9to5Toys Lunch Break: Apple iPhone 6 Plus leather case $16, 128GB Flash Drive $25, VLC Remote app free, more

by | Feb 5, 2016 |

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TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

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Apple genuine iPhone 6 Plus Leather Cases in multiples colors as low as $16 + in-store pickup (Orig. $50)

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Daily Deals: SanDisk Ultra 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive $25, Verus iPhone 6/s Leather Wallet-Style Case $14, more

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VLC’s Remote app for iOS/Apple Watch goes free for the first time (Reg. $5)

App Store Free App of the Week: Over graphic design & photo editing app ($4 value)

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for iOS hits its lowest price in years: $2 (Reg. $5)

Final Fantasy II on iOS available free inside the FF Portal app ($8 value)

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13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/256GB: $1,000 (Reg. $1,199)

11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/256GB: $930 (Reg. $1,099)

13-inch Retina MacBook Pro 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB: $1,250 (Reg. $1,450)

15-inch Retina MacBook Pro 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB: $1,700 (Reg. $1,999)

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Review: $13 GRDE Explorer Rugged 10,000mAh Solar dual USB Battery w/ 2 USB lamps: worth every penny

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Be a hero this Valentine’s Day w/ these best-selling Adult Coloring Books from $6

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Keep your Wi-Fi up and running w/ this APC UPS System + Power Bank: $90 (Reg. $120)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

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It’s time to ditch your cable bill! Get the AmazonBasics 35-Mile HDTV Antenna for $20 (Reg. $25)

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RAVPower 2-pack of 3-ft. MFi Apple-Certified Lightning Cables for $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $15), more

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Game pre-orders for Amazon Prime members –Zelda, Far Cry Primal, FFXV: $48 ea (Reg. $60)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

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Ubuntu’s first tablet offers a converged desktop PC experience as well

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Here’s our first look at the new Uncharted 4 Limited Edition PS4 bundle, pre-order now

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

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iTunes Movie Trailers app gets iPad Pro display support, but no iOS 9 enhancements

by | Feb 5, 2016 |

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Apple today has updated its iTunes Movie Trailers application with support for the higher-resolution display of the iPad Pro. The general interface, movie posters, and video playback now appear properly on the larger display. Unfortunately, this video-oriented Apple app did not gain iOS 9’s split-screen or picture-in-picture support this time around. Apple says that the update however includes the usual performance and bug fixes. The app and update are free on the App Store.

Filed under: iOS Devices

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Apple Pay adds over 30 more banks across the U.S.

by | Feb 5, 2016 |

Square Apple Pay

With Apple Pay continuing its ongoing rollout across U.S. banks and credit unions, Apple’s mobile payment service has added over 30 new partners. Here is the full list of new Apple Pay banks:

Anderson Brothers Bank, Bank & Trust Company, Bank of Labor, Bank of Yazoo, BankWest, Brown County State Bank, Busey Bank, Campbell & Fetter Bank, Central Bank of Oklahoma, Collinsville Savings Society, Core Bank, Covantage Credit Union, Diversified Members Credit Union, Farmington Bank, Florida Parishes Bank, Fort Worth Community Credit Union, Great Midwest Bank, Horizon Bank (not Horizon Bank, N.A.), Litchfield Bancorp, Luther Burbank Savings, Mississippi National Guard Federal Credit Union, Oregon Community Credit Union, Pathfinder Bank, Platinum Federal Credit Union, Qualstar Credit Union, Red River Bank, Seven Seventeen Credit Union, T Bank, The Citizens Bank, Titonka Savings Bank, US Employees O.C. Federal Credit Union and Wallis State Bank.

In addition to the latest banks that now let card holders add debit and credit cards to Apple Pay, we learned earlier this week that Apple Pay is now accepted at over 2 million locations. And last month Apple CEO Tim Cook said that in countries where the service is available (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia) there are over 5 million contactless payment-ready terminals.

We also learned that food chain Chick-Fil-A plans to rollout Apple Pay at all of its stores. Crate & Barrel and Au Bon Pain are also new Apple Pay locations, and Zappos is adding the payment method to its app for iPhone and iPad.

Local cafes, bakeries, and festivals can also accept Apple Pay much easier now with Square bringing its $49 Apple Pay reader to Apple Stores. The device lets anyone accept payments from Apple Pay-ready iPhones and Apple Watches.

We’re also looking forward to the possibility of Apple Pay cash withdrawals at ATMs this year, and Apple is rumored to be working on a peer-to-peer payment feature for Apple Pay users as well. And just yesterday, I detailed my experience with Apple Pay from year one as well as highlighting some progress I’d like to see in year two.

Are you still waiting for your bank to add Apple Pay? You can find the whole list here. Which locations should still accept Apple Pay? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Filed under: Apple Pay Tagged: Apple pay, Apple Pay banks

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Apple acknowledges that third-party home button repairs to iPhone 6 can brick the device

by | Feb 5, 2016 |

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The Guardian reports that Apple has acknowledged growing complaints that third-party repairs to the Touch ID home button of an iPhone 6 can brick the device when iOS is updated, and that it is a deliberate security feature.

There have been growing reports of an ‘error 53‘ following an iOS update to an iPhone 6, leaving the phone dead. A Guardian freelancer was one of those affected.

Freelance photographer and self-confessed Apple addict Antonio Olmos says this happened to his phone a few weeks ago after he upgraded his software. Olmos had previously had his handset repaired while on an assignment for the Guardian in Macedonia […]

He says he thought no more about it, until he was sent the standard notification by Apple inviting him to install the latest software. He accepted the upgrade, but within seconds the phone was displaying “error 53” and was, in effect, dead. When Olmos […] took it to an Apple store in London, staff told him there was nothing they could do, and that his phone was now junk … 

iFixit’s Kyle Wiens said that hits on the company’s website showed that a great many iPhone 6 owners had experienced the problem, and that there was no way to fix it.

The ‘error 53’ page on our website has had more than 183,000 hits, suggesting this is a big problem for Apple users. The problem occurs if the repairer changes the home button or the cable. Following the software upgrade the phone in effect checks to make sure it is still using the original components, and if it isn’t, it simply locks out the phone. There is no warning, and there’s no way that I know of to bring it back to life.

Apple has now confirmed to the Guardian that the issue exists and is caused by code designed to protect the Secure Enclave.

We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the Touch ID sensor. When iPhone is serviced by an authorised Apple service provider or Apple retail store for changes that affect the touch ID sensor, the pairing is re-validated. This check ensures the device and the iOS features related to touch ID remain secure. Without this unique pairing, a malicious touch ID sensor could be substituted, thereby gaining access to the secure enclave. When iOS detects that the pairing fails, touch ID, including Apple Pay, is disabled so the device remains secure.

The company did not go as far as acknowledging that there was no possible recovery once the issue has occurred, but simply advised affected users to contact Apple support. We have asked Apple whether it is able to restore or repair affected phones and will update if we get a response.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple Inc, Error 53, Error 53 iPhone, Error 53 iPhone 6, iPhone, iPhone 6, Secure Enclave

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BBC iPlayer iOS app updated to support Spotlight search and Handoff between devices

by | Feb 5, 2016 |

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The BBC has updated its iPlayer app for iOS to support Spotlight searches and allow Handoff between devices.

Spotlight support means that you to search for BBC TV shows by swiping down from the homescreen, while Handoff allows you to seamlessly pick up where you left off when switching between devices. The BBC notes that it has also fixed a nasty bug.

In addition to all that good stuff, we’ve also included a fix for a particularly nasty crash on launch, and last but not least, you can now find an entire catalogue of iPlayer programmes for a channel via the A-Z option in the channel page.

The iPlayer app made it onto Apple TV back in December.

BBC iPlayer is a free download from iTunes, but licensing restrictions means that content is limited to UK viewers.

Filed under: Apps Tagged: Apple TV, BBC, BBC iPlayer, iPlayer, iPlayer app, iPlayer Apple TV, iPlayer iPad, iPlayer iPhone

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How to watch Super Bowl 50 online for free on your MacBook, iPad or Apple TV

by | Feb 5, 2016 |

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Good news for cord-cutters in the U.S.: you can stream this year’s Super Bowl 50 without a cable TV subscription. The Panthers vs Broncos game kicks off at 6.30pm ET/3.30pm PT on Sunday 7th Feb, and watching it on your Apple device is as simple as downloading a free app or using the live web player …

To watch on Apple TV or iPad, download the free CBS Sports App. On a MacBook, use the CBS Sports Live Player on the web.

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Only eligible Verizon customers can stream via mobile data, but you’re probably not going to want to do that anyway given the way it would burn through your plan.

While watching the game may be free, things are rather more expensive for the teams. CBS has an interesting feature on just how much each team spends on each position, starting with the Quarterback and Running Back.

Quarterback

Cam Newton has the second-highest cap number on the Panthers. The five-year, $103.8 million contract extension (with $60 million in guarantees) he signed during the offseason gave the Panthers almost $1.7 million of cap relief. Newton’s 2015 cap number prior to the new deal was $14.666 million, the salary of his fifth-year option.

Carolina is fortunate Newton signed an extension. He would be in a position to surpass Aaron Rodgers as the NFL’s highest-paid player at $22 million per year if he had played out his rookie contract. An exclusive franchise tag, which currently projects to $25.94 million for the 2016 league year, would have been necessary. The exclusive tag and his MVP type season would have given him leverage for a long-term deal averaging more than $25 million per year with more than $70 million in guarantees.

Peyton Manning has Denver’s biggest cap charge. This is after taking a $4 million pay cut in the offseason to lower his salary from $19 million to $15 million. Manning earned back $2 million of his $4 million salary reduction with Denver winning the AFC Championship. He will get the other $2 million with a Super Bowl win where he plays at least 70 percent of Denver’s offensive snaps.

Running Back

There’s a huge discrepancy in how the teams invest at running back. Jonathan Stewart signed a five-year, $36.5 million extension (including $23 million guaranteed and worth a maximum of $41.5 million through salary escalators) in 2012. He has the fifth-highest running back cap number this season at $8.3 million. Carolina has the second-highest fullback cap number with Mike Tolbert at $3.425 million. He is one of two NFL fullbacks playing on a contract averaging at least $2.5 million per year. The Panthers also have $4,333,333 in dead money, which is a cap charge for a player no longer on the roster, from releasing DeAngelo Williams last March.

Broncos leading rusher Ronnie Hillman is making $770,000 in the final year of a four-year rookie contract worth $3,000,832. He splits carries with C.J. Anderson, whose $595,018 cap number wasn’t included in the calculations.

Check out the rest of the tally over at the CBS website.

Filed under: Apple TV, Apps Tagged: Super Bowl, super bowl 50, Super Bowl 50 app, Super Bowl 50 Apple TV, Super Bowl 50 iPad, Watch Super Bowl 50 online

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Final Cut Pro updated with 4k export to Apple devices, multiple YouTube accounts & more

by | Feb 5, 2016 |

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Apple has updated Final Cut Pro to allow 4k video to be exported to compatible Apple devices, with sharing support also added for the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Pro and 4th-gen Apple TV. The sharing window also now supports multiple YouTube accounts …

Canon C300 MkII owners will also be pleased to see support for the camera’s XF-AVC format. Smaller enhancements include the ability to assign both video and audio effects to a keyboard shortcut, faster opening of libraries stored on a SAN and a number of bug fixes.

Companion apps Motion and Compressor have also been updated with similar support for the latest Apple devices as well as the usual bug fixes.

Final Cut Pro costs $299.99 from the Mac App Store.

Image: enter.co

Filed under: Apps Tagged: 4k, 4K video, FCP, Final Cut Pro, Video editing, video editor

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Apple begins rolling out screen protector installation program to Japan retail stores

by | Feb 5, 2016 |

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Earlier today we reported that Apple was partnering with one screen protector company, likely Belkin, to offer professional installations of screen protectors done by machines. Now, a report from MacOtakara says that Apple has started rolling out its screen protector installation service in Japan and that it has in fact partnered with Belkin to do so, just as we reported this morning.

Apple Stores in Japan have implemented the Belkin TrueClear Pro system in order to perform the screen protector application process. Belkin details the process in a support document on its website, but it’s relatively simple. First, he Apple employee ensures that all dust and particles are removed from the device’s display and places the iPhone on one side of the machine and the screen protector on the other. Then, the machine is closed, the protector’s wrapping is removed, and the screen protector is aligned perfectly onto the iPhone’s display.

Should a customer feel that an error was made in the screen protector application process, then the Apple Store will redo the process at no additional cost.

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The initial cost of the screen protector + application process is between $19 and $37, depending on the material chosen and the size of the phone. The program will rollout to the United States and other markets soon.

Apple this week will also start offering a new broken iPhone upgrade program. This program will allow users with devices that have broken screens to upgrade to newer models by trading in their broken phone.

Read more about both the broken iPhone program and the screen protector installation setup in Mark Gurman’s piece from earlier today.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, Apple Stores, Belkin, screen protector

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Apple asks Supreme Court not to hear Samsung’s latest appeal, says the case is closed

by | Feb 4, 2016 |

Men are silhouetted against a video screen with Apple and Samsung logos as he poses with Samsung S3 and Samsung S4 smartphones in this photo illustration taken in the central Bosnian town of Zenica

In the patent battle that feels as if it will never end, Apple has today asked the Supreme Court not to review Samsung’s latest appeals request in the two companies’ ongoing patent feud. Back in December, it was announced that Apple and Samsung had reached a $548 million settlement, but with a catch. Samsung said in its part of the agreement that it reserved the right to reclaim reimbursement should any position of the trial be modified…

Then, Samsung announced that it was taking the legal battle to the U.S. Supreme Court and asked it to hear an appeal of the case. Specifically, Samsung wants the U.S. Supreme Court to review design patents and the notion that lower courts misapplied the law concerning Apple’s design patents.

Apple has now filed an argument with the court in which it argues that the design patents and the damages awarded were already settled issues and not worthy of review by the Supreme Court. The company argues that there is no further reason that this trial should be prolonged (via Re/code):

“Samsung had its day in court — many days, in fact — and the properly instructed jury was well-justified in finding that Samsung copied Apple’s designs and should pay the damages that the statute expressly authorizes,” Apple said on Thursday. “While this litigation may be high-profile, it is legally unexceptional, and Samsung has shown no reason for this Court to prolong it.”

For good measure, Samsung issued a reply to Apple’s statement, saying that should the Supreme Court not step in and stop this design patent precedent from being set, innovation in the tech community could be negatively impacted:

 “If the legal precedent in this case stands, innovation could be diminished, competition could be stifled, and opportunistic lawsuits could have negative effects throughout the U.S. economy,” it said in a statement.

While Samsung has already paid Apple its $548 million, Apple would be forced to reimburse Samsung if the Supreme Court changes the verdict. On the other hand, if the Supreme Court does not hear the case, it can finally be put to rest.

Photo credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple, court, legal, Patent, Samsung

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Apple said to be in negotiations with the NFL for ‘Thursday Night Football’ streaming rights

by | Feb 4, 2016 |

Apple TV NFL Game Pass

According to a new report from Variety, Apple is among the tech companies negotiating with the NFL for digital rights to Thursday Night Football. Earlier this month, the National Football League inked deals with CBS and NBC to divide the TV rights for Thursday games over the next two seasons, but streaming to non-subscribers was not included in that deal.

In addition to Apple, Google, Amazon, and Verizon’s Go90 are also included in the NFL’s talks. Following the announcement of the deal with CBS and NBC, the NFL confirmed that it is “in active discussions with prospective digital partners” and expects to have a deal reached within the next “several weeks.”

One thing to consider is that for users in the United States, the Thursday night games will already be available via streaming from CBS and NBC, depending on who is broadcasting that week’s game. The difference, however, is that those streams would require a cable log-in, whereas a stream from Apple would most likely not. Although, the report notes that Apple is unsure how it would present the games at this point. It’s possible that the games would be included in the company’s rumored web TV streaming service, which has yet to come to fruition.

Last year, Yahoo streamed an NFL game worldwide and attracted 15.2 million unique viewers. Both Yahoo and the NFL were said to be have been pleased with these results.

Should Apple be able to secure streaming rights to Thursday Night Football, it would be a huge win for the company. It has been rumored in the past that Apple has struggled to negotiate with cable providers for its web TV service, but rights to NFL games would certainly add to the mix.

Filed under: AAPL Company, Apple TV Tagged: Apple, Apple TV, NFL, streaming

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