Sonos users rejoice: Apple Music support now has a date, December 15th. Sonos support for Apple Music fulfills a promise made by Apple in June to bring the subscription service to the connected speakers by the end of the year. Opening the Apple Music catalog for subscribers and free trial members makes brings a massive collection of content to Sonos speakers.

The Sonos speakers already supported a huge library of streaming music services including Beats Music and Spotify as well as DRM-free local music on iPhones and Macs, but Apple Music has been unsupported. Trying to stream or playback a song from the subscription music service serves up a DRM error message, requiring line-in connections to work which eliminates wireless and multi-room playback. Starting with a public beta in a couple weeks, Sonos users will be able to stream anything from the Apple Music collection to single or multiple connected speakers simultaneously.

Sonos support is also notable because of brings Apple Music closer to feature parity with Beats Music, which it is based on and replaces. Apple already delivered on its promise to bring Apple Music to Android, albeit in beta, as a fall release.

Both moves show Apple is dedicated to bring Apple Music to as many users as possible, although it has no plans to support Windows Phone like Beats Music did (for marketshare reasons). Apple Music is also available on the fourth-gen Apple TV with Siri support in the works on the new set-top box and subscribers can download tracks locally to Apple Watch for wireless playback without iPhones.

Sonos recently released Trueplay, a feature for fine-tuning Sonos wireless speakers for their surroundings to offer the best sound for the room. Trueplay works with both PLAY:5 speakers as well as all PLAY:1 and PLAY:3 speakers.

Sonos customers interested in trying Apple Music on December 15th ahead of its general launch in 2016 can sign up here to participate. The release is timely as Beats Music shuts down today.

Filed under: Apple Music, Apps Tagged: Apple Music, Sonos

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If you’re running the latest OS X El Capitan Update Beta on your Mac, head over to the Mac App Store to grab today’s Update Beta 5 release. OS X 10.11.2 is currently being developed alongside iOS 9.2 for iPhone and iPad as well as tvOS 9.1 for the new Apple TV. If you’re already running the OS X 10.11.2 beta, launch the Mac App Store and open the Updates tab to download and install the new release, then restart your Mac.

OS X 10.11.2 betas have focused on improvements across a handful of apps and parts of the operating system, including graphics, Mail, Wi-Fi, Calendar, USB, Notes, Photos, Spotlight, and networking. The update to the Mac will also likely be required to take advantage of AT&T’s new NumberSync feature for iPhones, which has been tested in previous iOS 9.2 betas ahead of an early 2016 release. Apple first started testing OS X 10.11.2 with developers and public beta testers in late October.

OS X 10.11.2 follows the last point update to El Capitan, which included over 150 new emoji characters as well as fixes for Microsoft Office on the Mac. We’ll update with any notable changes spotted in the latest OS X beta.

Filed under: Developers, Mac Tagged: 10.11.2 beta 5, el capitan, Mac, Mac App Store, OS X

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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 12″ 256GB MacBook $1,100 (Reg. $1,299), 13″ 128GB Retina MacBook Pro (newest) $1,050 (Reg. $1,299)

$100 iTunes Gift Card for $80 with email delivery from PayPal (20% off), more

Apple’s Amazing Apps & Games sale 50% off: Threes!, Transistor, PAC-MAN, Sworkit Pro, iTranslate Voice, more

Cyber Monday brings big iPad Pro savings: 32GB $679 (Reg. $799), 128GB $807 (Reg. $949), more

Target offers a 15% sitewide discount for Cyber Monday: Nest Thermostat w/ $50 Gift Card $212, more!

Apple Watch Deals: Up to $100 off + $50 gift card – Sport from $299, Stainless from $449, more

B&H Photo’s Black Friday Mac Deals live! 5K iMac: $1579, Mac Pro: $500 off, Retina MacBook: $170 off (Tax in NY only)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

HDTVs: Samsung 48-inch 4K HDTV home theater bundle $600 ($755 value), Seiki 43-inch 1080p $260 (Orig. $400), more

• Cyber Monday magazines from $3/yr ea: Wired, GQ, ESPN, Rolling Stone, more
• Amazon is discounting everything a book lover could ever want
• Polaroid Cube HD 1080p Action Camera: $75 shipped (Reg. $100)
• Games/Apps: MGS V $30, 15% off amiibo, Nathan Drake PS4 + $50 credit $300, more
• Cyber Monday Fashion: Tommy Hilfiger 50% off, up to 60% off at Timbuk2, Amazon
• Media Stocking Stuffers: $4 Blu-rays, Harry Potter Complete Collection from $25, more
• Seagate Backup Plus Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive $180 shipped (Orig. $300)
• Cyber Monday deals: 50% off The New York Times, 40% off GNC supplements, more
• Daily Deals: Epson PowerLite Wireless 2600 Lumens 3LCD Projector $499, more
• CyberPower 1500VA/900W Mini-Tower UPS: $140 shipped (Reg. $215)
• Blue Condenser Mics: Spark Digital Lightning from $128 (Reg. $200)
• OtterBox Commuter Series iPhone 6/6s Case for $19 shipped (Reg. $28+)
• These men’s luxury watches are on sale for Black Friday & Cyber Monday
• O’Reilly eBook and Video 50% off Cyber Monday: El Capitan Missing Manual $15

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Nomad Black Friday Sale: Apple Watch Stand $40 (Reg. $60), more

• Anker iPad Accessories: Bluetooth Folio Keyboards for iPad Air 2, mini 4, more from $20
• eBay Gift Card Roundup: Toys R Us $100 for $85, Lowe’s $200 for $175, much more
• Black Friday Tablets – Amazon 7-inch Kindle Fire $35 (Reg. $50), more
• Grab extra MFi Apple-Certified Lightning Cables from Anker, Spigen & Mpow from $4
• Pencil by FiftyThree smart iPad stylus from $30 Prime shipped (Orig. $50), more
• GoPro HERO4 Cameras: Session $229 (Reg. $300), Black 4K $349 (Reg. $500)
• Yamaha 7.2-channel 4K Wi-Fi Network AV Receiver: $300 shipped (Reg. $400)
• Crucial & Lexar Storage up to 75% off: 256GB Flash Drive $55, 500GB SSD $120
• Two Chromecast Streaming Media Players (newest version): $50 shipped (Reg. $70)
• Take 50% off any album purchase from Google Play
• ecobee3 HomeKit Thermostat w/ 3 Remote Sensors: $249 shipped ($328 value)
• Nest Thermostat (3rd Gen) w/ free $50 Amazon Gift Card: $249 ($299 value), more
• Pixelmator for Mac gets a 50% discount today: $15 (Reg. $30)
• Apple AirPort Extreme 802.11ac Wireless Router (refurbished): $100 shipped (Orig. $199)
• iTunes HD Movies: Godfather Trilogy $10, Rocky Collection $30, more
• Panasonic Sound Rush Plus On-Ear Headphones $15 shipped (Reg. $60)
• Save on the 3rd Gen 1080p Apple TV with this refurb deal: $40 shipped (Orig. $69)
• Herman Miller takes rare 15% off world’s best office chairs + desks
• Car Tech: iOttie Easy One Touch iPhone 6s/Plus Car Mount $10 (Reg. $17+), more
• Implosion – Never Lose Hope for iOS goes free for the first time ($10 value)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Unboxing and Review: Star Wars Battlefront limited edition PS4 is out of this galaxy [Video]

Mohu launches a “high-end” speaker with built-in Android display, save 10%

• Leica introduces a new low-cost M series camera, but don’t expect bargain pricing
• D-Link takes all the smart things and puts them together in one Komfy light switch
• Curate With Me, Win A Prize: 2015’s Most Coveted Holiday Tech Gifts List!
• The ultimate 4K set-top box battle [Video]
• GENII’s CAST streaming box skirts copyright rules to beam your content to friends

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon Gold Box, Amazon Prime, Apple, apple deals, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Deals, eBay Daily Deals, free, free shipping, iOS apps, iTunes Gift Card, MacBook, Target Cyber Monday

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Apple has today released a (PRODUCT)RED version of its iPhone 6s Leather Case, available to buy now from Apple.com with Wednesday shipping. The omission of the color was odd back in September, as the Silicone Case was offered in (PRODUCT)Red since the iPhone 6s launch. Apple has just about got stock of the item in time for the holidays, if you still happen to be hunting for an official red iPhone case (there are plenty of third-party red iPhone cases available).

The main benefit of Apple’s official PRODUCT(RED) case is that a portion of the case price is given as a donation to the (PRODUCT)Red charity to support the fight against AIDS. See more Apple products that participate in the charity initiative here.

Oh, and for those asking what’s the difference between the Red iPhone 6s Leather Case and the Red iPhone 6 Leather Case? The answer is very little aside from the outer product packaging. Also, Apple simply no longer sells the iPhone 6 branded case new so the iPhone 6s version is your only choice if buying from Apple online or retail stores. Both cases are compatible with either generation of iPhone.

Apple’s iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus case comes in six colors in total: Red, Midnight Blue, Saddle Brown, Rose Gray, Brown and Black.

Filed under: iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: iPhone 6s, leather case, Product Red, red

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Welcome to our iPad Holiday Gift Guide! There’s currently a lot of excitement around the world of iPad, and rightfully so.

On the software side, Apple injected new life into prior models by adding side-by-side apps and picture-in-picture video with iOS 9. In hardware, the smaller 7.9″ iPad mini family got major speed and notable display quality improvements with the iPad mini 4, while brand new 9.7″ iPad Air 2’s are being sold at prices lower than minis, and a completely new class of iPad debuted in the just-launched 12.9″ iPad Pro.

There are essential accessories in all price ranges for every iPad regardless of which size you’re addressing, and we’ve tested a lot of products over the years. Read on and please share our iPad Holiday Gift Guide so you and your loved ones can buy the best iPad accessories for the holidays.

Cases, Covers, & Stands

iPads on their own are totally immersive: high-resolution touch screens that we can hold in our hands to see the web, ebooks, friends and family over FaceTime calls, movies and TV shows up close, and so much more. But unlike MacBooks, out-of-the-box iPads leave their screens exposed to the elements, don’t stand up on their own, and likely travel a lot more places than just between the home and office. For those reasons, nearly all iPad owners will want something to cover the screen when not in use, protect the back and sides to prevent scratches and screen shatters and improve grip, and perhaps most importantly, something that lets iPad stand upright on a flat surface.

Apple’s Smart Covers ($39 mini/$39 Air 2/$59 Pro) have served me well over the years and add minimal weight to iPads while covering the screen when not in use, folding back to stand iPads up in landscape for watching movies or making FaceTime calls, and slightly inclining flat iPads for comfortable desk typing with the on-screen keyboard. Apple also offers Silicone Cases that cover the backs of the iPad mini 4 ($59) and iPad Pro ($79), and Smart Cases for iPad Air and Air 2 ($79) that cover the front and back. But better options exist if you’re looking to go beyond a basic Smart Cover or overly grippy silicone case.

Urban Armor Gear’s Composite case (reviewed here)

iPad Pro owners with Apple Pencil will appreciate Urban Armor Gear’s Composite Case ($80), which stands iPad Pro up at multiple angles, offers military-grade drop protection, and features an Apple Pencil holder. ZeroChroma’s Folio Slide Case ($35-$60) for iPad Air and Air 2 is a staff favorite thanks to its light shock-protective TPU body, removable slide lid cover, and rotating kickstand for landscape and portrait modes. A smaller version for iPad mini ($49.50) is also available. Also a staff favorite, the well-designed Just Mobile Encore stand ($50) will hold your iPad mini, Air, or Pro caseless or cased in landscape or portrait and comes in silver or gold.

iPad Pro Smart Keyboard (hands-on video here)

The iPad Pro also received a new cover plus keyboard from Apple, the hard-to-find Smart Keyboard ($169). It uses iPad Pro’s new Smart Connector for power and connectivity, so there’s no charging or Bluetooth pairing to fiddle with, but the premium price may be a turn-off to iPad users looking for more substantial protection or more functional keys. Logitech’s Create for iPad Pro ($150, reviewed here) offers front and back protection, backlit keys with more functions, and uses the same Smart Connector, but won’t appeal to iPad users not wanting to closely replicate the feel of a laptop computer.

Hardware Keyboards and Styluses

Many iPad users prefer not to have a physical keyboard attached to their case or cover, and instead master the software keyboard for text input most of the time. Bluetooth keyboards that can also be paired with Macs and 2nd/3rd-gen Apple TVs may be better options for these iPad users. Apple’s new Magic Keyboard ($94, reg. $99) features a rechargeable battery and charges with Lightning, the same cable that charges iPads, but lacks backlit keys and easy switching between devices. Logitech’s Easy-Switch K811 ($74.99, reg. $99) similarly features a rechargeable battery but uses micro-USB like most Beats products and Android devices, although it’s backlit, has a Home button for iOS devices, and can pair with up to three devices including Macs, iPads, and older Apple TVs with fast switching between each.

Other options include the lightweight Logitech Keys-To-Go for iPad ($51.99, reg.$69.99) which connects wirelessly over Bluetooth, or Belkin’s Wired Lightning Keyboard with Stand ($54.99, reg. $69.99) which trades batteries for wired connectivity but only works with iPads and not Macs. Regardless of which hardware keyboard or keyboard case you pick, I recommend bookmarking and sharing my iPad keyboard shortcut cheat sheet for iOS 9.

Digital styluses provide precision input and enable accurate drawing and handwriting, turning iPads into digital sketch pads and notebooks. iPad Pro users will absolutely want the new Apple Pencil ($99, review here), which pairs instantly and charges over Lightning while offering palm rejection, pressure and angle detection, and low latency, but only works with the new big screen and ships in 4-5 weeks from Apple currently. Adonit’s Jot Dash ($49.99), a staff pick, lacks pressure sensitivity and palm rejection but works with all iPads and features a pen clip for easy carrying between uses. Adonit’s Jot Touch ($74.99, reg. $99) is most like Apple Pencil with palm rejection and pressure sensitivity but requires using specific apps for these features.

Speakers, Headphones, and Gaming Controllers

iPad screens make great portable home theaters and adding better sound can greatly enhance the experience. iPad Pro makes the most progress on improving iPad sound quality with four separate speakers, but even the new tablet benefits from connecting a dedicated speaker.

Apple’s new Beats Pill+ ($229) charges with Lightning like iPads, pairs wirelessly over Bluetooth, and features USB charge out for powering low battery iPhones and iPads. Optionally, you can still find Beats Pill 2.0 ($129.99, reg. $200) speakers discounted and in more color options, although these are somewhat smaller and charge over micro-USB.

Beats Solo2 Wireless ($199, reg. $299) headphones are offered in color-matching gold, silver, and space gray (and iPhone-matching rose gold) to look perfect next to all iPads, while wired versions ($169, reg. $199) lack Bluetooth but come in additional color options.

For gaming, adding an MFi (Made for iPad) Bluetooth controller can maximize both fun and skill. I originally picked up a SteelSeries Nimbus ($49, hands-on here), which conveniently recharges over Lightning, to try with the new Apple TV, but paired it with iPad Pro to recreate a similar gaming experience, only more portable. A second Lightning-equipped option, Horipad Ultimate ($49), has since surfaced. Another popular option that work with iPads and iPhones alike is the SteelSeries Stratus ($41.97, reg. $79.99), which comes in either black or white.

Adapters, Apple TVs, and Batteries

Unlocking the iPad’s full potential often requires adapters to turn the Lightning port into more than just a charging port. Apple’s Lightning to USB Camera Connector ($29) lets you directly transfer photos and videos from iPhones and cameras to iPad. Alternatively, Apple’s Lightning to SD Card Adapter ($29) lets you import photos and videos from SD cards used in most cameras. Plug in a Lightning AV Adapter ($43.47, reg. $49) plus a self-supplied HDMI cable to play supported video from iPad to an HDTV or projector, all while keeping iPad charged over Lightning cables like Anker’s color-matched options ($13.99, reg. $34.99). When iPad is on a Wi-Fi network, Apple’s AirPlay feature lets you wirelessly beam photos, videos, and sound to Apple TVs, both old ($64.99, reg. $69) and new ($149). For portable power, consider Anker’s Astro E5 ($32.99, reg. $79.99), an affordable 16,000 mAh battery pack fine for all iPads, or the larger PowerCore+ 20100 ($59.99, reg. $119.99, reviewed here), a 20,100 mAh battery suitable for iPad Pros.

Storage and Printers

64GB and 128GB iPads likely won’t need any add-on storage, but 16GB and even 32GB iPads may need to offload large media storage like music libraries and movie collections to Lightning flash drives for enjoying media when streaming isn’t ideal. SanDisk’s iXpand 64GB Lightning flash drive ($49.99, reg. $99.99) features a USB connection for loading media from your computer, and a Lightning port for enjoying media through SanDisk’s app. Other storage options include 16, 32, and 128GB options to double even the highest capacity iPad’s storage, although these require staying connected and using SanDisk’s app to work.

Unlike Macs, iPads can’t print with wired printers and don’t work with every wireless printer, either. The trick when buying a printer that works with iPads is to look for AirPrint support, which means the printer knows how to talk to the software running on iPads. Epson Expression Home XP-420 ($49.99, reg. $99.99) offers AirPrint printing from iPads, and scanning support when connected to Macs or PCs.

A New iPad

The iPad itself is the most important piece of the whole puzzle, and Apple’s tablet lineup has really expanded over the last few years. Apple currently sells 5 models in total including two 7.9″ minis, two 9.7″ Airs, and the new 12.9″ Pro (from $799) which has the fastest hardware inside. The medium-sized iPad Air 2 (from $499) and small-sized iPad mini 4 (from $399) feature very similar internals and support all of iOS 9’s multitasking features, while the older iPad Air (from $399) and iPad mini 3 (from $269) are somewhat slower and can’t keep two apps running persistently side-by-side.

Screen size will be a very personal preference, with smaller screens being more portable and larger ones feeling more capable. Regardless of which iPad screen size you pick, I highly recommend considering at least a 32GB or higher storage capacity if possible. Apple’s 16GB iPads in some cases can be difficult to manage with even a handful of apps, games, and videos even if your photos and music live in iCloud, especially if iPad is your main computer. Even the 32GB models will be somewhat pressed for space, depending on how much you keep on them.

Everything Else

Finished shopping for the iPad user in your life and need ideas for iPhone and Mac fans? Then be sure to catch up on and share our 9to5Mac iPhone and Mac Holiday Gift Guides, plus check out our HomeKit, photography, premium audio guides and stay tuned for even more!

Filed under: Apple TV, Apps, Buying Guides, iOS, iOS Devices Tagged: buying guide, gift guide, iPad, Shopping

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Trying to predict the future of technology is a risky endeavor at best, and never more so when attempting to do it with one of the most secretive companies in the field.

But never let it be said I don’t ‘fess up when my predictions don’t pan out. Two years ago, I reckoned that the MacBook Air and Pro ranges would have merged by now. When the MacBook Air was first launched, it made a lot of compromises to fit into that slim casing. But over the years, the Air got more powerful and the Pro started to make similar compromises in pursuit of a sleeker form-factor. Both went SSD, both went non-upgradable RAM, neither had an optical drive, neither had an Ethernet port.

It seemed to me then that the differences between the two ranges would continue to dwindle until there was really nothing to separate them. But as things turned out, Apple had one surprise in store for me … 

The MacBook Air wasn’t the end of the company’s ambitions when it came to making a laptop as slim as humanly possible. It of course launched an even sleeker model, the 12-inch MacBook.

The new MacBook represented an even greater compromise. A less powerful Core M processor. A single port. A keyboard that scarcely moves. No ability (yet, at least) to drive a Thunderbolt display. A non-HD camera. Though it did gain a Retina display.

So it’s clear that, while I may have been correct that the Air and Pro ranges were converging, Apple isn’t planning on having just a single MacBook range. What, then, does it have in mind?

One thing I think we can be sure of: it doesn’t intend to have three MacBook ranges indefinitely. The current line-up is messy for two reasons. First because you have a machine whose spec sits beneath the MacBook Air in many respects, yet has a better display and a higher price-tag. Second, it makes no sense nomenclature-wise that the MacBook Air be chunkier than the MacBook.

That second point is the biggest clue to Apple’s intentions, in my view. The only possible way it makes sense for Apple to label it just MacBook (rather than MacBook Ultra or similar) is if it knows that the MacBook Air range is on the way out. That we will, in the not too distant future, have just two ranges: the MacBook and the MacBook Pro.

This morning’s report of new MacBook Air models next year might seem to suggest that the change isn’t coming next year, but I wouldn’t set too much store by that. Leaving aside the sketchy source, it’s entirely possible that the facts are correct but the label is wrong. Remember that everyone assumed the Retina MacBook would be labelled as a MacBook Air until Apple announced the name.

That possibility would make sense of the fact that the rumor references 13- and 15-inch models, but not an 11-inch one: that slot has already been filled by the 12-inch MacBook. The report gives no details, just says the new machines will be thinner, lighter and have substantial component changes. Make a MacBook Air thinner, lighter and with internal changes and you’ve got … a MacBook in two more sizes.

So whether the latest report is right or wrong, I think there’s little doubt that the MacBook Air label is living on borrowed time. At some point – be it 2016 or 2017 – we’re going to have an ultraportable range called the MacBook, and a revamped beefier range retaining the MacBook Pro label.

This approach would also re-establish a clear differentiation between the two ranges. I mentioned the diminishing differences in spec between them at present, and I wrote about my own practical demonstration of this when my 11-inch MacBook Air did a remarkable job of standing in for my MacBook Pro. If Apple isn’t converging the two ranges, it needs to more clearly delineate them – and reducing the capabilities of the MacBook Air down to the level of the MacBook achieves that.

So, we end up with the MacBook range in, let’s say, 12-, 13- and 15-inch models – and the MacBook Pro in its existing 13- and 15-inch forms. And maybe even 17-inch … ok, probably not, but I still haven’t given up hope.

The MacBook is the lightweight range, both physically and performance-wise, with its mobile processor and single port. The MacBook Pro is the heavyweight, with desktop-class processor and powerful discrete graphics card.

Both will, though, likely have one thing in common: that USB-C port. I’m sure the new MacBook Pros will have more than one of them, but now Intel has integrated Thunderbolt 3 into the port, it becomes even more powerful. As I suggested earlier, leaving behind legacy ports and requiring adapters for existing devices will be a pain-point in the short-term, but provide a far neater solution in the longer-term, as peripherals get replaced with ones that use the new standard.

Am I right? That the MacBook Air range will be replaced with the MacBook range? Take our poll, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Filed under: AAPL Company, Mac, Opinion Tagged: 12-inch MacBook, Mac, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook range

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A recently unearthed patent published by the USPTO, and discovered by Patently Mobile shows a unique folding mobile device concept by Samsung. Although the idea of bending and folding electronic products is really interesting, perhaps more noteworthy is the Korean company’s choice of onscreen icons. We have WhatsApp, Phone and Messages which are all platform agnostic apps. But they’re followed by iPod. Certainly an unusual choice for a company which claims it doesn’t copy Apple. And one with which Cupertino has long been in legal battle with…

This isn’t an old patent either. The application was originally filed in Korea in May 2014 (long after the bitter lawsuit started), and only published by the US Patent and Trademark Office a few days ago. While Apple has since moved on from ‘iPod’ to ‘Music’ for its iOS devices, the fact Sammy decided to include it on purpose certainly made us all chuckle here (and ask, “Really?!”)

Samsung taking design influence from Apple has been well documented. In fact, the two have been in and out of court across the globe for years over various patent infringement allegations. Perhaps most famous was the case a couple of years back when Samsung was ordered to pay the company almost $1 billion in damages for purposefully copying the iPhone’s user interface and design. A case which is about to move in to ‘Round 5’ and still doesn’t look close to ending.

The question now is: Will Apple use this as further evidence of Samsung’s desire to copy iOS devices? It certainly seems like it would be a little damning if they did.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, Apple vs Samsung, iPod, patents

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Chipworks has provided our first look inside the A9X chip that powers the iPad Pro, thanks to a die shot obtained by Motley Fool.

One of the fascinating things about the incredibly small processes used for today’s chips is that even a die shot doesn’t provide a definitive answer to what is found inside one. There’s still a certain amount of interpretation involved, though both Chipworks and Motley Fool‘s chip specialist Ashraf Eassa agree on what we are looking at in the full image (below) … 

Chipworks’ Dick James tells me that he sees a 12-cluster GPU, two CPU cores, and an absence of the level-three cache memory found inside the A9 chip […]

I agree with his assessment. The two CPU cores can be seen in the green box, and I believe that inside of each blue box are two GPU clusters, for a total of 12 clusters.

Eassa says that the memory interface is twice as wide as the one on the A9, explaining the absence of the cache – the chip can read & write data to RAM twice as fast, so doesn’t need it. The far larger size of the iPad Pro, enabling it to much more easily dissipate heat, is the likely reason Apple was able to take this approach.

The GPU design appears to be a custom one specifically for this chip. Apple’s GPU supplier, Imagination Technologies, doesn’t offer the 12-cluster design seen here. Eassa says the entire chip is an extremely impressive piece of engineering.

I believe that the A9X is easily the most advanced mobile system-on-a-chip available today. It has best-in-class CPU/graphics performance and it is an extremely large chip built on a bleeding-edge foundry manufacturing process.

It is little wonder that the chip performs as well as it does in the various performance tests available online.

The green area indicates the two CPU cores, while the blue areas represent the 12-cluster GPU (two in each box).

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: A9x, A9X die shot, iPad Pro, iPad Pro teardown

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Target said that the iPad was its top-selling item, both in-store and online, on Black Friday – outselling even TVs. The company revealed that it sold one iPad every second, reports Forbes. The company also noted that the Apple Watch “was especially popular in stores.”

The deals aren’t done yet, either: 9to5Toys notes that Target is today offering a 15% discount on almost every product it sells – even the iPad Pro. Just enter coupon code CYBER15 at the checkout.

Filed under: iOS Devices

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Apple’s decision to equip the 12-inch MacBook with just a single port was a controversial one, but the USB-C port Apple chose just got a whole lot more powerful. Intel announced back in June that it was integrating USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 to create “one compact port that does it all” – and that port just hit the market in the form of the revamped Dell XPS range.

That means that a single port combines superspeed USB, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, PCI Express and power. The DisplayPort channel can simultaneously handle two 4K monitors.

Dell has opted to include two of the new ports, and this is an approach I think we can expect Apple to take with the new MacBook Air models and, in time, the MacBook Pro … 

Such a move would, of course, be a controversial one – especially among power users, who have a whole raft of peripherals using existing USB and Thunderbolt connectors. But there are two reasons to think Apple will do it anyway.

First, the 12-inch MacBook provides a strong pointer to the company’s thinking: it’s exceedingly unlikely it would reserve the latest and greatest port for just the baby in the MacBook line-up. Second, Apple has consistently demonstrated its willingness to abandon what it considers legacy technology. It was the first major player to abandon the floppy drive in favor of an optical one, and the first to drop the optical drive from laptops aimed at the pro market.

But it’s good news for those of us who use Thunderbolt. A couple of years ago, it was looking to me like Thunderbolt might itself be on the way out. It never achieved mass adoption beyond Apple products, and I did wonder whether Apple might itself decide to move on. Intel’s decision to integrate it into USB-C gives the standard an assured future – and with even higher speeds as a bonus.

While there will be some short-term pain for those of us with an array of peripherals, there are solutions available, even for those who need to connect multiple devices while mobile.

Filed under: AAPL Company, Mac Tagged: 4k, Dell XPS, DisplayPort, Intel, PCI Express, Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C

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