Apple is planning to introduce new iPad hardware at an event in mid-March, according to sources, with the most likely device being a new iPad Air. This new iPad with a 9.7-inch screen, presumably to be called the “iPad Air 3,” will be launched alongside the a new 4-inch iPhone known as the “iPhone 5se” and a series of new Apple Watch models. Apple is currently planning to hold its keynote during the week of March 14th, but the final date is still in flux, according to sources.

The iPad update would mark first update to the middle iPad screen size since October 2014. This past fall, Apple issued a major update to the iPad mini and introduced the larger iPad Pro. An unconfirmed design schematic for the new iPad Air indicates the potential of a rear-facing LED flash for improved photos in low-light situations and additional speaker grills to better match the audio quality of the iPad Pro. Apple has also been testing versions of the 9.7-inch iPad panel that are compatible with the Apple Pencil, according to sources.

Earlier this week, Apple indicated that iPad sales have fallen significantly year-over-year, dropping 25% from the year ago quarter. The lack of an update to the most popular iPad model, the Air line, likely contributed slightly to this drop. A notable update to the 9.7-inch iPad is part of Apple’s goal to increase iPad sales this year. Apple is also testing a new version of iOS with a Classroom application that will help sell more iPad hardware to schools around the world, and a preview of the software will come with the upcoming iOS 9.3 update.

As we previously reported, the other two products coming at the March event are the new 4-inch iPhone and new Apple Watch bands. The 4-inch “iPhone 5se” is said to bundle in a faster A9 processor, M9 chip with support for always-on Siri activation, more storage, updated cameras, the ability to take Live Photos, and an NFC chip for Apple Pay. We are told that the design of the “5se” closely mimics the 2013 iPhone 5s but that the chamfered edges will be replaced with softer curves like on the iPhone 6. Apple is said to be preparing a new line of protective cases for the 5se, which may fit the existing 5s.

As for the new line of Apple Watch models, we are told that the update will include multiple new colors for the rubber Sport Bands, additional colors for the line of Hermes bands, a black version of the Milanese Loop, and an additional band line made out of a new material. Apple is likely preparing to also release a pair of operating system software updates soon after the event to complement the aforementioned hardware updates: iOS 9.3 with Night Shift for the “iPhone 5se” and “iPad Air 3” plus WatchOS 2.2 with the new Maps app for the new Apple Watch models.

(Top image: Reuters)

Filed under: iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple watch, bands, event, hermes, iPad, ipad air, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 3, LED flash, March, Materials, Nylon, Touch ID

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Early last year, Microsoft unveiled the Cloud Storage Partner Program enabling various cloud storage providers to integerate their tools into Office Online and Office for iOS. Microsoft’s latest announcement takes that a step further for partners in the CSPP by giving them access to real-time collaboration, and Office for iOS integration for all partners.

Focus on this announcement for iOS, starting today all CSPP partners can integrate their cloud services into the Office for iOS platform, thus enabling multiple cloud services to be integerated as “Places” within the Office for iOS suite. This is perfect for individuals who use Office for iOS on their personal devices, but also need to connect to various cloud services for their work. Users will no longer have to launch that individual cloud service provider’s application before beginning to edit directly within their Office app of choice.

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel will all support these new services for opening, editing, and creating documents within your favorite cloud service. The integration today enables Box, with Citrix ShareFile, Edmodo, and Egnyte coming next.

Doculus, a mobile reader for sales contracts, also announced a partnership with Microsoft today looking to improve the way documents are read and reviewed on mobile devices. Doculus automatically examines documents and pulls out titles, sections, tables, and other content to make filtering and finding crucial information significantly easier. With today’s announcement, they’ve added Office 365 integration, allowing users to access all their documents stored in the cloud directly from within Doculus. From there, users are able to access Microsoft Word and begin editing their documents.

Doculus is available for free in the App Store and compatible with both iPhone and iPads.

Office for iOS (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is available for free in the App Store and is compatible with iPhone and iPads. To fully unlock the suite’s potential, an Office 365 subscription is required on iPad Pro.

(via: Doculus and Office Blogs)

Filed under: Apps, iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: box, Citrix, Citrix Sharefile, cloud, Cloud Services, Doculus, Dropbox, Edmodo, Egnyte, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Office for iOS, Office for Mobile

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In this episode we discuss the upcoming iPhone 5se and what this may mean for Apple, as well as our thoughts and opinions on the smaller iPhone. Big thanks to Harry’s for sponsoring the episode. Visit harrys.com/happyhour to get your free shaving kit. The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Happy Hour are available every Wednesday. As mentioned, you can download this podcast via iTunes or plug in our RSS feed link into your favorite podcasting app. Send an email to listenermail@9to5mac.com (or click here) and your question/comment may be featured in an upcoming episode of Happy Hour.

Note: iTunes (web interface and app) may still be propagating the new episode which could take up to 24 hours. Subscribing to the podcast feed will guarantee the latest episode is downloaded.

Hosts:

• Dom Esposito
• Zac Hall

Here’s what we discussed in this episode:

• tvOS 9.2 beta 2 w/ Podcasts app, folders, Bluetooth keyboard support & more hits Apple TV
• Opinion: Apple’s rumored 4-inch iPhone 5se may well be worth seriously considering
• Apple releases tvOS 9.1.1 software update with Podcasts app for the new Apple TV
• ‘iPhone 5se’ likely to have faster A9/M9 chips & always-on Siri, come in 16/64GB capacities
• iPhone 5se leak? 4-inch iPhone with rounded edges pictured next to iPhone 5
• Apple’s electric car effort hits a speed bump as project leader leaves the company
• Apple to update Apple Watch in mid-March with new bands, OS + full redesign in fall
• Apple readies ’iPhone 5se’, not ‘6c’, for March/April with curved edges & Live Photos
• Apple Watch Hermès collection now available online after initial limited retail availability

If you missed our 50th episode last week, you can subscribe and find every episode or start off from the previous episode here.

Remember: Subscribe on iTunes to catch all of the episodes as they go live and send in your questions/comments to listenermail@9to5mac.com.

Filed under: Happy Hour Tagged: Apple TV, Happy Hour, iPhone, iPhone 5se, iPhone 7, Podcast

For more information about iPhone, Apple TV, and Happy Hour continue reading at 9to5Mac.

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Apple is out with the second public beta version of the upcoming OS X 10.11.4 software update for Mac.

The release adds a secure, password-protected Notes, which sync with iOS 9.3, as well as support for viewing and sharing Live Photos over iMessage with the Messages app. Other focus areas include the iBooks and Photos apps, according to Apple.

Today’s release follows the developer version of the same software update earlier this week.

Filed under: Mac

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Apple has released the second iOS 9.3 beta for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to public beta testers. Today’s release follows the developer version earlier this week, which included tweaks and changes from the initial iOS 9.3 beta. These include updated Night Shift settings as well as a new toggle in Control Center and several other changes.

iOS 9.3 includes several new features like Night Shift mode, which changes the color temperature of the display, improvements to the Health and Activity app, Touch ID and secure passwords for Notes, and much more.

Check out our hands-on video below to see iOS 9.3 in action:

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: iOS 9.3, iOS 9.3 beta 2, iOS 9.3 public beta 2

For more news on iOS Devices continue reading at 9to5Mac.

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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:

ULAK iPhone 6/s/Plus, iPad mini 4 and Android cases from $1 shipped (Orig. up to $30)

Protect your iPhone 6 Plus w/ a tempered glass screen protector for $2 Prime shipped (Reg. $8)

Apple Watch Space Gray Bands – 42 or 38mm: Stainless Steel $21, Milanese Loop $17

Samsung D3 Station 4TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive $100 shipped (Reg. $130+)

Apple TV 32GB w/ Siri Remote and HDMI Cable $126 shipped (Reg. $149+), 64GB $176 shipped – also now available in refurbished condition via Apple

Apple’s Get Productive iOS App Sale 50% or more off: Things, Clear, Duet Displays, Deliveries, much more

App Store Free App of the Week: MarcoPolo Ocean puzzle game (Reg. $3)

Highly-rated puzzler Osmos now 80% off on iPhone & iPad: $1 ea. (Reg. up to $5)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

8 utility Mac apps: $5 (and rising! Orig. $392)

• Games/Apps: PSN sale – Tomb Raider $8, Sleeping Dogs $10 + more, iOS freebies
• Headphones: NRG Wood In-ears $13 (Reg. $25), Aukey Bluetooth $11 (Reg. $22)
• Prime Members: VIZIO 5.1 Ch. Sound Bar w/ Wireless Sub $198 shipped (Reg. $218)
• Nixon watches up to 70% off at Amazon: Corporal Stainless Steel $120
• JBL Control One All-Weather Bookshelf Speakers $75, Acer Chromebook (Refurb) $175
• Netflix February Preview: Better Call Saul – Season 1, more
• Moe’s Southwest Grill: Buy One, Get One Free burrito promotion
• Sam’s Club 1-year membership + $20 gift card $45 ($120 value)
• Bag a free MP3 download of Marc Anthony’s 3.0 album (Reg. $8+)
• Check out Amazon’s Super Bowl commercial starring Alec Baldwin and Dan Marino

Sony 64GB Class 10 UHS-1 SDXC Memory Card: $16 Prime shipped (Reg. $30) wp.me/p1xTlR-MPz https://t.co/Pm2mw0M82v

—
9to5Toys (@9to5toys) January 27, 2016

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Networking: Motorola SB6183 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem + NETGEAR Router: $100 ($160 value), more

• Ooma Telo VoIP Home Phone System (Refurb.) $60 shipped (Orig. $130)
• Bluetooth Speakers: Omaker Splashproof $20 (Reg. $30), Inateck $30 (Reg. $40), more
• Dell 24-inch Widescreen LED Monitor: $100 shipped (Reg. $130)
• VIZIO Refurb 120Hz Smart HDTVs: 48-inch $300 (Orig. $500), more
• Media: new Blu-rays $10 – Jurassic World, Minions, more + BOGO offer
• USB Power: Anker Astro E5 16,000mAh Dual-Port $25 (Reg. $40), more
• Aukey adapters: Bluetooth 4.1 Audio Receiver $11, Car FM Radio Transmitter $11
• $10 Free towards your next flick: Regal $50 Movie Gift Card for $40, more
• iPhone 6/s/Plus Cases: Folio Style $9.50 (Reg. $19), Clear Bumper $4 (Reg. $8)
• AirPrint Color Laser Printers: Brother $150 shipped (Reg. $200)
• Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Speakers: $90 (Reg. $130)
• Several refurbished 12-inch MacBook w/ Retina display models are now available
• OtterBox Resurgence iPhone 6/6s Battery Case: $27 Prime shipped (Orig. $100)
• Speck CandyShell iPhone 6/6s Case: $12 or two for $14 Prime shipped (Reg. $35 each)
• OtterBox Defender Series iPhone 6 Plus Case: $24 Prime shipped (Orig. $60)
• UE MINI BOOM Bluetooth Speaker: refurb $44 or pre-owned $30 shipped
• Google Play offers downloads of Kelly Clarkson’s Piece by Piece album for free
• Mpow Grip Air Vent Magnetic Car iPhone Mount $5 Prime shipped (Reg. $7)
• Nexus Deals: 6P from $450 (Reg. $500), 5X w/ $20 Gift Card $300 (Reg. $350)

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

Pay What You Want: The 2016 Mac Bundle ~12

Work Faster & Smarter on Your Mac with 12 Apps to Clear Your Hard Drive, Enhance Audio, Track Device Activity & More

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

This German eBike blends a minimalist design with serious battery power

You have to see NERF’s new Crossbow and Zombie Brainsaw that are coming out this fall

Upcoming 2016 LEGO sets focus on Marvel, Star Wars and City collections

Razor introduces two new electric-powered products at Toy Fair 2016

• It took a year of planning and 18,000 pieces to create this custom LEGO Arkham Asylum build
• Fender brings its big name into the world of headphones with new Pro In-ear Monitors
• Here’s our first look at the new PS4/Xbox One Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game
• ComfyLight learns your routine and imitates your lighting patterns while you’re out
• Exploding Kittens: the “most-funded game in Kickstarter history” comes to iOS
• Brinks has a new solar-powered deadbolt that is iOS-connected w/ HomeKit on the way
• Leica’s new X-U action camera makes your GoPro look like a child’s toy
• The first Amazon Dash Replenishment devices are now available for order

Filed under: Tips and Tricks

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Delveries by Junecloud has received major updates today for both their iOS and Mac applications. For the unitiated, Deliveries is an all-in-one package tracker for both iOS and Mac. Allowing the user to track multiple packages from various couriers, the app is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to have to jump between different delivery company sites.

One of the best features that Junecloud brings to the Deliveries app is making sure both versions of the app have feature parity. Today’s iOS and Mac updates are no exception. Both now include full route (allowing you to see the path of the package’s travel), better package number detection when copying text from another app, and improved handling when a tracking number contains multiple packages. These additional features all make it significantly easier to get your package into the app to start tracking with no hassles.

The feature I’ve come to love most with Deliveries has been their integration of syncing. Today the iOS and Mac applications include complete iCloud syncing for faster and more efficient updates. Jumping between the iOS device and Mac should no longer show differences in package status or updates.

Breaking it down further, today’s iOS update includes visual tweaks throughout the application for better package detail clarity, Peek and Pop for 6s and the 6s Plus, Quick Actions from the Home screen, and even keyboard shortcuts for the iPad. With this latest update, Junecloud has done a great job bringing this app forward with iOS 9’s cutting-edge features. It’s now optimized for iPad Pro with full support for Split View and Slide Over, for example.

Deliveries for the Mac today also released a healthy lineup of updates including similar visual tweaks as the iOS app, using the trackpad to swipe to archive packages, and clipboard detection for copied tracking numbers. Junecloud also added some new security features which enforces using minimum security requirements when it connects to each package delivery service.

There are eve more new features to both apps, so check out the release notes for both versions for the full rundown.

Deliveries is available for $1.99 in the iOS App Store and is compatible with iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. Deliveries for the Mac is available in the Mac App Store for $4.99 and is compatible with Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11 and higher.

Filed under: Apps, iOS, iOS Devices, Mac Tagged: App Store, App Store (iOS), deliveries, iOS, iOS 9, Junecloud, Mac, Mac App Store

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Google’s Chrome browser for iPhones and iPads is getting a whole lot faster and more stable today with its latest update. That’s because Chrome is now using Apple’s WKWebView rendering engine on iOS.

Google says this update will reduce Chrome’s crash rate by 70% so the browsing experience will see fewer interruptions for various reasons. In the speed department, Google says the new version of Chrome is ‘dramatically faster’ as it should be on par with Safari web browsing now.

The latest update, versioned 48.0.2564.87 in typical Google fashion, also features a couple of other tweaks aside from the under-the-hood improvements:

• Redesigned icons on the New Tab page: easier access to more of your frequently-visited sites
• Spotlight integration: Drag down or right from the Home screen and search for your Chrome bookmarks

There’s still no way to set Chrome as your default browser on the iPhone and iPad like you can on the Mac. That decision remains in Apple’s hands. But you can grab the newly updated faster and more stable version of Chrome for iOS from the App Store.

Filed under: Apps Tagged: Chrome, Google, iOS, Safari

Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of Apps, iOS, and Google.

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iPad cases these days come in so many forms. You can get ones that only cover the back and ones that only cover the front (like Smart Covers). You can get hefty book-style cases or even cheap Chinese amalgamations from Amazon; I was using this $10 cheap wraparound one until very recently.

Today’s review is about the Oxford from Pad & Quill ($129). The Oxford is a premium Folio for the iPad Pro, described as a luxurious case and stand combo with an integrated pocket for the Apple Pencil. First impressions online are positive, but great iPad cases require a combination of style, features and practicality. I’ve been trying Oxford out for the last few weeks to decide how it stacks up for me. Does it deliver on these points? Read on for my full review …

Appearance

First off, I love the design of Apple products, but the endless line of aluminium and glass can get monotonous and repetitive. Wrapping it in a leather P&Q case is a pleasing departure. The outer case is made from a single piece of leather, so there are no seams. It feels great to the touch — Pad & Quill calls it ‘American full grain’ leather. It’s a premium texture, like what libraries would encase books in years ago.

The inside is made from this black leather variant. It feels different to the outside as it’s very smooth, creating a nice contrast of texture. The interior is closer in materials to what I expect from clothing. You can actually see the grain and indentations. It’s very soft, as to prevent any scratching or wear on the iPad display which faces outward.

The orange/tan stitching is what connects the chestnut brown and back leather together. My minimalist taste would probably prefer a design that didn’t reveal the stitching, though, which is a P&Q signature design. There will be a difference in opinion here, of course, as I expect most people to love this classic design. For a hand-made product, the consistency of the stitching is sublime. I don’t really understand how the inside could get damaged unless you hacked it at with a knife, but Pad & Quill says it incorporates the same nylon that parachutes use for maximum durability.

Usability

The iPad affixes to the inside of the case with two adhesive pads. You peel back the protective cover and slap the iPad on top to essentially glue it down. This is where the Oxford in particular may not be for me. I hate the idea of putting glue of any sort on the back of my iPad.

Pad & Quill use specially patented ‘clean release’ adhesive to prevent marks and stickiness from transferring, which actually works quite decently. The glue will last ‘years’ if left alone, the company says, and I do have enough confidence in the product after testing to believe the iPad will stay put. You can hold the case by one ear and the iPad does not come loose.

However, it is not made to be swapped in and out of the Oxford regularly. You will naturally lose the stickiness very quickly if you do that. Ignoring the longevity, it’s also just annoying to basically peel away the iPad each time. If you want to use this case, you will need to commit to never removing the tablet inside for the best experience.

So how does the iPad feel with Oxford around it? Pretty good actually. It’s not a slippy case, so I’d be comfortable holding this for prolonged periods, like going between classes or meetings. It also does a good job of keeping the iPad protected without being overbearing. It is admittedly heavy, though, and this adds noticeable heft to the total weight of the already large iPad Pro.

My biggest complaint with the Oxford case is the outer strap, specifically. It’s supposed to be a quick and easy way to bind the two book halves together when in transit, but it’s just not necessary to me. Pulling the elastic over the side of the case every time you are finished working can get old fast. It tends to get twisted easily too, so the clean line aesthetic is ruined by the mangled strap consistently. I definitely prefer cases that close with the front cover flap only (like with magnets) — ones that don’t need an additional step. It’s worth mentioning that the case does include a magnet in the front to take advantage of the iPad’s automatic unlock/lock features, which is nice.

Stand & Pocket

In terms of features, you get two modes of stand ‘integrated’ into the Oxford. It can hold the iPad either upright or thinly inclined for typing. The typing mode is achieved by the folding case backwards, using the thickness of the leather as the prop. The incline is small but suffices for a typing environment. As there is no hard edge connecting with the table, it doesn’t bring the same level of stability as Apple’s Smart Cover case does. When you are typing away on your lap, the case will not stop the iPad from bouncing around. You are basically relying on the resting surface not being too slippery.

To hold the iPad in theater ‘movie’ mode, you lift the iPad upwards and let it rest on the lower half of the case. It’s surprisingly sturdy in this mode, although it will cause a crease to appear in the backside leather. This is unavoidable if you want to stand the iPad in this manner. Not a deal breaker but good to be aware of it. In summary, I was impressed with the stand but a little disappointed with the typing orientation.

A big draw for people to this product will be the integrated Apple Pencil pocket. Indeed, it is true that the inside cover contains a flap to put the Apple Pencil inside. In practice, I wouldn’t recommend using it for that (this is a hard problem to solve). The contents of the flap sit directly on top of the iPad, only separated by a small piece of leather. Putting anything bulky in there, like the Pencil for instance, makes the entire case uneven (see images above). It works well for thin objects, like a few business cards or a small stack of paper. Admittedly, I think the general concept of the Oxford was conceived before the Pencil existed, and P&Q are cleverly using the feature to market it as Pencil friendly when it really isn’t totally suited or designed for the job.

Conclusion

So that’s the Oxford from Pad & Quill. Heavy, protective and very attractive. It’s a little pricey as an accessory (and still cheaper than Apple’s front and back solution) but if your driving interest in iPad cases is beauty, you can’t go wrong here. In the past, I have only used cheap, plastic cases for my iPads. Testing this one from P&Q has changed my perspective a lot. The bridle leathers and the precise stitching leaves a lasting impression. I’ve never owned an iPad case before that includes an artisan mark … and now I kind of dig it. For a business setting, this case would match any formal attire. I’m still looking for a case or other solution with a good way to hold the Apple Pencil, so I’m personally hesitant to switch completely to the Oxford. However, I can’t deny that the Pad & Quill Oxford is stunning to look at and touch. You can buy it for $129. There is also a smaller size version for iPad Air, if you own one of Apple’s 9.7 inch tablets.

Filed under: iOS Devices, Reviews Tagged: Apple Pencil, iPad, iPad Pro, Pad and Quill

Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of iOS Devices, iPad, and Reviews.

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