The new Apple TV went on pre-order via Apple’s online store earlier this week, and priority deliveries will begin this Friday while standard shipments will begin arriving after this upcoming weekend. Now, we’ve learned that Apple is planning to begin selling the new set-top-box at its retail stores this Friday. Apple retail employees say that stores are beginning to receive shipments to sell at the end of this week, while stores will be re-organized overnight on Thursday to promote the new Apple TV in stores on Friday. The new Apple TV costs $149 and $199, depending on either a 32GB or 64GB configuration, and includes a new user-interface, Siri, upgraded remote control, and an App Store.

In addition to Apple Retail Stores, Best Buy and B&H plus other resellers have opened up pre-orders or plan to begin selling the new Apple TV soon. Best Buy currently lists both 32GB and 64GB models as available for pre-order with store inventory expected November 4th. See also our 9to5Toys roundup of best accessories for the fourth-gen Apple TV.

Filed under: Apple TV

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Skype is rolling out an update for its iPhone and iPad mobile apps today that introduces a number of ways to use Apple’s new 3D Touch feature on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, as well as support for video filters not unlike competitive video chat services.

For 3D Touch, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users will find a few ways to use the feature including the usual quick-start actions by firmly touching the Home screen icon. In addition, you can “press on a Recent conversation to Peek the latest IMs or a live video call” and “Force Touch shared locations, photos, contacts and URLs to Peek the content.”

And for both iPhone and iPad users, Skype is adding filters for video messages with various effects to choose from:

Get started by tapping the filter wand at the bottom left of the video message window. Choose a filter to see it in action then, when you’re ready, hit the record button. Add balloons to your video message to celebrate any occasion. If you’re feeling goofy, change the appearance of your face to make it look rounder or longer – we love this one! Or, if you’re sending a video message showing off your Halloween costume, add some ghosts or use the negative filter to set a spooky mood.

And lastly, both the iPhone and iPad apps add improvements to conversations and contacts:

– Hide conversations from your Recent list with a swipe.
– Completely delete a conversation’s history from the chat menu or Recent list.
– Easily share Skype contacts.

The updated Skype for iPad and Skype for iPhone apps are available on the App Store now.

Filed under: Apps, iOS Tagged: 3D Touch, 6s Plus, filters, iPad, iPhone, iPhone 6s, messages, Peek, Skype, update, video

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Leveraging a connector that has previously been exclusive to Apple products, Chinese developer Beaver Electronics has announced the Quarter Super PowerBank ($59), a battery pack built with a MagSafe 2 port for recharging. Clad in Mac-matching silver aluminum, Quarter is designed to work with both Apple’s MacBook wall chargers and the Quarter Car Adapter ($16), a silver metallic and mirrored charger with a MagSafe connector. This Car Adapter is designed solely for Quarter, not for MacBooks.

The 5,000mAh battery claims 2.1-Amp output that’s safe for iPad, iPhone, and iPod use with a full-sized USB port, while itself recharging at up to 3-Amp speeds in only 45 minutes — up to 10X faster than typical batteries, Beaver says — or via a 1-Amp micro-USB input in 7 hours. Beaver notes that after only 15 minutes of MagSafe recharging, Quarter will have enough power to refuel an iPhone 5s. Rather than pressing a button to see how much battery power remains, you just shake the battery once, triggering four blue LED lights…

Physical samples sent by Beaver look and feel impressively solid, though Apple’s track record of denying third-party developers access to MagSafe connectors suggests that Quarter will be a very limited edition.

The company is offering $39 pre-orders through Australian crowdfunding site Pozible, and having already exceeded its US$10,000 goal, promises that the first 1,000 Quarter units will be available starting November 10.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Beaver, MagSafe, quarter

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T-Mobile announced a new way to easily get a new iPad mini 4 or iPad Air 2 now and upgrade to a new model later with its Jump On Demand leasing program. For $0 down and $22/month for iPad mini 4 or $26/month for iPad Air 2, qualified customers can easily pick up one of Apple’s latest tablets then change models or upgrade to newer models in the future up to three times per year.

While the $0 down and $22/month and $26/month prices apply to base 16 GB models, T-Mobile is offering higher capacity models through Jump On Demand as well. Through the program, iPad mini 4 64GB goes for $99.99 down then $21/month while the 128GB model goes for $199.99 down and $19/month. The higher capacity 64GB iPad Air 2 with $99.99 down leases for $25/month while the highest capacity 128GB model with $199.99 down leases for $24/month.

Jump On Demand leases allow you to renew with new devices up to three times per year, or pay on your device for 18 months with the option to pay it off and keep it after the lease period. T-Mobile Simple Choice plan customers can add iPad to existing plans for $10/month with 5GB of dedicated data under the program.

While leasing programs for picking up iPads haven’t been as popular as similar programs for iPhones, Sprint similarly offers iPad mini 4 on its network for $0 down and $17/month for 24 months. Not interested in leasing or buying a cellular model? Stay tuned to 9to5Toys where we recently saw the first and only trusted iPad mini 4 discount so far.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: iPad, iPad Air 2, ipad mini 4, Jump On Demand, leasing, T-Mobile

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While the market seemed largely unmoved by Apple’s announcement yesterday of a record year (and guidance suggesting that more records will be set), that’s because analysts had already predicted the numbers.

But roundups of analyst notes by Fortune and Business Insider show that almost all are rating the stock a buy. None of them rate AAPL a sell, and only two consider it neutral … 

Most pointed to Q1 guidance that was on a par with the more optimistic predictions, and better than most. Analysts were also reassured that the company was maintaining strong growth in China despite the difficult economy there, and despite a big hit taken in overseas earnings due to the strong dollar.

Other reasons for optimism were increased average selling prices, likely sales growth driven by the new iPhone Upgrade Program, encouraging numbers for Android switchers and the increasing value of the Apple ecosystem as a whole.

The two exceptions were Deutsche Bank and Mizuho, which both rated the stock a hold. Deutsche Bank argued that gross margins will come under pressure into the new financial year, and there are limited catalysts for future growth as yet, while Mizuho said that it would be hard for Apple to beat its own records for the next couple of quarters.

Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Devices Tagged: AAPL, analysts, Apple Inc, iPhone

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IBM noted recently that it had seen dramatically lower usage of IT support by those employees who switched from Windows PCs to Macs. Apple has now quantified the cost savings this has generated, noting that the combination of reduced support and increased residual values of Macs meant that IBM saved $270 for every employee who made the switch.

IBM employees are offered the opportunity to swap out their Windows machines for Macs whenever they are due an upgrade. The company has committed to buying 50,000 MacBooks by the end of the year, and Business Insider notes that it has so far deployed 30,000 of them.

IBM is not alone in its enthusiasm for Macs in the enterprise sector, observed Tim Cook during yesterday’s earnings call … 

Cook reported that the company now generates $25 billion in enterprise sales, up 40% year-on-year, and said that “everywhere I look [in the enterprise field], I see significant opportunity.”

The deal between Apple and IBM was part of the partnership agreement announced last year that has IBM developing enterprise apps for iOS. Apps developed so far are being rolled out in banking, retail, insurance, financial services, telecommunications, government and airlines. Apple Watch support has also been added to several of the apps.

The video below features IBM’s Fletcher Previn talking about the benefits seen by the switch-to-Mac program.

Photo: clubic.com

Filed under: AAPL Company, Mac Tagged: AAPL, Apple Inc, enterprise, IBM, IBM partnership, iPad

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Despite analyst fears that Apple couldn’t match last year’s record holiday quarter sales of $74.6B, the guidance issued by the company indicates that it expects to do so. Analysts had been concerned that last year’s record sales had been driven by pent-up demand for larger-screened iPhones, demand that has now been satisfied.

Apple, however, disagrees. The company yesterday issued guidance of $75.5B to $77.5B revenue, which would be a new record. It also said that it expects to maintain its high profit margins into the final quarter of the calendar year (Q1 of Apple’s fiscal year) … 

The company also reported a gross margin of 39.9%, above its own expectations, and said that it expects the number to remain in the 39-40% range in the holiday quarter. Apple has managed to steadily increase the average selling price of the iPhone, from $603 last year to $670 this year.

The company announced that fiscal 2015 was “Apple’s most successful year ever, with revenue growing 28% to nearly $234 billion.”

Cook told analysts there were three reasons to believe that it can continue to grow its iPhone business. First, while many iPhone users upgraded to the iPhone 6 or 6s, the majority have yet to do so, Some two-thirds of iPhone owners are still using earlier phones, leaving plenty of room for upgrade sales to existing customers.

Second, Apple is winning over Android owners in record numbers. Some 30% of new iPhone buyers switched from an Android smartphone, and Apple is confident of maintaining this momentum.

Third, Cook still sees tremendous potential for continued growth in China. The company doubled its year-on-year quarterly revenue in the country, to $12.5B, with the WSJ noting that the high price tag of the iPhone is actually a draw rather than a barrier to continued growth.

The iPhone continues to do well in China, where it has become a premium brand akin to Prada bags or Rolex watches. As more Chinese consumers enter the middle class with greater disposable income, they are embracing the iPhone.

What’s more, the iPhone’s hefty price tag—once considered a liability—now works in Apple’s favor, allowing it to stand out from a fast-growing pack of low-cost smartphones and reinforcing the view that its products are of a higher quality.

Cook dismissed concerns about the Chinese economy, saying that Apple isn’t seeing any downside. “You really can’t tell a difference if you look at our daily and weekly numbers,” he said (per CNET), with Apple in any case taking a long-term view. “We’re investing for the decades ahead.”

Photo: Getty Images/Justin Sullivan

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: AAPL, AAPL Q1 2016, AAPL Q1 2016 earnings, AAPL Q1 2016 guidance, Apple Inc, Fiscal year, iPhone

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Apple today has continued its barrage of new advertisements for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. This company this evening shared yet another new video to its YouTube channel promoting the device. This ad, called “Prince Oseph,” features SNL star Bill Hader.

Much like the ads debuted over the weekend, this ad focuses on the ‘Hey Siri’ functionality of the device. Hader can be seen using Siri and asking her to read him his unread emails. Hader then uses Siri to reply to an email that claims it offers a “once in a lifetime opportunity for the making of millions of currency.”

The description for the video reads:

The iPhone 6s is here, and the only thing that’s changed with Siri is everything. Because now you just say “Hey Siri” and Siri’s there, hands-free. Which can come in handy.

Over the weekend, Apple debuted four new advertisements focusing on ‘Hey Siri’ and the new camera features iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. The weekend ads featured stars such as Jamie Foxx and NBA player Stephen Curry. Today’s new advertisement is a 30-second spot and can be seen below:

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: ad, Apple, Hey Siri, video

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During a call with investors for its Q4 2015 earnings report today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company saw its highest rate ever of Android switchers last quarter with a record 30% of new iPhone buyers coming from the rival platform.

Apple reported sales of 48 million iPhone units for the quarter, which would mean around 14.4 million Android switchers in the last three months. Cook noted that the switcher number comes from those who purchased an iPhone last quarter and also upgraded from a smartphone. So it doesn’t include first time buyers, but that’s likely not a huge percentage of the 14 or so million noted above. 

Cook used the high number of Android switchers to reassure investors that iPhone will likely grow in Q1, in addition to opportunities for growth in emerging market and a rapidly expanding market in China. Apple reported an increase of 99% to $12.5 billion for its sales in Greater China in the quarter.

Apple also posted iPad sales of 9.8 million units, Mac sales of 5.7 million units, and quarterly revenue of $51.5 billion.

You can follow along with our liveblog of Apple’s Q4 2015 earnings report here.

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: 30%, Android switchers, growth, Q1, Q4 2015, Tim Cook

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During its Q4 2015 earnings call today, Tim Cook revealed the first numbers for its new Apple News service saying that the app has around 40 million users since launching alongside iOS 9 in September.

Apple didn’t specify exactly where it’s pulling that data from. It’s possible a user could mean everyone that’s ever opened the app, or it could be using some other arbitrary way of measuring, like those that have used the app in the past week, as it has done with Apple Music. The company revealed numbers for that service for the first time earlier this month when it announced it has 15 million user accounts and 6.5 million paid subscribers.

Cook also noted during today’s call that Apple News has now expanded outside of the US with the recent release of iOS 9.1 that brought the service to the UK and Australia.

Apple News replaces Apple’s old Newsstand app in iOS 9, but it attempts to introduce a new platform by combining an aggregation service using a wide variety of online news sources with curation by human editors and tools for publishers to create content specifically for the service.

You can follow along with our liveblog of Apple’s Q4 2015 earnings report here.

Filed under: Apps Tagged: 40 million, Apple, apple news, Q4 2015, tim cooka

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