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Apple now offering refurbished Apple Watch Series 1 & Series 2 models, prices start at $229
As it generally does when products reach a certain level of maturity, Apple today has started offering the Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 via its online refurbished store. This marks the first time that Apple has made the Apple Watch available in refurbished condition since the device’s release.
Filed under: Apple
Hands-on: AirPods versus Powerbeats3, Apple’s new wireless W1 earphones compared
Apple currently makes two sets of earphones that include their new W1 chip: AirPods and Powerbeats3. The W1 chip enables instant pairing over Bluetooth and automatic pairing to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch over iCloud. Beats Solo3 also have the Apple-designed chip but are on-ear headphones, and BeatsX earphones will have the W1 chip but won’t be available until February.
AirPods and Powerbeats3 include the same benefits of Apple’s W1 chip, but their specs and form factors are very different. Check out our hands-on comparison below:
Filed under: Apple
Instagram enhances Story feature with stickers, holiday content, hands-free mode, and Save Story option
In a recent flurry of Instagram updates, today the team announced even more new features coming out for Stories today. Rolling out now as a part of version 10.3, Instagram has added stickers, limited time holiday content, one-tap video recording, and a save story option.
Filed under: Apple
Apple rolling out macOS 10.12.3 beta 2 for developers
Apple has begun rolling out macOS 10.12.3 beta 2 to developers. Sierra 10.12.2 brought in new emoji, wallpapers, graphics & System Integrity Protection fixes, and the removal of the system battery’s estimated ‘time remaining’ feature.
This second seed of macOS Sierra 10.2.3 beta is available on the developer center and rolling out to the Mac App Store.
Filed under: Apple
Apple releases iOS 10.2.1 beta 2 for developers
Apple has released iOS 10.2.1 beta 2 for developers. The update follows the public release of iOS 10.2 last week and the first iOS 10.2.1 beta as well. iOS 10.2 included new redesigned emojis, the TV app for US users, a couple of new screen effects in Messages, amongst other enhancements.
Filed under: Apple
Apple Pay adds support for 14 new Chinese banks and credit unions
9to5Toys Lunch Break: SanDisk 32GB Lightning Flash Drive $30, WD 3TB My Book Hard Drive $70, Year-end iTunes movie sale, more
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:
SanDisk’s iXpand Lightning Flash Drive adds 32GB to your iPhone or iPad: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $45)
Daily Deals: Western Digital 3TB My Book USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $70, Sharp 32-inch LED 1080p HDTV $130, more
Big year-end iTunes movie sale is now live w/ tons of great $5 titles, $0.99 rentals, bundle discounts & more
FREE MONEY: Gift the Apple fan in your life (including yourself) a $100 iTunes Gift Card for $85 with email delivery
Target offers Apple Watch Series 1 at Black Friday pricing just in time for last minute gifts: 38mm $200 or 42mm $230
Save $100 on iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi at Best Buy: prices start at $300 for 32GB, more
9TO5TOYS PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2016: Amazon’s Echo Dot changes your life for $40
Award-winning action RPG Bastion drops to just $1 on the App Store (Reg. $5)
- The iOS version of the SNES classic Secret of Mana is now matching its all-time low: $4 (Reg. $8)
- The Mickey Mouse Castle of Illusion platformer for iOS is now matching its lowest price at $1
- Grab Goat Simulator on iOS while it’s free (Reg. $5)
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Trevor’s Top 5 Tech Picks under $50 – smart home gear, drones, and more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: The best tech accessories for any car or truck – Bluetooth adapter, USB Jump Starter, Dash Cam & more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: Justin’s Top 5 Picks for Gamers – accessories, vintage Nintendo, art/coffee table books and more!
9to5Toys Gift Guide: ideas for Music Makers – pocket synths, headphone accessories, DIY kits and more
9to5Toys Gift Guide: ideas for the Techie Traveler – best messenger bags, Bluetooth gear, accessories and more
MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:
Netgear’s Arlo Pro Wireless Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera System includes free seven day cloud recordings: $200 shipped (Reg. $250)
CaseCrown iPhone 7/6/s/Plus and SE cases in a variety of styles/colors for $4 Prime shipped
- Save upwards of $120/yr. owning your own modem: Motorola DOCSIS 3.0 $20 (Orig. $100)
- Aukey Outdoor shock and water resistant Bluetooth Speaker $12 Prime shipped (Reg. $20), more
- Games/Apps: Final Fantasy XV $35, Doom from $20, iOS freebies, more
- The best-selling iOS/Android-connected Furby: $40 Prime shipped
MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:
Upgrade to Apple CarPlay with this Pioneer 6.2-inch In-Dash Receiver for $300 shipped (Reg. $450)
Answer your door even when you’re not home with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $200 shipped (Reg. $250)
Massive list of discounted Gift Cards up to 20% off: Petco, JCPenney, Domino’s, Airbnb, Old Navy, Sears, Southwest + many more
Filed under: Apple
Opinion: Apple’s product secrecy may create ‘magic,’ but lack of transparency on upgrade cycles creates frustration
When Apple unveiled its latest MacBook Pro models, making particular reference to their ability to drive multiple 4K and 5K monitors, some wondered whether the company was readying itself to exit the desktop market – as it has already done for displays.
Even Apple’s own employees appeared to share this concern, with one asking on the company’s internal Apple Web system ‘Are Mac desktops strategic for us?’.
Tim Cook was quick to offer reassurance, stating that the desktop market was ‘very strategic’ for Apple, and that the company has ‘great desktops in our roadmap.’ There were, though, a couple of problems with this assurance …
Filed under: Apple
Limited Time Giveaway: MacX DVD Ripper Pro and MacX MediaTrans
We’d like to thank Digiarty, makers of MacX DVD Ripper Pro, for sponsoring 9to5Mac today. They’re offering a ‘Christmas Giveaway‘ of MacX DVD Ripper Pro starting now and running through January 5, 2017. There are just 1,000 copies available per day, so giddy-up! more…
Filed under: Apple
Apple extends limited time pricing on USB-C accessories including LG 5K display from end of year to March 31st
Apple has extended its limited time discount on certain USB-C accessories from the end of December through March. The timing follows the official availability of the LG 5K UltraFine display which works with Apple’s new MacBook Pro.
Filed under: Apple
LG’s UltraFine 5K display for MacBook Pro now available from Apple․com
Apple’s online store today started selling the new LG UltraFine 5K display that it unveiled in partnership with the company alongside its new MacBook Pros back in October.
Filed under: Apple
Big year-end iTunes movie sale is now live w/ tons of great $5 titles, $0.99 rentals, bundle discounts & more
Hopefully you haven’t yet filled your iPhone or iPad with new movies to help pass the time while traveling for the holidays. iTunes is now discounting a ton of great titles, headlined by a variety of $4.99 purchases and $0.99 rentals. In addition, there are a number of other Editors’ Choice, Recent Releases and Dreamworks films on sale for $9.99. If you’re looking to really pad your digital movie collection, take advantage of the limited time bundle prices. Amazon Video (compatible with iOS and many other devices) is also matching some iTunes sale prices. Don’t forget, you can save even more if you buy this $100 iTunes Gift Card while it’s on sale for $85. Here are our top picks:
Filed under: Apple
Report: Marketing vs engineering tension compromised latest MacBook & MacBook Pro, minor iMac & notebook updates planned
A Bloomberg piece based on interviews with Mac insiders at Apple has revealed how the designs of both the 12-inch MacBook and 2016 MacBook Pro were compromised by marketing decisions winning out over engineering ones.
It was a marketing desire to hit the crucial holiday season that led to a design which compromised battery life in the new MacBook Pro, claimed one source …
Filed under: Apple
After bragging about beating AirPods to market, Bragi delays Headphone, offers PDF to leave under tree
Accessory maker Bragi has announced delays for its upcoming cord-free earbud product called “The Headphone.”
Part of Germany-based Bragi’s story has always been that it was one of the first to market with a truly wireless, cord-free earbud, The Dash. That product didn’t receive glowing reviews over the last year, but when the company announced a less expensive and refined version with The Headphone, it looked like it could be a true competitor to Apple’s wireless AirPods. But the AirPods officially launched last week and are arriving to customers this week, and now Bragi is announcing a delay to its product that was supposed to ship for the earliest pre-order customers in time for Christmas. The product’s estimated shipping date was later pushed back to early January, but it looks like Bragi will miss that date for some pre-orders as well.
In an email to customers, the company says it doesn’t have “enough to fulfill all pre-orders.”
Filed under: Apple
Apple now offering in-store pickup for AirPods, available as soon as today depending on stock
Apple has now activated in-store pickup on its website as another way to buy Apple AirPods from retail stores. If you are lucky, your local store might just have some units in stock and you can go and collect them today. If you are desperate to buy AirPods before Christmas, it’s worth refreshing your local pickup options as retail stores are getting new shipments all the time.
AirPods are also now being sold on Verizon’s website, which is another place where you might be able to buy some before the end of 2016. They were briefly available with two-day shipping this morning.
Filed under: Apple
AirPods: Top Features – Was it worth the wait? [Video]
After unexpectedly receiving my AirPods two days earlier than the scheduled delivery date, I’ve been enjoying them for the last few hours. The AirPods, which were first unveiled back at Apple’s iPhone 7 event in early September, endured a delay, but still managed to ship before the end of the 2016.
Our own Benjamin Mayo has already written a hands-on AirPods first impressios post, so I thought I’d put together a post that highlights some of the top features for Apple’s groundbreaking wireless earbuds. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough inside for the full rundown. more…
Filed under: Apple
Apple AirPods teardown reveals tiny circuitry and 93 milliwatt battery, 0/10 repairability score
The Apple AirPods are a marvel of miniaturization, packing a lot of features into a small and light body. iFixit has completed its teardown of the AirPod earbuds and case revealing all the tiny chips, components and circuity hidden inside the plastic.
Perhaps most interestingly, the earbuds each contain a tiny 93 milliwatt battery — that’s 1% the size of an iPhone battery. Fitting so much stuff into a small product comes at a cost though; iFixit says the AirPods are not repairable or recyclable.
Filed under: Apple
Columbia Business School study finds we ‘accidentally’ break or lose our iPhones to justify upgrades
A study by the the Columbia Business School has concluded that consumers grow more reckless with their iPhones when they are seeking an excuse to upgrade to a new model. The study – jointly conducted by three professors of marketing, psychology and business – was based on both consumer interviews and a dataset showing how incidents of lost iPhones coincide with the launch of new models …
Filed under: Apple