by Postmaster General | Sep 9, 2015 | Announcements, Apple Inc., iOS Devices, New and Hot
Instead of wading through the vast seas of press and tech coverage for this morning’s Apple event in San Francisco, here’s the “Too Long; Didn’t Read” condensed version:
Apple Watch
- Announced new version of OS for its watches, WatchOS 2, available September 16th
- WatchOS 2 gives third party developers access to watch’s sensors, the Digital Crown, microphone, and Taptic engine, along with the ability to build more complex animations
- Announced new Apple Watch models, including those as a result of a partnership with Hermes, and new gold-and-rose and gold-and-anodized-aluminum finishes
- Now over 10,000 apps for Apple Watch
Apple iPad family
- Announced iPad Pro, a much larger tablet with a 12.9-inch, 2732×2048 Retina display
- First availability won’t be until sometime in November
- iPad Pro comes with new A9X 64-bit processor, claimed to have twice the memory bandwidth and storage performance of previous A8 processor, and to run 22X faster than the original first-gen iPad
- Graphics performance also drastically improved
- iPad Pro comes with a four-speaker audio system that automatically adjusts to screen orientation from portrait to landscape
- Announced new magnetic Smart Keyboard (doubles as a cover) for $169
- Smart Keyboard doesn’t use Bluetooth, but connects via new magnetic triple port on iPad Pro
- Announced new Apple Pencil pressure-sensitive stylus for $99
- iPad Pro available in Silver, Gold, and Space Gray finishes
- Wi-Fi-only 32GB iPad Pro is $799; 128GB is $949
- Only the 128GB iPad Pro will be available with cellular, for $1079
- Other iPad models shift price points around. Entry level is now the iPad mini 2 16GB for $279.
Apple TV
- Totally new fourth-gen box and set of features, with a 32GB model for $149 and 64GB model for $199
- Original third-gen Apple TV will remain available, and still sell for $69
- Only availability information for new Apple TV is “coming soon”
- Much faster A8 processor
- New remote has a glass multi-touch surface, volume control, and microphone for access to Siri
- Siri allows voice command of menus, pop-up overlays, video navigation, movie and TV program selection (including suggestions), and much more
- Remote also has motion sensitivity and a gyroscope to allow Wii-like control over games and other functions
- Apple TV now has Bluetooth 4.0 and 801.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO
- Onscreen menu now offers access to the App Store
- Debut of TV OS, an iOS-based operating system that is supposed to make things a lot easier for developers
Apple iPhone family
- Apple announced two new phones: the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus. Physically, they look practically identical to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
- But the new models’ screens come with a tougher “dual ion-exchange” glass
- The new phones also feature pressure-sensitive touchscreens that work like the new Force Touch trackpad on the most recent MacBooks. Apple calls this “3D Touch.”
- Both cameras have been improved, along with their flash technology
- The back-facing iSight camera now captures 12 megapixels, and can record 4K video
- The front-facing FaceTime HD camera now captures 5 megapixels
- Rose Gold joins the previously available three finishes (Silver, Gold, and Space Gray)
- A Live Photo feature has also been added, which automatically captures a few seconds of video and sound around still photos. Push firmly on a photo, and it plays the video.
- Prices start at $199 for the 6S and $299 for the 6s Plus, with contract, for 16GB models
- Jumping to a 64GB model adds $100, and to a 128GB model adds another $200
- For teh first time, Apple offers off-contract pricing starting at $649 and $749, again for the 16GB models of the 6S and 6S Plus.
- The new iPhones may be pre-ordered on September 12, and are slated to begin delivery September 25th
Miscellaneous
- The next major upgrade to iOS, version 9, will be available next Wednesday (September 16th). Any device currently running iOS 8 will be able to upgrade to the new version.
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by Postmaster General | Sep 8, 2015 | Apple Inc., Events & Promotions, iOS Devices, Mac, Tech News
Tomorrow morning (Wednesday), at 10am PDT (1pm Eastern, 6pm BST, 7pm CEST), Apple presents an invitation-only keynote, teased with the phrase seen in the graphic above: “Siri, give us a hint.”
That could be interpreted several ways, but most pundits agree Apple will, at the very least, announce new iPhone models. There are also rumors of a larger, more advanced Apple TV set-top box and new iPads, including the tantalizing possibility of a larger-screen “pro” iPad. But truth be told, outside the halls of Apple’s corporate offices, no one knows for sure exactly what the event will unveil.
But you can find out, in real time. Apple is live-streaming the presentation, which will take place in San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. And you can watch it by heading over to this link. But bear in mind, there are some requirements:
“Live streaming uses Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology. HLS requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Safari on iOS 7.0 or later, a Mac with Safari 6.0.5 or later on OS X v10.8.5 or later, or a PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10. Streaming via Apple TV requires a second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.”
You might also want to keep a tab or two open in your browser for one or more of these tech site’s live blogs of the shindig:
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by Postmaster General | Sep 4, 2015 | Deal of the Week
Imagine a world in which one touch changes everything.
Imagine clearing that clutter of various and sundry remotes from your coffee table. Imagine one sleek, simple remote that can control up to eight of your devices. Imagine drastically streamlining your home theater operation – and your life.
Well, imagine no more. That day is here. And that universal remote is the Logitech Harmony 700. Get set to simplify your TV, movie and music time. With one-click activity buttons, easy recharging, and universal control of up to eight devices, all of your entertainment is just one touch away.
Best of all, as this week’s DOTW, the Logitech Harmony 700 Universal Remote is on sale for half price! Find out all about it here.
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by Postmaster General | Aug 27, 2015 | Apple Inc., Events & Promotions, Mac
So we’re having a Mac sale.
It starts today, and runs through Monday, August 31st. The occasion? The end of summer, when we put away the croquet mallets, deflate the Tahitis, and contemplate heading back.
Back to work. Back to school. Back to civilization.
We’d like to ease the transition a bit. You want to hit the ground running this fall, be it at school, work, home, or Mars. And the best way to do that is with a new Mac from Yours Truly.
Epson Expression Home XP-420 All-in-One Printer/Scanner/Copier. MSRP: $99.99
So we’re having a Mac sale. Besides up to 18-months interest-free financing and our generous trade-in offers for your late-model used PCs and Macs, we’ve gone one very large step further:
Buy any new Mac from Connecting Point, and you can pick up a new Epson Expression Home XP-420 All-in-One printer/scanner/copier for 25 bucks. Wait, what?
This Epson normally retails for $99.99. That’s, like, 75% off.
Do we have your attention? Cool. Find out more here.
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by Postmaster General | Aug 17, 2015 | Uncategorized
Apple has released three new commercials in support of its recently launched Apple Music service. The overarching theme of the ads is the tagline “All the artists you love and are about to love, all in one place.”
One 30-second spot shines a spotlight on Norwegian DJ/producer Kygo:
https://youtu.be/PXFdspRt3PU
Another 30-second video showcases popular British singer/songwriter James Bay:
https://youtu.be/6EiQZ1yLY0k
The last ad, entitled ‘Discovery,’ is a full minute long. Rather than concentrating on a single artist, it offers several, including Bay, Kygo, Leon Bridges, and Flo Morrissey. Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor serves as its narrator:
https://youtu.be/RrM6rJ9JPqU
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by Postmaster General | Aug 14, 2015 | Deal of the Week
From industry leader Belkin comes a network peripheral slashed to one quarter its original price.
Where else might you find a name-brand Wi-Fi router and four-port Ethernet switch for less than 10 bucks? Sure, the 802.11g standard has been largely superseded by newer protocols like 802.11n and 802.11ac, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for this little guy. An apartment, hotel, or dorm room, for instance. Or maybe as a dirt-cheap way to extend your existing wireless network.
These are not refurbished. These are not used. These are not scratch-and-dent castoffs. No, these are brand-new, in their original sealed packaging. The Belkin Wireless G Router/Switch normally sells for just south of 40 dollars. But as this week’s jaw-dropping Deal, you can pick it up for $9.99.
Find out more about this week’s DOTW here.
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by Postmaster General | Aug 4, 2015 | Deal of the Week
So last week, Microsoft released Windows 10. Skipped 9 entirely, went straight to 10.
And in so doing, they’ve left us with a big ol’ pile of Windows 8 books, some of which you can see in the photo. Guess you could say we were caught with our pants down, even though the release date for the new version was announced months ago.
But our error is your potential gain. Perhaps you plan to ride with Windows 8 for a spell, and would like to get better at using it. Maybe your mother or great-aunt is loathe to learn yet another user interface, and plans to soldier on with Windows 8.
Well, have we got a deal for you: Take any one of these Windows 8 books home for less than three bucks. These titles have retail prices of between 15 and 30 dollars, so you’ll be saving a lot.
Don’t delay. Hurry down today for the best selection.
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by Postmaster General | Jul 24, 2015 | Deal of the Week
Here’s a little exercise for you to try.
If you’re currently at your desk in front of a computer, stand up and take a look behind all the equipment. Or if you’re sitting in your living room, take a glance behind your big-screen TV.
Go ahead. We’ll wait.
OK, so what did you see? If you saw a clean, neatly-arranged collection of connectors, cables, and wires, you can stop reading right now. You’re golden.
But if you saw a tangled rat’s-nest of snarled wires, intertwined cables, and just general chaos, well…we’re here to help.
This week’s Deal is from legendary accessory wizards Monster Cable. It’s called Cable-It, and it’s a fast, simple method of organizing all those cables and wires into something resembling order. They’re normally 20 bucks, but this week (while supplies last) we’re selling them for three dollars. At that price, you can afford several – and your life is about to get measurably more organized.
Find out more about this week’s DOTW here.
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