As announced earlier in the year, the BBC has now launched an official iPlayer app for the Apple TV. The app uses native a tvOS interface, closely resembling the normal iTunes Store films and TV shows interface. The app is free but requires a TV license and is therefore only available to UK Apple TV owners.

Filed under: AAPL Company, Apple TV, iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: Apple TV, BBC iPlayer, iOS, tvOS

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Apple fans are a dedicated bunch. Many of us diehards run out and buy every new gadget, making it nearly impossible for friends and family to come up with an original gift idea related to one of our biggest passions. My holiday gift guide includes items that you can’t buy from your local Apple store, but are sure to delight any fan of the company. These aren’t complementary products like a nice iPhone stand or Apple Watch band, but rather hard-to-find swag and collectibles that only real Apple fans would appreciate. Head below to take a look at my outside-the-box gift ideas for the Apple lover in your life:

Custom LEGO Macintosh Project:

One of the top gifts for anyone this year are LEGO kits. From intricate Star Wars projects to an adorable WALL-E, it seems like everything is getting the brick treatment, except for Apple gear. Luckily, famed LEGO builder, Chris McVeigh, created an amazing replica of the original Macintosh computer.

McVeigh has shared a detailed how-to so you can build your very own LEGO Macintosh. The extensive 65-page instructions walk you through every step of the building process. There’s a full part list, complete with Element ID information that can easily be plugged into LEGO.com. Print the directions and hunt down each LEGO brick to score an amazing gift for any Apple fan. Note: McVeigh usually sells a complete project kit on his online store, but the listing is currently unavailable.

Steve Jobs Figure

Several years ago figures of Apple’s late CEO, Steve Jobs, started popping up everywhere. Apple was quick to shut down the sale of many of them, but they’ve made their way back and are selling steadily on eBay. A quick search on the online auction site will return a bunch of results in a range of price levels, but for a gift I’d recommend this listing priced at $16.13. It’s coming directly from China so you may have to pay for expedited shipping to get it in time for Christmas, otherwise standard shipping is free. The Top Rated Plus seller has multiple quantities available so you shouldn’t have a problem picking one up. I have one of these figures on my desk and see it as a tribute to the man who’s creations had such an impact on my life.

Iconic: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation

Apple products are hailed for their design just as much as their innovative functionality. The book Iconic by Jonathan Zufi ($50.82) uses gorgeous images of Apple products, prototypes, packaging, and more to tell Apple’s design story. It includes all the products you’d imagine like iPhone, iPad, and MacBooks, but also obscure peripherals and rare prototypes that you probably have never seen before. I have this book sitting in my office and randomly pick it up when I have a few free moments. The huge, detailed images are absolutely drool-worthy for any Apple fan. I’d also recommend checking out Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson and Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products by Leander Kahney.

Think Different ad campaign posters

One of Apple’s most recognizable advertising efforts was its Think Different campaign. It included the memorable “Crazy Ones” TV commercial and limited edition 24 x 36-inch promotional posters. The various posters depict historical figures with a small Apple logo and the text “Think Different.” As you’d imagine the original posters are big collector’s items and as such are pretty pricey. Trusted Apple dealer, The Missing Bite, has many for sale if you’re willing to pay up. eBay is another great place to look for these posters. Even a reproduction poster would make a great gift and it wouldn’t break the bank. Another option is this poster of the original iPhone US patent for $35 shipped from Amazon.

Apple T-Shirts

The only way to grab an official Apple t-shirt is to become an employee or visit the mothership in Cupertino. Since those aren’t practical choices for most last-minute holiday shoppers, I’d recommend heading to eBay. Many former employees put their new and used shirts up for sale, while some opportunists (read: scalpers) buy official merchandise from Apple’s Company Store and resell it at inflated prices. The other option is to buy a look-alike shirt at a fraction of the cost for the real deal. This eBay seller has t-shirts modeled after the current retail employee style with a small Apple logo for only $7.99-$14.99 plus shipping costs. Go with the Royal Blue color if you’re looking for the most authentic look.

Still have some more people to check off your holiday shopping list? Take a look at all of our gift guides including top picks in iPhone, iPad, Mac, photography, entertainment, and more!

Filed under: Buying Guides Tagged: Chris McVeigh, gift guide, Holiday Gift Guide, Iconic: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation, Lego, LEGO Macintosh, Steve Jobs Figure, Think Different

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Taylor Swift revealed today, her 26th birthday, via Twitter that an exclusive 1989 World Tour documentary will hit Apple Music on Dec. 20. The special is exclusive to Apple Music subscribers and is an example of the kind of exclusive content that Apple wants to bring in for its Music service.  It won’t be available for purchase though other channels, at least not initially. The concert will include a number of big artists, as well. A trailer for the documentary can be seen blow. 

Filmed in front of 76,000 fans during her stop at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Nov. 28, it will show the entire performance and never-before-seen footage from backstage and from rehearsals with some of the musical and surprise guests. The 1989 World Tour started back in May and ended yesterday.

Directed by Jonas Akerlund, the film features performances from guests Mick Jagger, Justin Timberlake, Lorde, The Weeknd, Alison Krauss, Mary J Blige, Selena Gomez, John Legend, Fetty Wap, Steven Tyler and Miranda Lambert and many more (including celebrity guests Ellen DeGeneres, Serena Williams, Lena Dunham, Kendall Jenner, Julia Roberts, Chris Rock, the U.S. women’s soccer team, and Kobe Bryant)

Swift and Apple music have quite a short history. Following the revelation that Apple wouldn’t pay artists for the 3 month free trial period, Swift penned an open letter to Apple saying that it wasn’t fair. Apple SVP Eddie Cue responded with a Tweet noting Apple would change its policy. Swift then released 1989 exclusively on Apple Music which Apple was able to capitalize on.

We went behind the scenes with the whole affair a few months ago. Later Jimmy Iovine revealed how Taylor changed Apple Music’s revenue model.

Tomorrow, Swift will share more about the documentary in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1 radio.

“I think I’d be leaving a huge part out if I didn’t mention the blog post that I wrote . I think that is probably the starting point because I didn’t have a personal relationship with Apple until that point,” Swift said in an interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music’s Beats 1 Radio (the interview airs Monday at noon Eastern). “I’m sure there are better ways to introduce yourself than to say, ‘This is what I’m upset about, please think about our industry.’ It got more attention than I thought it would because I’d been echoing those sentiments for years.”

“And then I was struck with this overwhelming sense of fear. Like, are they going to turn my phone off? Are they going to turn the video camera on? Are they watching me right now? Am I going to wake up tomorrow and all of my music will be off of iTunes?” she said. “Like absolute terror hit.”

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes. I have a little surprise for you.
#1989WorldTourLIVE @applemusic
http://ift.tt/1QmU0xa

—
Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 13, 2015

Filed under: Apple Music, iOS Devices Tagged: 1989, Apple Music, Taylor Swift

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I’ve had my Apple Watch since the day it launched on April 24th and have been wearing it since everyday. This was probably the longest I’ve had a wearable without having any hardware issues. Then my speaker blew out first thing randomly one morning…

Yes, I did all the trouble shooting steps one should do before officially being upest and frustrated: checking the volume under settings, turning the iPhone and Apple Watch off and on, and even erasing the Apple Watch setting it back to factory settings and setting it up as a new Apple Watch, even though I had a backup. After testing the sound by using timers, and trying to make phone calls from my watch, none of that worked. This meant I had a few days to really see how going without the Apple Watch would actually impact me.

So I made a trip to my local Apple Store, and was quickly seen by a technician who verified my issue. I was informed for the watches, they cannot do in-warranty replacements without sending it out to engineering, because they need to verify that I do indeed have a real genuine Apple Watch, and then it can be replaced, and the whole process would take five to ten business days.

However, the replacement watch cannot be sent directly to me, so I would have to make another trip to the Apple Store due to the fact that the replacement watch is in the back where the technicians keep all replacement parts. After figuring out when five to ten replacement days was, well after Black Friday and during the first real week of holiday shopping, the last place I want to be in is a crowded Apple Store.

Going through AppleCare meant I could get my Apple Watch serviced and replaced from the comforts of my home (except for the drive to the local FedE) and get shipped back to me. Going through Apple’s support page, made it rather simple to request a replacement, with prompts helping me guide and select my issue.

Under Repairs & Physical Damage, one of the choices was “Activity sensor or heart rate monitor not working as expected.” Jeremy wrote about how it was able to detect a rare heart condition in his wife and shared the Health heart rate data with the doctors. After reading that, I wish I was able to look at the Health heart rate data but it would get stuck trying to load all the data, and when I measured my heart rate and looked at the heart rate glance they didn’t match up. I agree with him that the heart rate sensor needs to be improved, but I thought the horrible performance I was experiencing was something that I had to put up with. Doing plyos, such as kettlebell swings, jump squats, and other exercises that are known to elevate your heart rate, my Apple Watch always averaged around 50, whereas my Fitbit Charge HR, and Wahoo TICKR X were very accurate of each other and manually checking my heart rate was extremely close. I made a note of that as well in the case history, figuring the more complaints the better so I could get a replacement and not my original watch fixed.

I was told that Apple would ship me a box so I can ship my watch back to them and expected to arrive in two business days. Delightfully, it arrived in one business day. In order to send the watch in, I needed to unpair the Apple Watch and remove Activation Lock, which will reset it back to factory settings.

The instructions clearly state do not send any of the watch bands back as it would not be returned. I packed it in the box and onto FedEx to drop it off.

During this watchless period, I wanted to see if I would miss it, and how badly I might have relied on it for my life. This experiment lasted for 5 days, which is the longest I’ve ever gone without my Apple Watch since its release this year.

Awful Apple Watch tan line

Day One: In the morning I made the drive to the local FedEx, as well as some other errands. During the drive was when I missed it the most: for using Maps and text messages. I was running around, doing a bunch of errands and wasn’t sure of the quickest, most efficient route. I missed using Maps because quickly glancing at the watch to know when and where to turn was easier and more convenient than having to lower the music playing in my car so I could hear Siri state the directions, and when I couldn’t hear Siri having to pick up the phone to take a look at them. While I was driving I was receiving a lot of text messages and I missed the convenience of being able to glance at the watch to quickly read the message, talk into the watch to reply, and with a total of three taps respond back quickly. Instead, I had to wait until I got to my destination to look at the phone to see if they were important and respond.

Day Two: I am a gym rat, constantly at the gym working out doing cardio, weight lifting, plyos, logging everything and testing the latest fitness trackers. One of the things I like about the Jawbones and now recently the Fitbits, they can automatically detect the fact that you are actively engaging your body, having an elevated heart rate and that you are exercising. After you sync them, in the app it knows you were exercising for whatever period and you can quickly and easily label the activity. Not so with the Apple Watch. It was frustrating and time consuming trying to use Siri, or navigate to the Exercise app, scroll down to choose the exercise, then customize how you want your display to appear while working out, press the go button, stop the exercise by either Force Touching the display or swiping all the way across, and then finally saving it. Yes, I know while I work out I can swipe across the screen to see the different stats while I work out:  Elapsed Time, Current Pace, Distance, Active Calories, Total Calories and Heart Rate. I prefer to set the display before I do the exercise because I find the watch unresponsive while I work out and don’t trust myself to change the screen and run at the same time without tripping over myself, falling and breaking my neck. While I worked out I enjoyed not having to wait for the Apple Watch to respond before I workout and was able to go from one activity to the other very seamlessly.

Day Three: I totally forgot about the fact that I did not have the Apple Watch on, until I decided to see what time it was since I left my phone on the couch and was in the middle of cleaning.

Day Four: Was a busy exciting day for me, as I took the train down to the city to meet up with my parents and go to my uncle’s wedding reception. While on the train I did miss the convenience of glancing at the watch when I received text messages from my parents to go over and coordinate where we were meeting. Instead I would hear the notification on the phone, go find it buried inside of my purse and then have to respond to it. The times that I have seen some of my family after my sixty-five pound weight loss, I’ve had many conversations about workouts and discussions about the features, functionality, favorites and differences between the fitness trackers and Apple Watch.  At this reception, I haven’t seen this side of the family since I lost my weight, so I was expecting to have to go through the normal conversations about exercise, fitness trackers, and weight loss. However, to my surprise and delight, family members commented on all of my running photos I posted on Facebook, and not a single one of them asked any questions about fitness trackers, the Apple Watch or their iPhone.

Day Five: Enjoyed another beautiful day working out hard at the gym, and not having to deal with the Exercise app. That evening I went to the weekly trivia game that I enjoy with my boyfriend and his friends at the local bar. One of the rules is no cell phones out when the questions are asked, so that way we can’t cheat by looking up the answers. I always oblige, and my phone is in my pocket. The majority of my teammates don’t mind it when I glance at my watch when I receive a text message, and quickly dictate a response back. However, one of them seriously objects every time I do that, because he thinks I’m cheating and can look up the answers. In reality using Siri on the watch, you can’t do that because whenever you ask Siri a trivia question she tells you she can’t look it up for you and to use handoff on the phone. That night, I did enjoy not having the discussion about how the watch can’t look up trivia answers, but missed the watch whenever I received a text message and having to wait for the break to respond.

To my surprise it came back earlier than expected, set it up and have been continuing to use it everyday.

Conclusions: I still like the Apple Watch, but am not in love with it. The Apple Watch hasn’t changed my life in any earth shattering way, which was rather disappointing considering I had high hopes for it. I wanted to be able to control my Philips Hue, and Belkin WeMo switches with it, but the watch took forever to do so and my phone and even the iPad 2 (yes 2 not iPad Air 2), were faster than the watch. I did enjoy controlling the third generation Apple TV with my watch, but now with the fourth generation Apple TV that functionality no longer exists. I was hoping the Apple Watch was going to be the best fitness tracker out there, but this year the Fitbit Charge HR is my absolute favorite. I don’t regret buying the Apple Watch, but during this experiment I realized I rarely use it other than for Maps and texting. Apple Watch prevented me from getting lost and made me get spoiled when it came to the immediate receiving of texts and responding.

Filed under: Apple Watch, Opinion Tagged: Apple Care, Apple support, Apple watch, experiment, Opinion

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Apple Pencil is a terrific digital stylus that transforms iPad Pro into a highly capable electronic sketch pad and notebook, but it’s dead simple design potentially leaves something to be desired for some users. For example, its cylindrical-shaped symmetrical body lacks a basic pen clip for attaching it to your shirt pocket or elsewhere, which makes it look prettier and simpler but means it easily rolls down inclines and can’t attach to cases or pockets. Apple has weighted it internally to sit in place on a flat surface cleverly with the Apple Pencil marking facing upward, but it’s still no match for a slight slant and where exactly are you supposed to put it?

This creates an obvious opportunity for accessory makers. There will surely be a market of add-ones for Apple Pencil, it’s just a matter of time of course, and case makers like Urban Armor Gear are already tackling the problem with solutions like this.

But I’m plenty happy with either a Smart Cover or Smart Keyboard, personally, and don’t much want a spot on my case dedicated for stashing the Apple Pencil. What have I found to work best for me? The novel idea of one clever Reddit user called texasdoesitbest posted late last month. Buy a particular basic mechanical pencil with a removable metal clip, detach it, and slide it on Apple Pencil. It’s a nearly perfect fit and only costs a few bucks.

Here’s what you need and how it works:

1. Apple Pencil, you wouldn’t have this problem to solve otherwise right?
2. Pentel Sharp Automatic Pencil, 0.5mm — I picked up a 2-pack for under $10.
3. Something to attach it to — it clips along pretty nicely to the fold of the Smart Keyboard and feels more secure than a magnet solution might.

Most of the work is in removing the attached clip from the mechanical pencil. I found that it’s secured on fairly well, but it does separate on one side without bending too harshly and slides off. It’s hacky, but I used a butter knife to pry it off.

Once the metal clip is freed, it’s time to attach it to Apple Pencil. You could bend it outward enough to fit over the removable Lighting connector cover, but I found it easier to slip it from the nub end which is pointed and smaller than the clip’s opening.

Once you get past the nub, Apple Pencil thickens and enough so that it easily lets the clip securely hug it and stay put. Just slide it upward to where you like it. After trying a few spots, I found that placing the clip part just to the left of the Apple Pencil marking on the metal band fits really well — it doesn’t obscure the tasteful Apple branding and it actually aligns almost intentionally with the Lightning connector under the cap.

It’s not an absolutely perfect solution: the band doesn’t fully enclose so there’s a white gap opposite the clip, you could potentially scratch Apple Pencil’s plastic casing or metal ring if you slide it on too tightly, and there’s both Pentel and Japan stamped into the clip band.

I have found it to be highly practical, however, and clipping it to the Smart Keyboard’s cover means I’m much more likely to have Apple Pencil around during leisure time for spontaneous doodling and not just in my backpack or at my desk. I’m not completely in love with how it looks attached, but there is something typical about the pen and clipboard effect it creates. I’m curious, now, to see the inevitable market of pen clips created especially for Apple Pencil to develop.

Pentel Sharp Automatic Pencil 0.5mm is sold from $6.00 on Amazon. Don’t have an Apple Pencil or prefer a less enormous iPad? Adonit Jot Dash is a recommended iPad stylus that features its own clip.

Filed under:
How-To Tagged: Apple Pencil, case, clips, iPad, iPad Pro, iPad stylus, Life Hack, mechanical pencil, pen clip, Pencil, pens, Smart Cover, Smart Keyboard, stylus

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Chances are, you’ll be doing some traveling this holiday season. Or perhaps you have someone on your gift list that is a regular puddle jumper. Below you’ll find my top-picks for either scenario that will keep all your devices organized and operating at peak performance.

Managing Your Gear

Whether you’re a regular at the airport or just traveling this holiday season, managing all of your gear can be a frustrating proposition. If you’re anything like myself, you’ll be hauling around a MacBook, iPad Air 2, headphones, chargers and other peripherals. Nothing solves this problem like a well-thought-out backpack or messenger bag to keep all your gear in order. Our top-pick is the Incase Range backpack, although it’s designed for bicycling it’s actually a great everyday option. There are designated compartments for a MacBook up to 15-inches in size, as well as an iPad sleeve and plenty of room for your other gear. The wide-mouth top gives ample space to see and access all of your gear. It retails for $120 and comes in black.

If you prefer a Messenger Bag style, look no further than Timbuk2. The San Francisco-based company has been churning out quality products for years that are backed by a lifetime warranty. My favorite option over at timbuk2 is the Command TSA-Friendly Messenger Bag 2015. It comes in a number of colors and has a nice modern design. There is storage for a 15-inch MacBook, plus your iPad and other devices. It uses aluminum hooks to keep everything stored in tight and has clever zipper system for accessing gear without opening the top flap. Timbuk2 charges $109 for this messenger bag and offers it in 10 different colors.

Corralling all your cords

Now that you’re straightened out with a new backpack or messenger bag, it’s on to all the stuff inside. On a typical day, I’m carrying at least one Lightning and microUSB cable, headphones, and my Apple Watch charger. This can become quite the jumbled mess in my bag if I’m not intentional about organizing my gear. I lean on two products to keep my satchel in order. First is the Nite Ize Gear Tie, which is available in varying lengths and colors. Personally, I prefer the three-inch rubber ties, which provide just enough length to coral my cables but aren’t too expensive at $3 for a set of four.

I’m also a big fan of the Cable Clip from Blue Lounge. This handy piece of plastic is a must-have. It simply clips your cable in two locations to keep it from running wild. The Cable Clip is one of those things that I wish I would’ve invented but none-the-less still love. At $10 for a set of six, it’s a worthwhile investment that will pay off quickly.

Storage on-the-go

Although cloud storage has come a long way over the last few years, there is still a need for physical portable hard drives in our digital lives. I’ve tried a number of different strategies for keeping my files in order and have ultimately settled on the following two devices in my daily routine. First up is SanDisk’s Extreme 500 Portable Solid-State Drives. These puck-shaped drives come in a few different capacities, ranging from 120GB up to 480GB. While the price per GB is higher than traditional portable options, the difference in speed is well worth the investment. Additionally, SSD options are generally more reliable in the long term in comparison to its mechanical counterparts. I use the mid-range model to store and transfer my GoPro videos when I’m away from my desktop computer. The smallest capacity is currently $90 at Amazon.

For iOS users, I’d recommend SanDisk’s Connect drive. This handy drive adds up to 128GB of storage to your device and connects wirelessly for easy access. It’s perfect for keeping movies and other files around without bogging down your iPhone. We positively reviewed the Connect when it was released back in the summer and still recommend it today. Prices start at $30 for the smallest capacity and range up to $100 for 128GB.

My favorite Bluetooth keyboards

Every solid portable setup deserves an external keyboard that is comfortable to type on and can take a beating out on the road. My top-pick in this category for iOS users is the Brydge Keyboard for iPad Air/2. I’ve been using this keyboard for a few months now and can honestly say that it’s my favorite of all the portable options. It has a classy aluminum design that is available in three color-matching styles. The keyboard is backlit and has a design that is reminiscent of the MacBook Air. There is nothing “plasticy” or cheap about this keyboard, the aluminum design is an excellent visual companion to the iPad Air 2. The Brydge Keyboard is available in three colors for $150.

Those in the market for a more cost-effective option will want to look at Anker’s iPad Air 2 Keyboard with a familiar clamshell design. It is available with a backlit keyboard or without and uses the familiar folio-style design. This keyboard is favorite amongst Amazon users, collecting a solid 4.6/5 star rating from hundreds of reviewers.

ICYMI: Take a look at Justin’s holiday gift guide for all the best options for improving your audio setup, plus our top-picks for practical stocking stuffers.

Filed under: Buying Guides Tagged: BlueLounge, gift guide, holiday gifts, Incase, SanDisk

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Three years ago, Apple released the original Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader, a larger, faster, and more expensive version of a Camera Connection Kit component it had previously developed for Dock Connector iPads. When I tested it back in 2012, I noted that the reader was working 3 times faster than its predecessor when used with the then-current iPad (4th-Gen), and 50% faster with the original iPad mini. Since then, iPads have only gotten faster, while the Reader has stayed unchanged.

This week, Apple subtly replaced the accessory with the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader (USB 3), which carries the same $29 price and arrives in a nearly identical box. As the parentheses suggest, the new Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader is capable of running at USB 3 speeds if the connected iPad supports USB 3 — for now, only the iPad Pro does — but it’s backward-compatible with earlier USB 2 iPads, and thanks to iOS 9.2, both old and new Readers now work with iPhones. If you have an iPad Pro, or plan to get a new Apple device in the future, the new version should be a no-brainer purchase over its predecessor, though other options (such as Eye-Fi’s excellent wireless SD cards, reviewed here) can eliminate the need for card readers altogether, though they operate at slower speeds…

Breaking with historic (but not universal) Apple practice, the USB 3 version of the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader is — like the fourth-generation Apple TV — noticeably but not importantly larger than its predecessor when they’re placed next to each other. Measuring 5.2″ long by 1.2″ wide and 0.3″ thick (versus 4.6″ long by 1.2″ wide by 0.27″ thick), the new Reader has a longer and slightly thicker SD Card chassis, as well as a thicker cable leading to its Lightning connector, both parts no doubt in service of hidden USB 3 components inside.

Interestingly, the changes aren’t obvious from the packaging, so you’ll need to look carefully to make sure you get the right version. Apple’s new box looks virtually identical to the old one, this time oddly leaving off the SD Card icon that’s found on the top of both Readers, and indicating the new version’s presence only in tiny print on a bottom-edge sticker. The new version is labeled as “MJYT2AM/A Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader (USB 3),” model A1595. There’s no reference to iPad Pro or iPhone support on the box, or in the instruction manual. Even the image on the front of the box looks like the old version.

The user experience is mostly the same between the two accessories. Plug the card reader into your iPad or iPhone, and nothing happens. But insert an SD Card and the Photos app will launch automatically, switching to a newly-added Import tab. Press a button and the import process will start, blazing through even high-resolution photos at a rapid clip. To really test the “Pro” potential of the new USB 3 Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader, I decided to use a very large DSLR photo collection — 1,107 photos, each taken at a resolution roughly twice as high as Apple’s best still cameras, for a total of 6.83GB. I timed each transfer with the USB 3 Reader on three different devices, then after deleting and purging the photos, repeated the process with the USB 2 version.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the only device where I saw a meaningful speed difference was the iPad Pro, which took 6 minutes and 15 seconds with the USB 3 Reader versus 7 minutes flat with the USB 2 Reader. Running the same test with an iPad Air 2, the USB 2 version took a meaningless 5 seconds longer than the 12 minutes and 15 seconds of the USB 3 version. And the iPhone 6s Plus took only 1 second longer with USB 2 than the 6 minutes and 39 seconds required by the USB 3 Reader. My takeaway from these tests is that, for now, a given iOS device’s CPU performance has more of an impact on transfer time than USB performance; the real difference between the A9X-based iPad Pro and A8X-based iPad Air 2 was, as can be seen from the A9 iPhone’s speed, not USB 3. But as iPads get faster and add USB 3 support, the new Reader will likely continue to widen the gap over the prior one. If you routinely use large memory cards with lots of pictures, the minutes saved with the new Reader and iPad Pro will start to add up.

One other thing worth mentioning in light of the SD Card Camera Reader’s addition of iPhone support is the significant battery drain you can expect to see when using the accessory. On an iPad, you probably won’t even notice a drop in power unless you’re doing super huge photo dumps. But on the iPhone 6s Plus — with one of the largest phone batteries Apple has ever shipped — the battery dropped by 1% for each minute the SD Card Camera Reader was in use. The impact on smaller iPhone batteries is likely to be larger, and this is a key reason Apple previously declined to let these accessories work with its pocket devices.

So is the USB 3 Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader fantastic? That depends on the iPad or iPhone you plan to use it with. iPad Pro users should preferentially seek it out if they want to achieve peak transfer speeds, while everyone else can — for now — comfortably keep using the prior version, which performs almost identically at its sole task. I personally have strongly come to prefer the convenience of using wireless SD Cards including Eye-Fi’s excellent Mobi and Pro X2 series, which eliminate the need for Lightning readers in favor of automated Wi-Fi transfers as I snap photos. But if raw speed is what you need, the latest Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader is fairly priced at $29, and worth considering.

More From This Author

Check out more of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve published a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users, as well as a great holiday gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed holiday gift guide for Mac users, and a separate holiday gift guide for Apple photographers.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, Lightning, Lightning to SD Card Reader, SD Card Reader

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Just (barely) in time for the holidays, Walmart.com now carries the Apple Watch Sport in a variety of colors –as long as it is either black or white. According to TechCrunch, the US’s largest retailer won’t carry the Watch in stores and currently the price for the Sport is the non-discounted $349-399 retail which is $100 more than Best Buy and bestbuy.com.

Best Buy, Target, B&H and others have been offering steep discounts on the Apple Watch sparking speculation that Apple is aggressively trying to move inventory for the holidays. The unprecedented price drops are perhaps clear inventory ahead of the next Apple Watch 2 launch which Mark Gurman exclusively reported would be in March-April of next year.

It’s not certain why the Walmart move was made at such a late hour in the holiday run-up but it is certainly a far cry from the high end shops that the Watch launched on in March.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, Apple watch, discount, Walmart

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Earlier this week, I wrote about the surprisingly good Motorola Moto G (2nd Gen) phone I was testing at our publisher’s request, and though I wouldn’t switch from iOS to Android, the experience made plain that even a sub-$100 Android phone is competent enough today to serve as a more capable alternative to a $199 iPod touch. I’ve since been testing the $180 Moto G (3rd Gen), which is still less expensive than the lowest-end iOS device, but is faster than its predecessor, and includes still cameras rivaling Apple’s flagship iPhone 6s models. Contrary to Apple’s marketing, Android devices aren’t all bad, and $100-$200 options from major manufacturers are now delivering much better overall value than Apple’s sub-$200 devices.

Google has spent the last few years really closing Android’s overall user experience gap with iOS, while adding and polishing some features that are either Android-exclusive — or markedly better on Android than iOS. So just like Google borrowed elements of iOS to improve Android, Apple should be doing the same. Here are the top 10 features I’d pick for iOS 10 to clone…

10. Versatile, Location-Aware Device Security + Functionality. There have been hints over the years that Apple wants to enable iOS devices to automatically behave differently whether they’re at home, in an office or school, in a car, or out and about. Android already offers this with two features. One is Smart Lock, which can automatically disable a device’s password/lock screen features if you’re at a trusted location, connected to your car’s Bluetooth system, or near your smartwatch. It can also offer access to the device if your voice matches a specific pattern, or your face matches a prior scan. Additionally, apps such as Moto Assist can optionally use your location, the phone’s orientation, and other factors to change the behavior of notifications and other phone features.

9. Real Live Wallpaper. Android’s approach to wallpaper has been considerably better than iOS’s for years — Google makes it easy to change wallpaper (just press and hold down on your current wallpaper), and allows developers to offer completely 3-D or animated 2-D designs. Apple has offered an extremely limited collection of “dynamic” and “live” iOS wallpaper options that are nowhere near as impressive as Android’s, and they remain one of Android’s most conspicuous benefits over iPhones and iPads.

8. Multi-User Support. Macs have multiple user accounts. As of Android 5.0, many Android devices have multiple user accounts. iOS does not. Arguably better for tablets than phones, this feature would nonetheless enable a parent to hand either type of device to a child without fear of having the wrong things accessed. Supposedly under development for some time now, there’s no reason for iOS to continue to lack this feature.

7. Customizable Home Screens, Folder Sizes, and Widgets. iOS established the template for Home Screen designs and made folder creation easy, but Android has built upon the features by enabling greater customization of Home Screen icon locations, and using folders that make better use of the screen’s size when opened. Apple should borrow these improvements from Android, and add icon resizing to the mix, too. Adding support for full-fledged alternate app launchers, another UI option in Android, seems too impossible to even imagine.

One of Android’s best UI enhancements is the ability to use widgets, mini-apps that get added to one or more of your Home Screens, offering both functionality and a more interesting look than a plain icon grid. You can have a large clock, specific contacts, a current Facebook status, part of your inbox, or a driving directions shortcut for a specific place sitting at the ready for your use. The fact that widgets can optionally occupy more than a single icon worth of space is really great, too.

6. Google Backup and Photos. Unless you’re willing to pay a recurring monthly fee, iCloud is one of iOS’s most conspicuous pain points. It’s Apple’s Internet-based service that tells you to pay more for enough storage to back up your expensive iOS devices, and teases you with the ability to access all your photos (and perhaps videos) from any device, anywhere, only if you’re willing to pay for the privilege. Google offers these features to users for free, including buyers of even $99 Android phones, and Android is better for it. It’s really time for iCloud to follow suit.

5. Virtual Buttons. Some iOS die-hards may disagree, but Android’s use of virtual home, back, and multitasking buttons rather than a dedicated Home button has helped to shrink Android devices’ chins without compromising functionality. iOS 9 introduced a virtual back button on an as-needed basis in the upper left corner of the screen, but it’s neither as convenient nor intuitive to access as Android’s. Doing away with the physical Home button in favor of a virtual one would help Apple cut even more of those millimeters it loves to shave off, assuming it can find another location for Touch ID.

4. Google Now. Apple knows Google Now’s automated presentation of useful “cards” containing travel, weather, and information guidance is great, which is why it tried to capture the feature with iOS 9’s Proactive. But Proactive is at best a subtle, muted alternative to Google Now, and Apple needs to add way better and much more functionality to capture the range of automated details Google Now offers.

3. Deeper Emergency Alert Settings. This is a minor point, but iOS’s support for “Government Alerts” consists of two switches that toggle off or on “AMBER Alerts” and “Emergency Alerts,” with no granular controls. If you’ve ever received one of those notifications on an iPhone, you know that your device could seriously startle you in the middle of a drive or restful night’s sleep over something that may well have zero importance to your life. Android lets you differentiate between “extreme threats to life and property,” “severe threats to life and property,” and AMBER alerts, with the option to disable vibration — one of the scariest parts of iOS’s warnings — and receive reminders either once, every 2 minutes, or every 15 minutes.

2. Daydream Options. Android lets you choose to let your device “daydream” while it’s docked and/or charging, displaying your choice of a clock, shifting rainbow color pattern, photos, or animated wallpaper. iOS should give you the same option.

1. A More Usable, Mac-Like Top-Of-Screen Status Bar. Android isn’t perfect in this regard, but it’s easy to call closer to “right” than iOS. Ever since Apple’s first consumer computer graphical user interface, a small bar at the top of the screen has been reserved for menu options, and the Mac has evolved over time to include features such as a clock, a persistent search icon, notification center trigger, and mini-dock for app settings. iOS’s status bar leaves the space mostly open, but includes such arguably unnecessary elements as the device’s or cellular carrier’s name and a long battery icon that may or may not sit besides a more accurate remaining battery percentage. Android uses the bar largely for icons, but includes app download status and completion, as well as other icons that clearly seem linked to the bar’s related pull-down menu for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and other controls. Letting users customize this bar, and getting rid of the word “iPad” or “Verizon” at the top, would be useful improvements on iOS.

Are there any other Android features you’d like to see come to iOS? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

More From This Author

Check out more of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve published a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users, as well as a great holiday gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed holiday gift guide for Mac users, and a separate holiday gift guide for Apple photographers.

Filed under: iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: Android, Apple, Google, iOS, iPad, iPhone

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Apple has pushed an iTunes update to match Apple Music changes made earlier this week in iOS 9.2. The change includes a new way to view Classical music on the streaming service, allowing users to see works, composers, and performers.

The update also includes the standard generic bug fix notice. iTunes 12.3.2 is available now from the Updates tab of the Mac App Store.

Filed under: Apple Music, Apps Tagged: iTunes

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