News - page 951

The new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar might be Apple’s fastest-selling Pro machine to date, but a lot of fans are far from happy with it.

It’s thinner and lighter than its predecessors, and it boasts the fastest storage we’ve ever seen on a Mac. But it’s also a lot more expensive, and it’s missing traditional USB-A ports that the vast majority of us still rely on every day. The SD card slot is gone, too.

But, does it really deserve all this criticism? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we debate the new MacBook Pro and whether Apple messed up this year’s refresh.

Ryan Verbeek is fashionable enough as he moves about Holland’s oldest city, but he says his style is not likely to draw much attention. His friends and more than 51,000 followers on Instagram beg to differ and are always curious about one detail — the band Verbeek is wearing with his Apple Watch.

The 17-year-old student has a collection of nearly 40 bands that he routinely switches out depending on his mood or wardrobe. His enthusiasm has gained him Instagram fame, free bands from companies hoping he will model them for his social media account, and a deal to collaborate with a French company to design a couple of bands.

The Spotify app is killing your Mac’s solid-state storage drive, and you need to update now to prevent it.

For the past five months, a bug has caused the app to write massive amounts of data to SSDs, potentially knocking years off their lifespan.

Apple display maker Japan Display is set to receive yet another bailout, in the vicinity of $703 million, from the Japanese government-backed fund that is it’s larger shareholder, claims a new report.

The money will help Japan Display catch up its OLED manufacturing capabilities, which have been lagging behind its rival display makers.

At yesterday’s DealBook Conference in New York City, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi related the advice Steve Jobs gave her when she took over as CEO.

That advice? That sometimes the best way to get what you want is to throw tantrums.

Apple’s launch of the new MacBook Pros prompted a surprisingly virulent backlash — one that can be explained by “catastrophe theory” in mathematics.

Normally, reaction to Apple’s new products is remarkably consistent. Apple loyalists are pleased, the wider public approves and the tech press cynically dismisses the new products (because they hold Apple to a higher standard than the rest of the industry).

This time, it was different. There was a very loud and very negative reaction. The negativity came not from the tech press, but from the most loyal and ardent Mac enthusiasts. The very people who evangelize Apple products and who are deeply invested in the whole ecosystem were the ones most vocally expressing disappointment, frustration and outright anger.  

So what exactly happened? What was so bad about these new machines to provoke this reaction?

As best as I can tell, the answer is nothing at all.

Dinosaurs are coming for your emoji.

The Unicode Consortium submitted its proposed shortlist of 51 emojis for acceptance in Unicode 10 today. Among the new faces are a T-Rex and sauropod that could come to keyboards in 2017.

If you’ve got high-end wired headphones and want to make them wireless, AirMode might do the trick. The short cable comes with standard audio connectors on either end that replace the detachable cords found on many headphones.

Packed with features and reasonably priced, AirMode could be the perfect Bluetooth dongle for retrofitting your gear for Apple’s wireless future.

As often happens, the best Apple deals we’re seeing this week are on refurbs and older-generation devices.

If you don’t demand the latest/greatest, you can definitely score a bargain on an iPad Air, Apple Watch and other Apple gear in this week’s roundup of best Apple deals.

Apple still hasn’t officially told us when its AirPods will finally become available, but according to one customer, some stores will begin receiving stock next week.

AirPods were originally scheduled to make their debut in October, but since Apple announced a delay, the company has kept quiet about when the wireless headphones will go on sale.

The U.S. presidential election left people around the world anxious about the future, but Apple CEO Tim Cook rallied employees yesterday saying we all have to keep moving forward.

In an email to employees, Cook told employees that “Apple’s North Star hasn’t changed.” The Apple CEO invoked the late Martin Luther King Jr. in his note, saying, “We only do great work and improve the world by moving forward.”

Check out the full email:

Trump may be the new president, but with Christmas right around the corner, it’s not all doom and gloom. To get us in the mood and help you find the perfect present for that special someone, Apple today published its 2016 Holiday Gift Guide.

Apple has started selling refurbished models of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, eight months after the device made its official debut.

Prices start at $509 for a 32GB Wi-Fi model — $90 less than the price of a brand new device — while more expensive options can save you up to $140.

Apple is making it easier to purchase Apple TV apps by giving users the ability to download them remotely from iOS, macOS, and Windows.

Developers can now create iTunes links for these devices that take customers directly to the product page for their tvOS app.

The new MacBook Pro isn’t even in our sweaty palms yet, and already it’s not only broken Apple’s previous pro notebook records, but also generated more revenue than any other notebook released in 2016.

Apple released its second iOS 10.2 beta this week, and while we all got excited for brand new emojis and the TV app, we missed an awesome new feature that’s even more important: Emergency SOS.

Adopted from Apple Watch, Emergency SOS lets you discreetly contact the police in an emergency.

iOS grew 5.2 percent in U.S. marketshare in the third quarter of 2016, thanks to strong demand for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

If you’re a fan of GIFs (and, wherever you fall on the political spectrum, today sure is a good day for them!), you’ll be pleased to hear that WhatsApp’s latest update finally gives users the chance to use them — provided they have an iOS device, that is.

Apple is rolling out a new Support app that lets users get expert help with devices and software, and schedule repairs at the Apple store. The app also offers a catalog of support articles to help users fix common issues.

To beef up its streaming music service, Apple has hired some key employees from Omnifone, a company that was a pioneer of in music streaming industry.

Rumors floated this summer that Apple was looking to acquire Omnifone after the company filed for bankruptcy. Instead of buying the whole thing though, a new report claims that Apple instead bought some of parts of Omnifone’s tech and workforce.

Buying a used iPhone 6s no longer requires meeting some shady dude off Craigslist in a Starbucks parking lot.

Apple is selling used iPhones on its online refurbished gear store for the first time ever, bringing big discounts to last year’s models.

Ireland is set to submit its formal appeal of a European Commission ruling that claimed Apple owes the country more than $14 billion in unpaid taxes.

The controversial tax ruling has been opposed by Irish citizens, a majority of whom say they don’t want Apple’s money. Ireland’s Finance Minister Michael Noonan said today that the country’s government has no choice but to appeal.

Apple today rolled out its second macOS Sierra 10.12.2 beta, adding new emoji that will also make its way iPhone and iPad with iOS 10.2. The update also brings bug fixes and improves performance.

Looking to get the best deals on gifts this holiday season? Apple Pay may be the answer.

Apple has created a new promotion for Apple Pay on the Mac that gives shoppers tons of discounts at top retailers when you use Apple Pay. Shops like Adidas, Lululemon, Casper and Vacatia have teamed up with Apple on the promotion. And there’s more to come.

Here’s are the deals you can get:

You can find some incredible new gadgets on Kickstarter and Indiegogo that often go unnoticed. We’re rounding up some of the best every week to help them get the funding they need to become a reality.

This week, MagSafe makes a comeback for the new generation of USB-C devices, we have an insanely useful popup display you can take just about anywhere, the “world’s most intuitive smart stylus,” and more.