argue that it’s actually worse than commission, as you’re encouraging pushy sales at the same time as ensuring that only the smallest handful of staff will benefit.

That doesn’t strike me as the best recipe for retail staff morale. Especially if some of your staff feel that others are leaving them to do the grunt work while they gun for sales.

It’s not all bad. One of the metrics Apple will be employing in the program is customer satisfaction. But I do feel that rewarding sales at all is a step in the wrong direction, and one that has the potential to do a disproportionate amount of damage to the company’s reputation.

Or am I taking it all too seriously when it’s just a bit of harmless fun that will have little to no effect on the way Apple Store staff interact with customers? Take our poll, and please share your views – and your experience of interactions with retail staff – in the comments. We’d also love to hear from some of those who work in Apple Stores.

Photos: Reuters, Apple, Apple.

Filed under: AAPL Company, Opinion Tagged: Apple Inc, Apple Retail Store, Apple retail stores, Apple staff, Apple Store, Apple Stores, Retail staff, Retail staff reward program

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See how the rumored dual-camera system in the iPhone 7 Plus could work [Video]

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

camera

A competitor to Apple-acquired camera tech firm LinX has demonstrated the benefits that can be delivered by a twin-camera system like that rumored for the iPhone 7 Plus. A CNET video (below) shows how combining images from two separate cameras can deliver far sharper zoomed-in images compared to the camera in the iPhone 6s/Plus.

Corephotonics said that it had working dual camera systems back in 2014, but the supply chain was not yet able to deliver the volumes needed. That has now changed, it says …

I am happy to report that today, all three components demand, development and the supply chain maturity are in place. That goes for the camera manufacturing and also for the application processor framework.

This echoes comments made earlier this month by Sony’s CFO, who said that 2017 would be the year in which dual lens cameras would take off. Sony makes the sensors for iPhones.

The two Israel-based companies appear to have set themselves very similar goals, with improved low-light performance another key aim. An Apple patent application back in January, however, showed that the company could be aiming to offer much more sophisticated options, including combining wide-angle and close-up views within a single video through picture-in-picture. In our poll, 83% of readers were excited by the potential of the technology.

One interesting aspect of the iPhone rumors is that the dual camera tech is destined only for the larger iPhone 7 Plus model, raising the possibility of increasing divergence between smaller and larger iPhone flagships.

Check out the video below to see the difference a second camera could make.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple Inc, Camera, Corephotonics, Dual cameras, iPhone, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 plus, LinX, twin cameras

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Report says DOJ seeking data from ‘about’ 12 other iPhones as Bill Gates sides with FBI

by | Feb 23, 2016 |

iPhone lineup

Apple is locked in a battle with the FBI over whether or not it should create a tool to access data on a locked iPhone 5c used by one of the San Bernardino gunmen, but as some have expected, that’s only one of many cases in which Apple is involved. The Wall Street Journal reports this evening that the Department of Justice is seeking data from at least 12 other iPhones in criminal cases.

The report, citing people familiar with the matter, says that the Justice Department is pursuing data from “about twelve” iPhones around the country. While the details of these investigations have not yet been made public, the report claims that none of them involve terrorism charges like the San Bernardino case does.

“In most of the cases, rather than challenge the orders in court, Apple simply deferred complying with them, without seeking appropriate judicial relief,’’ prosecutors in a New York drug-related case wrote.

Meanwhile, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has come out and sided with the FBI in the ongoing debate over user privacy versus national security. The Financial Times reports today that Gates believes that Apple should create a way for the government to access the data in this specific case:

“This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information. They are not asking for some general thing, they are asking for a particular case,” Gates told the Financial Times.

However, Gates appears to have made this comment before the revelation that the U.S. government is seeking data from an additional 12 iPhones involved in criminal cases. The way Gates worded his opinion made it sound like he agrees with the FBI only in the San Bernardino case. Whether or not Gates’ opinion has changed with this evening’s revelation is unclear.

Apple’s battle with the FBI over national security versus user privacy began last week and has since become one of the biggest and most complex stories in tech and politics. You can view all of our extensive coverage at the links below:

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple, Bill Gates, Department of Justice, Encryption, FBI

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