Originally released back in October, Apple partnered with French leather fashion company Hermès for a lineup of high-end leather bands for the Apple Watch. The Hermès bands, however, have only been available from Apple stores and Hermès stores in big cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Miami. Starting this Friday, however, the Hermès collection will be available online from both Hermes.com and Apple.com (via Fashionista).

All three Hermès bands will be available online. The “Single Tour” band is the most affordable of the three bands, starting at $1,100, and is available in Noir or Fauve in 42mm and an additional Capucine color in 38mm. Next is the “Double Tour,” which starts at $1,250 and comes in Etain, Fauve, Capucine and Bleu Jean. The most expensive band is the “Cuff,” starting at $1,500 and available in brown. In addition to the exclusive bands, the collection includes a stainless steel Watch, with Hermès branding on the back, and a number of special watch faces.

Apple’s partnership with Hermès was negotiated before the Apple Watch was officially announced to the public, Jony Ive reveled in an interview. Apple struck the partnership in an effort to presumably make its Watch appeal to the higher-end of the fashion market and released it only at select stores to further make it an “item” to have in the fashion industry.

Uncompromising craftsmanship. Pioneering innovation. Groundbreaking functionality. Apple Watch Hermès is the culmination of a partnership based on parallel thinking, singular vision and mutual regard. It is a unique timepiece designed with both utility and beauty in mind. With leather straps handmade by Hermès artisans in France and an Hermès watch face reinterpreted by Apple designers in California, Apple Watch Hermès is a product of elegant, artful simplicity — the ultimate tool for modern life.

We reported recently that Apple would available a second-generation Apple Watch during a March event and this expansion of Hermès availability could be the two companies clearing out inventory before the second-gen model is announced.

The Hermès collection will be available online at Apple.com and Hermes.com beginning this Friday, January 22nd.

Filed under: Apple Watch Tagged: Apple watch, bands, hermes

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Earlier this month, Jide.com released an early alpha version of its new Remix OS. In essence, it’s a multi-window desktop operating system built on Android. It’s an interesting concept, but what makes it truly intriguing is that you can run it off a regular, fast USB 3.0 flash drive on a Windows PC or Mac. I took it for a spin on Mac to see what the initial version is like to use…

As you can probably imagine, running an alpha version of a tweaked mobile operating system on a Mac from a USB drive was about as hit-and-miss as you’d expect. But it wasn’t as terrible as I thought it would be.

All the apps are placed in the pop-up menu which shows up when you click in the bottom left corner, kinda like a Windows Start menu. The bottom bar shows all running apps.

Because there’s no Google Play Services or Play Store installed in the Mac version, you need to install apps by downloading APK files directly. I grabbed a bunch of my most-used apps from APK Mirror.com.

I discovered afterwards there is a method for getting Google Play Services and the Play Store on to Remix OS manually.

Most apps load in their normal portrait mobile screen ratio format, and you can adjust their size and rearrange them on screen as you like. Or, you can make them full screen. Surprisingly, they’re not terrible. Chrome tends to load the mobile versions of web pages as default, but you can force desktop pages to show instead.

The Notification window is accessed by pressing the list icon in the bottom right corner. Once open, you’ll see any notifications you have, as well as gain access to options like the ‘settings’ menu or the ‘screenshot’ function. This lets you manually select an area on display to screenshot, or just snap the entire screen.

There are a couple of hints that this is Android you’re working with, apart from the obvious mobile apps experience. Firstly, there’s the app history Window, which you can access by pressing F4. Secondly, there’s the Android Lollipop Easter Egg, Google’s own version of Flappy Bird which you access by going to Settings>About and then repeatedly clicking the software version until a lollipop fills the screen.

A couple of things I noticed before you go and try it. Firstly, this is a very early alpha release. There are bugs, you will experience lag, and multiple app crashes. Secondly, I noticed that it runs really slowly on my iMac, but quickly on my MacBook Air, suggesting if you want anything close to fast performance from it, you need to use a solid-state based computer. Thirdly, you need a fast USB 3.0 flash drive, or you’ll have a terrible experience.

If you want to try it for yourself (because you’re secretly curious about the Dark Side) but don’t know how to start, head on over to our guide on 9to5Google. The process is pretty simple and can be done by anyone, regardless of your technical ability or knowledge.

Filed under:
How-To, Mac Tagged: Android, Jide, MacBook, Remix OS

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The same day as it released OS X 10.11.3 to the public, Apple has now pushed an update to its iMovie video editing software. The update bumps the app to version 10.1.1 and includes primarily under-the-hood bug fixes and performance updates, some of which will certainly be welcomed by users.

First off, Apple says the update fixes an issue with YouTube sharing that would prevent a user from signing in if they had multiple accounts. The update also fixes an issue relating to applying White Balance adjustments to clips, as well as one that caused an incorrect display of still images. Another change is that clips are now copied when dragged from the Project Media area to the events area of the Library list.

The full changelog is below:

What’s New in Version 10.1.1

• Resolves an issue with YouTube sharing that could prevent sign in for users with multiple accounts
• Fixes a problem that could prevent White Balance adjustments from being applied to clips
• Sony XAVC S clips captured at 100 fps or 120 fps now play correctly
• Resolves an issue that could lead to incorrect display of still images
• Clips are now copied when dragged from the Project Media container to events in the Library list
• Stability improvements

Back in October, Apple introduced the much larger iMovie 10.1 update that brought 4k video support, as well as support for 1080p video at 60 frames per second. iMovie is available on the Mac App Store.

Filed under: Apps, Mac Tagged: IMovie, iMovie 10.1.1, Mac, OS X, update

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Chomp co-founder Ben Keighran is exiting his role at Apple according to a new report out of Re/code:

Ben Keighran, who joined Apple four years ago when it bought a startup he co-founded, says he is leaving soon and eventually intends to start something new. “I want to create not just a killer product, but my own iconic company,” he said.

Keighran joined Apple in 2012 when it bought his firm Chomp to overhaul iTunes and App Store search. Universal search among key media partners is a major feature of the new Apple TV. Chomp’s other co-founder Cathy Edwards joined Apple through that acquisition and worked on Maps Quality before leaving in March 2014.

The report notes that Keighran oversaw “the look and feel of the software on the new Apple TV” and ranked three steps down from Eddy Cue who runs the iTunes team. Here’s to hoping whoever takes Keighran’s place Chomps down on the finicky Siri Remote and creates something a little more ergonomic … kidding, Keighran likely played a key role in Apple TV’s universal search feature through Siri which works pretty well.

It is an interesting pattern to observe Apple employees brought on through company acquisitions leave Apple after the product they were brought on to help make ships to customers. Beats Music’s Ian Rogers comes to mind. My guess is people that create these companies are better suited at creating on their own versus working within a major company like Apple.

Filed under: Apple TV Tagged: Apple TV, Ben Keighran, Cathy Edwards, Chomp, search, Siri, universal search

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It’s easy to miss out on sports entertainment when you cut the cord and just rely on Apple TV, but ESPN president John Skipper tells The Wall Street Journal that may change in 2016. When asked about the potential streaming network Apple reportedly hopes to offer on its set-top box, the ESPN exec says that Apple has been “frustrated” with the process of building a service but that ESPN has been in past talks and continues to work with the company:

WSJ: Does Apple have a path to being a player in the TV industry?

Mr. Skipper: They are creating a significantly advantageous operating system and a great television experience and that television experience is fabulous for sports. We are big proponents of believing it would be a fabulous place to sell some subscriptions. We have ongoing conversations. They have been frustrated by their ability to construct something which works for them with programmers. We continue to try to work with them.

Skipper also discusses services like Sling TV which include ESPN service without a standalone cable subscription, adding that he believes announcements of similar packages to attract new subscribers will come out of 2016.

WSJ: In your view, will the people who sign up for streaming TV services from Sony, Sling TV, and possibly Apple make up for losses in traditional pay TV subscribers?

Mr. Skipper: We think that it can be a significant mover in helping us navigate the next few years. We see the Sling TV numbers, which are significant. We’ve had discussions with Apple. I believe in 2016 there will be further announcements on other kinds of packages….that will get younger subscribers into the market. We don’t think of it as an offset. It was simple before when we had subscription and television ad revenues. Now we’ve got more buckets. We have new direct-to-consumer, digital advertising [revenues].

ESPN currently has a presence on Apple TV, iOS, and the web with its watchESPN app, although it currently requires an active cable subscription to fully unlock. Dish’s Sling TV package includes live ESPN content for a standalone monthly subscription and is available on iPhones, iPads, and the web, but the app experience is subpar and there’s not an official Apple TV channel yet.

While it’s not entirely clear what Skipper is alluding to in his comments, an HBO NOW-like standalone subscription version of ESPN for a monthly rate or inclusion in Apple’s long-rumored web TV package would certainly expand access to sports content for cord cutters and a whole new generation of people who never bought into cable packages. We’ll have to wait and see on this one.

Filed under: Apple TV, Tech Industry Tagged: Apple TV, ESPN, John Skipper, Sports, WatchESPN, web tv

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There’s a new iOS 9.2.1 update within the Settings app awaiting all iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users today. Apple released the first developer beta version of the software update in mid-December after shipping iOS 9.2 earlier in the month. The second iOS 9.2 beta was later released at the start of January. Apple has since started testing iOS 9.3 with developers and public beta testers.

As the version number suggests, iOS 9.2.1 so far hasn’t included any major feature changes or enhancements, and the official release notes only reference bug fixes, security improvements, and an MDM server issue fix.

The software update for iPhone and iPad likely includes fixes for any issues introduced with iOS 9.2 at the beginning of the year. Today’s release may also be timed as to support AT&T’s NumberSync feature, which bridges iPhone numbers with other connected devices like iPads and Macs, although we’ll have to go hands-on before we know for sure. This feature was previously tested in other iOS 9 betas.

As ever, head to the Settings app if and look for the new release in the Software Updates section. Be sure to shout our way if you discover anything new and experience any issues with the latest official software release.

Filed under: iOS Tagged: Apple, iOS 9, iOS 9.2.1, iPad, iPhone, IPod Touch

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Heads up to all El Capitan users: OS X 10.11.3 is now available through the Mac App Store. Apple released the first developer beta version of the software update in mid-December after shipping OS X 10.11.2 earlier in the month. The second OS X 10.11.3 beta followed at the start of January. Apple has since started testing OS X 10.11.4.

As the version number suggests, OS X 10.11.3 so far hasn’t included any major feature changes or enhancements, although we’ll update our coverage if anything significant is discovered.

The update further addresses any lingering bugs and performance issues hanging around the Mac software. The last OS X El Capitan beta once again saw AT&T’s NumberSync feature for bridging iPhone phone numbers to the Mac return, for example, after the feature was trialled in previous releases.

As ever, head to the Mac App Store and look for the new release in the Updates tab. Be sure to shout our way if you discover anything new and experience any issues with the software.

Filed under: Developers, Mac Tagged: el capitan, Mac App Store, OS X, OS X 10.11.3

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My cheap headphone jack-less iPhone mockup

It’s been widely reported that the iPhone 7 is destined to ditch the dated headphone jack in favor of wireless audio solutions and a Lightning adapter for wired headphones and speakers, and now internal iOS software code seems to all but confirm the rumor. Jailbreaker @kyoufujibaya claims to have discovered a reference to ‘Headphones.have.%sinput.NO.’ within the latest iOS 9.3 beta 1.1 software release, which would appear to be related to the transition from 3.5 mm headphones to alternative solutions on iPhones. The same jailbreaker also has another interesting discovery based on the iPhone’s codebase …

While unconfirmed, my first guess is that the headphone reference could be existing code that lets iOS know if external speakers are connected or disconnected as iOS 9 uses this status for certain Proactive features and much more, although it’s interesting to consider in the context of the iPhone 7 likely losing the current port.

The same jailbreaker shared a purported discovery a few weeks back referencing Li-Fi technology being used with iOS, which suggests Apple could be testing the new technology for future iPhones and iPads. Specifically, @kyoufujibaya recently tweeted a screenshot of the iOS 9.1 codebase highlighting ‘LiFiCapability’ while suggesting the tech could be in testing for the iPhone 7 later this year.

For the uninitiated like myself, here’s an explainer on what exactly Li-Fi technology does:

Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) is a bidirectional, high speed and fully networked wireless communication technology similar to Wi-Fi. The term was coined by Harald Haas^[1] and is a form of visible light communication and a subset of optical wireless communications (OWC) and could be a complement to RF communication (Wi-Fi or Cellular network), or even a replacement in contexts of data broadcasting. It is so far measured to be about 100 times faster than some Wi-Fi implementations, reaching speeds of 224 gigabits per second.^[2]

It is wireless and uses visible light communication or infra-red and near ultraviolet (instead of radio frequency waves) spectrum, part of optical wireless communications technology, which carries much more information, and has been proposed as a solution to the RF-bandwidth limitations.^[3]

As Apple relies on wireless technology in favor of thick, dust-collecting ports, the move to headphone jack-less iPhones with Li-Fi speed connectivity doesn’t seem surprising in the least. Wireless transfer 100x that of Wi-Fi would make for an excellent iPhone keynote slide someday.

As for the new iPhone 7 going headphone jack-less, Mark Gurman has reported that Apple through Beats is developing a new set of truly wireless earbuds that can be charged via their protective carrying case, which in turn gets recharged, that will debut before or around the same time as the new iPhone hardware.

And 9to5Mac readers seem overwhelmingly in favor of Apple moving beyond the headphone jack for what it’s worth. My colleague Ben Lovejoy wrote his take on the likely move last month, agreeing that it’s likely destined for the iPhone 7 and no later than the iPhone 8. And now there’s faster Li-Fi to possibly look forward to as well … I wonder how this potential change could improve AirPlay?

Filed under: Developers, iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: Headphone Jack, iPhone 7, kyoufujibaya, Li-Fi, Lightning, Wi-Fi

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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:

Apple iPad Air Wi-Fi 16GB in Silver or Space Gray: $299 shipped (Reg. $399)

Daily Deals: Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM Bluetooth speaker (Refurb) $180, ViewSonic 28-inch 4K LED Monitor $275, more

Amazon Gold Box: Top-rated SwissGear Laptop Backpacks up to 60% off, deals from $34 Prime shipped

Apple 12″ Retina MacBook 1.2Ghz/8GB/512GB: $1,290 shipped (Reg. $1,599)

Add Apple CarPlay iPhone integration to your own car w/ Pioneer’s SPH-DA120 Receiver for $400 shipped (Reg. $600)

iTunes Gift Cards 20% off w/ free shipping: $100 for $80, $50 for $40 — Save on apps, music, movies, more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Media: iTunes $10 book-inspired movie sale – The Lorax, Wizard of Oz + others, Mel Brooks collection $19, more

• Liger Handlebar Mount for iPhone 6s/Android devices $6 Prime shipped (Orig. $25)
• Bluetooth Speakers: Sony SRSX2 w/ NFC $60 (Reg. $80+), Aukey Rugged $15 (Reg. $25)
• Games/Apps: Rainbow Six Siege (all platforms) $35, Call of Snakes goes free, more
• OtterBox Defender Series iPhone 6 Plus Case: $24 Prime shipped (Orig. $60)
• Kingston V300 240GB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $62 shipped (Reg. $80+)
• Multi-year/bundle magazine subs from $2/yr: Wine Enthusiast, Wired, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

MFi Apple-Certified Battery Cases for iPhone 6/s: 3,500mAh $13 (Reg. $23), more

App Store Free App of the Week: Lifeline text-adventure game goes free for the first time (Reg. $3)

The Trace Murder Mystery Game for iOS hits its lowest price yet: $1 (Reg. $4)

A Dark Room for iOS goes free as IGN’s Game of the Month (Reg. $1)

• Aukey 3-in-1 clip-on phone or tablet camera lens kit $10 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
• Speck CandyShell iPhone 6/6s Case: $12 or two for $14 Prime shipped (Reg. $35 each)
• iOrange MFi Lightning Cables: 6-ft. $7 (Reg. $14), 10-ft. $9 (Reg. $15), more
• Cowboom 20% off pre-owned/open-box gear: Powerbeats2 Wireless $67, more
• Pioneer AV Receiver w/ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi: $250 shipped (Reg. $400)
• Jump-N-Carry 12-Volt Jump Starter $100, 3-Pack: Uniden 2-Way Radios $30
• Belkin MFi Lightning iPad Keyboard w/ Stand: $40 shipped (Reg. $70)
• Monopoly 80th Anniversary Game $11 w/ in-store pick-up (Orig. $22)
• PSA: Xbox Live Gold Members can enjoy a free trial for EA Access this week
• Amazon’s best-selling snow blower hits all-time: $99 shipped (Reg. $135+)
• 2nd gen. Moto X (unlocked) $243 shipped, 2nd gen. Moto G w/ dock $100 shipped
• Mackie CR4 speakers (pair) + Audio-Technica headphones $170 ($249 value)
• Watch Ex Machina in HD for just $0.99 (Reg. $5)
• The Martian Blu-ray/Digital HD for $15 Prime shipped (Reg. $23)
• LG Watch Urbane Android Wear Smartwatch $200 shipped (Reg. $259)
• Google Play albums from Zac Brown Band and more on sale for $0.99 each
• Add Milanese Loop style to your Apple Watch: $14 Prime shipped (Reg. $25)
• Sony 7.2-ch. 4K AV Receiver w/ AirPlay and Bluetooth: $298 shipped (Reg. $400)
• ‘Tap 10’ gets you a free Chromecast after you use Android Pay 10 times ($35 value)
• Download the Very Best of Grateful Dead MP3 album for free (Reg. $10), more
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• Fashion: PUMA Semi Annual Sale 50% off + additional 20% – Fleece Hoodie $36, more
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Game pre-orders for Amazon Prime members – Final Fantasy XV, more: $48 ea (Reg. $60)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Blipcast uses your Wi-Fi to beam HDTV audio to multiple iOS or Android devices

This Nintendo-inspired Bluetooth speaker is just about perfect in every way

• Netflix Announces Premiere Dates for 10 Original Shows including House of Cards, more
• The new ‘Where to Eat Pizza’ coffee table book takes a look at the best slices worldwide
• Phāz takes note of iPhone 7 rumors with new Lightning-connected headphones
• Review: EasyACC 3 USB-port/2 AC-port surge protector is perfect for bedside, desk or travel
• The Kiba camera wants to sit on your shelf and record life’s biggest moments

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys Lunch Break

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For me, coffee at Starbucks is secondary to the great music you discover courtesy of your twenty-something barista’s Spotify DJ skills. The good news is you can now easily save those Spotify playlists for listening later through an update to the Starbucks iPhone app today.

As a continuation of the partnership with Spotify that Starbucks first announced back in May of last year, today the company is rolling out an update to its mobile apps that will let users view and save Spotify playlists they hear playing in its stores.

In addition to saving Spotify playlists through the Starbucks apps, users will be able to “influence future Starbucks playlists” by liking songs from within the playlists they save. The company’s press release notes that the app will show users new playlists in rotation at Starbucks locations, “as well as Starbucks most popular music from the past 20 years on Spotify.” And the integration will be available to both free and paid Spotify subscribers.

This latest integration with Spotify is available at around 7,500 Starbucks locations across the US and follows an announcement last May that saw Starbucks employees get free access to Spotify Premium accounts for playing in-store music. At the time, we noted that Apple had long been a partner with Starbucks, offering free app content and music through iTunes. Starbucks continues to offer some content from Apple, but it remains to be seen if the companies plan to phase out iTunes freebies as Spotify features land for more users of the Starbucks apps.

And the Spotify integration won’t end with today’s roll out. The company will soon feature artists each week through the Starbucks app that will include links back to music on Spotify. Perhaps iTunes content will finally get the boot when that feature ultimately launches.

You can check out the new Spotify integrations in the updated Starbucks iTunes app where available now.

What’s New in Version 3.4

The Sound of Starbucks
Now, you can discover music playing in participating U.S. Starbucks stores*, save songs to a playlist on Spotify and take the music with you when you leave. Location services must be enabled to use this feature.**

*This functionality and in-store overhead music experience provided by Starbucks.
**Continued use of GPS running in the background can decrease battery life.

Thank you for all of you feedback!

Filed under: Apple Music, Apps Tagged: Apple Music, free, integration, iPhone, iTunes, Music, playlists, save, Spotify, Starbucks, update

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