Mark your calendars, folks, it’s official. Apple has issued press invites to its next media event on September 7 at Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco at 10 am PT. The company is widely expected to unveil new iPhones and could unveil new MacBook Pros and the Apple Watch 2 at the same event.
The new iPhones are generally expected to feature a very similar design to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which suggests Apple could save the ‘iPhone 7’ name for 2017 models and use a version of the iPhone 6 name (like iPhone 6 SE) this year. While it’s unclear what Apple will name the new iPhones, we’ll go with the consensus of iPhone 7 until we learn otherwise.
While both models are expected to gain faster A10 processors and drop the 16GB tier for 32GB entry models, the most dramatic change is likely coming to the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus and not the 4.7-inch iPhone 7: a dual camera system. This could be used to emulate optical zoom where digital zoom basically crops a shot and loses detail.
Both iPhone 7 models are expected to introduce a darker color for the black-front model. The iPhone 5 introduced a dark blue color called slate that was prone to scuffing, and Apple has played with versions of its ‘space gray’ gunmetal gray color since the iPhone 5s. The iPhone 7 is expected to feature a return to a dark blue color or maybe even a near black ‘space black‘ option.
As you may notice in the alleged leaked cases above, Apple is also widely expected to drop the 3.5-mm headphone jack on both iPhone 7 models in a push toward Lightning, Bluetooth, and AirPlay audio.
As for the Apple Watch 2, the anticipated refresh will mark the first update since the current model was unveiled two years ago and released a year and a half ago. The design is expected to look generally the same, but much needed speed improvements are on the way and a GPS chip for mapping workouts and using location services is expected.
And 9to5Mac readers will be the first to express the need for updated MacBook Pros. The current lineup of Retina MacBook Pros features a design that hasn’t been refreshed in years and internals that sorely need updated.
The good news is that rumors have been very promising for MacBook Pros this year (as you can see with the render below). A slimmer design, Touch ID, and a dynamic OLED touch panel in place of static function hardware keys are all in the cards for the next MacBook Pro update.
While new MacBook Pros are expected sometime this year, recent reports have claimed Apple could hold off on unveiling these new models at this September event. In recent years, Apple has held an iPhone-focused event in September, then an iPad-focused event in October, and Macs have appeared when ready.
Last year, however, Apple packed all of its new products into a single fall event held in September including new iPhones, new Apple Watch colors and bands, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the fourth generation Apple TV. Apple later released the 9.7-inch iPad Pro at its March event earlier this year, new iPads aren’t expected until next year, and rumors of an updated Apple TV haven’t surfaced aside from one story late last year.
Apple will also likely give stage time once again to its upcoming software updates: iOS 10, macOS Sierra, watchOS 3, and tvOS 10.
Apple is preparing new Mac laptops and desktops for launch as soon as October, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports.
Apple has prepared a new version of its entry-level MacBook Air and an updated iMac desktop for launch this year. The MacBook Air refresh will include a USB-C port, which hasn’t been included on previous MacBook Air models.
The USB-C port is a reversible, next-generation plug that can be used for power as well as data transfer. Apple’s current MacBook sports a single USB port. The last time the MacBook Air received a full update was in March, 2015.
Apple also plans to launch a new iMac in October, Gurman reports. Apple’s newest desktop will include options for improved graphics cards from AMD.
Apple has been widely rumored to release new MacBook Pros this fall as well, equipped with a touchscreen area at the top of the keyboard that’s separate from trackpad. That new feature is called the “Dynamic Function Row” internally, according to the report.
The feature would allow specific buttons to be shown for specific apps. For example, “the iMovie video editor would offer controls for cutting clips and a more-precise volume slider,” according to the report.
Apple is also working on a new high-definition “5K” monitor that will replace the 27-inch Thunderbolt display discontinued earlier this year.
But some of Apple’s future iPad plans indicate that it thinks that its iOS devices can become the first choice for a productivity-focused computer.
A new PC replacement
The report also indicates that Apple is planning a major free upgrade to its iPad software, possibly by next year.
New iPad software upgrades may include expanded support for Apple’s stylus, as well as hardware performance improvements. Next year’s iPad might have a 10.5-inch screen, up from a 9.7-inch screen, for example.
Apple will launch a new version of its iPhone and iPad software this fall called iOS 10. The company is also planning to reveal a new version of the iPhone at an event in San Francisco next week, although it is unlikely to show off its new Macs at the event.
Approaching the iPhone 7 announcement date, it seemed fitting to host Apple logo wallpapers to hype the event. Shortly, an Apple media invitation will announce the event date and the excitement will begin. But, why wait for the invitation to deck out your iOS devices?
Apple is criticized for not catering to gamers — and rightly so — but you might be surprised to learn that Macs do have the potential to be great gaming machines. Even portables like the MacBook can become high-end gaming rigs, thanks to the Wolfe.
The Wolfe combines your Mac with a real desktop GPU — the same kind of video card found in dedicated gaming or video editing machines — making it immensely more powerful than it typically is with the integrated graphics Apple provides.
As standard, the Wolfe comes equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 GPU, but there’s also a Wolfe Pro, which is equipped with a GeForce GTX 970. Later, you’ll also be able to get the Wolfe with NVIDIA’s new GTX 1060.
Alternatively, you can pick up the Wolfe DIY, which gives you all the parts you need to connect your own GPU to a Mac.
The Wolfe provides up to five times the graphical performance of a typical notebook, while the Wolfe Pro can deliver up to ten times the performance. This becomes really apparently in benchmark tests like Heaven.
While a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Intel Iris Pro 5200 graphics can deliver less than 15 frames-per-second in these tests, the same machine with the Wolfe can deliver over 50 fps. Hook up the Wolfe Pro and you can expect well over 70 fps.
The Wolfe is even powerful enough to make the Mac compatible with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive virtual reality headsets.
Getting setup with the Wolfe is as easy as plugging it into your Mac using the Thunderbolt connector, then connecting the power cable. It’s that simple!
The Wolfe is currently available on Kickstarter, with prices starting at $399 for the standard model and $449 for the Wolfe Pro. The Wolfe DIY costs just $269, but of course you’ll need to provide your own GPU.
Getting iPhone bugs fixed is apparently super-easy if you’re a world-famous diva.
Barbra Streisand says she recently had a huge bone to pick with Apple over the way Siri pronounces her last name. So the singer did what only Barbra Streisand could do: She dialed Tim Cook’s personal phone number.
“She pronounces my name wrong. ‘Streisand’ with a soft ‘s’ like sand on the beach — I’ve been saying this for my whole career,” Streisand told NPR in a new interview.
“And so what did I do? I called the head of Apple, Tim Cook, and he delightfully agreed to have Siri change the pronunciation of my name finally, with the next update on September 30th. So let’s see if that happens, because I will be thrilled.”
Of course, Streisand could have just taught Siri how to pronounce her tricky last name on her own, but that’s not how divas roll.
A strange flaw in the design of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has begun to plague a growing number of users, according to a new report that claims third-party repair experts are swamped with requests to fix what the Genius Bar can’t.
The repair gurus at iFixit say the defect is allegedly more common with the iPhone 6 Plus and causes a gray flickering bar at the top of the display while making the touchscreen completely unresponsive.
Many people have allegedly taken their iPhones to Apple to have the “Touch Disease” cured, but were told nothing can be done to fix the problem because the iPhones are already out of warranty. Apple is apparently aware of the problem because their support forums are flooded with complaints, yet its not doing anything about it.
Some iPhone owners plagued with Touch Disease have been able to fix the issue momentarily by applying pressure to the display, but the gray bar keeps coming back and touch functionality grows worse.
The only way to fix the defect is replace the logic board, or the Touch ICs on the logic board. You can also just replace the entire iPhone.
You’re officially the person with everything if you’re seriously planning to lay out $249 on a levitating Apple Watch charger – though Kickstarter backers can get one for slightly less at $199, or $159 if you’re very quick.
Since the Apple Watch itself charges inductively, the designers of the LIFT charger decided to take things one step further by using magnets to suspend the charger above its powered base, allowing it to float freely in mid air …
How did we do it? Our proprietary induction system is inspired by Tesla’s original ideas around transferring electricity through the ether. We took this radical concept and adapted it to be able to transfer power while magically levitating in space without the need for any wires.
Levitation Works says that its design was inspired by Porsche Design, and it shows – you could easily imagine the machined aluminum unit with a Porsche logo on it.
The base is made from a mix of aluminum and ceramic, which the company says was chosen for its combination of non-conductivity and suitability for precise tolerances. When not being used to charge your Watch, you can also swap in an optional levitating light.
There is one practical touch alongside the frivolity: the floating part of the unit contains a built-in battery capable of recharging the Watch twice without the base, making it a convenient charger for a weekend away.
It seems that there’s no shortage of takers: with 34 days to go, the project has already more than quadrupled its $44k goal. Check it out over at Kickstarter.
Each week, iDownloadBlog utilizes the Wallpapers of the Week section to highlight quality images for your iOS devices. Aside from jailbreaking, changing a wallpaper is the quickest way to personalize your device.
This week, I am very excited to highlight a series of wallpapers a mountain naturescape, then altered the color pallet through eight different times of day. The end result is a timeline wallpaper collection of the scenery from early morning until midnight. It is a great set of walls and very beautifully done. Step inside for the downloads.
Mountain timeline wallpapers
The mountain timeline wallpaper set is one of my favorite reader created wallpaper collections. I appreciate the creativity of a generated beautiful, natural environment and the idea to carry that through multiple times of day.
With Apple set to launch the iPhone 7 next month rumors about the phone and the event where it will debut have been picking up. We’ve already heard information suggesting the iPhone 7 will be introduced at an event set to take place on Wednesday, September 7, two days after the Labor Day holiday, and now it appears we may have some insight into the actual release date.
While Apple typically releases the iPhone about two weeks after introducing it, suggesting a September 16 launch date, new scheduling information from AT&T shared by 9to5Mac indicates that the iPhone 7 might not launch until later in the month, on September 23.
A leaked AT&T retail schedule featuring “Merchandising Reset” hours indicates employees will need to spend several hours reorganizing AT&T stores on both September 9, 2016 and September 23, 2016. It’s possible this schedule pertains to the iPhone, but there’s no concrete proof that it does.
Previous information from notable smartphone leaker Even Blass has suggested pre-orders for the iPhone 7 will take place on Friday, September 9, two days after the prospective debut event, which is in line with the schedule from AT&T.
Blass has also predicted an iPhone launch for September 16, but if this AT&T information is accurate and does pertain to release preparations, that previous prediction could be incorrect. September 16 and September 23 are both likely candidates for an iPhone release date.
Regardless of when Apple plans to release the iPhone 7, we don’t have long to wait for an unveiling with only three weeks to go until the rumored September 7 event date. Media invites for the event are likely to go out next week, perhaps on Thursday August 25 or Friday, August 26.
When Razer first announced its Mechanical Keyboard Case for the 12.9″ iPad Pro, I had mixed feelings about the idea. On one hand, the thought of using a true mechanical keyboard with decent key travel, real actuation, and reset points sounded glorious. On the other hand, just how good could a mechanical keyboard case for an iPad possibly be?
To be honest, when you consider what typical mechanical keyboards look like, the whole idea seems a little absurd. Mechanical keyboards are, in general, big hulking contraptions that take up lots of space. That’s not a knock against these keyboards, as they are wonderful to type on, but it just sounds odd to think of two devices, which traditionally couldn’t be any more different in style and design, working together.
It might also seem weird to think of Razer — a company who’s best known for making PC gaming peripherals — creating an iPad accessory. Keep in mind, however, that Razer also makes PC laptops, and if you’ve seen its hardware, you know that it cares deeply about looks and design. I’ve even heard some refer to Razer as the “Apple of the PC world” — a sort of backhanded compliment about its design-focused products.
VIDEO REVIEW
Keyboard surface design
Razer’s Mechanical Keyboard Case is, for the most part, a good-looking product with obvious nods to the current machines in its laptop line. The keyboard surface itself is one big slab of dark gray plastic that evokes thoughts of the company’s Razer Blade laptops.
You’ll find enough real estate on the keyboard surface to have an adequate amount of space to rest your wrists. The experience felt so similar to an actual laptop surface, that I found myself instinctively reaching for a non-existent trackpad.
Case and kickstand design
Razer’s Mechanical Keyboard Case consists of two parts. There’s the keyboard surface portion described above, and the case portion that the 12.9″ iPad Pro fits snugly inside of. As you would expect, the case features cutouts that keep the Lightning port, speakers, camera, and microphones free from obstruction.
While the case protects the sides of the iPad Pro via a slight lip, the top and bottom of the tablet is more or less exposed to the elements. With this in mind, don’t expect this case to fully protect your iPad Pro even when the clamshell is closed. You’ll still need to exercise care when placing it in a bag, backpack, etc.
Razer’s keyboard case features a built-in metal kickstand. The kickstand affords users a variety of viewing angles on the fly, which is better than most keyboard cases that only offer a handful of possible viewing angles.
Adjusting the iPad Pro away from the user has a very laptop-like feel, because the kickstand holds the setup in place as you adjust it. Moving the iPad Pro towards the user requires that you hold the kickstand while moving the iPad forward.
The kickstand adds another moving part to the picture and can get in the way at times. You’ll need two hands to close it, and even then, it tends to want to pop out so that it doesn’t sit flush with the rest of the case. For all of its merits, using the kickstand, and especially putting it away, feels a little cumbersome.
Detachable case
If you need more extreme viewing angles, or you simply wish to use the case as a standalone stand, it’s easy to detach the keyboard portion of the setup from the case that houses the iPad. The keyboard attaches via magnets, and can thus be removed and reattached with ease. Not only does this allow for more flexible typing setups, but it also means that you can pair Razer’s mechanical keyboard with other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Because of the strong magnets that attach the keyboard portion of the setup to the case, I found that it was possible to type with the iPad Pro in my lap. I doubt that Razer would actually recommend such a setup due to, at the very least, potential ergonomic issues, but I was able to lap type with little to no problems.
It’s a little bulky
There’s no way around the fact that once you start adding all of the parts together, Razer’s Mechanical Keyboard case is quite bulky. That’s probably why Razer opted not publish weight and dimension specs on its product website. A quick look at Amazon shows that the keyboard case weight is 2.2lbs, and the dimensions come in at 9.5 x 0.9 x 12.3 inches.
Once you have your iPad mounted inside the case, and you factor in the mechanical keyboard surface and the kickstand, it’s not hard to imagine how bulky it is. The 12.9″ iPad Pro is already a behemoth in its own right, so it shouldn’t be surprising that adding a keyboard case, a mechanical keyboard case no less, is going to add some significant bulk to the equation.
For me personally, that kind of bulk is a deal breaker for everyday usage. But I’m also the same guy that opted to edit 4K videos on an underpowered 12″ MacBook Pro, so take my opinion in that area with a grain of salt. To be honest, save for Apple’s own Smart Keyboard + Smart Cover setup, I’m not a big fan of any of the iPad Pro keyboard cases due to how bulky they are.
Typing
Coming from a 12″ MacBook with limited key travel, Razer’s mechanical keyboard is a pleasure to type on. Don’t expect to have the same typing experience that you’d get from a full-sized mechanical keyboard, but typing on the Razer’s keyboard is a definite step up from any other iPad-centric keyboard cases that I’ve tried.
First and foremost, you get excellent key travel for an iPad keyboard case. The mechanical key switches are real key switches, albeit low-profile ones, that fit inside of a relatively thin housing.
Yet, despite the diminutive setup, there is real key actuation to be found here, and it requires a certain amount of pressure — 70 grams to be exact — to invoke each key. Mechanical key switches are what give each key press that satisfying clicky sound that makes it evident, both audibly and tactile-wise, that a key was pressed successfully.
Granted, the low-profile switches are still a far cry from the Cherry MX Brown switches that I enjoy on my full-sized mechanical keyboard for the desktop. That said, if you’re someone who does long form typing from an iPad on a regular basis, this keyboard is worth strong consideration.
Backlit keys
The Razer Mechanical Keyboard Case comes with backlit keys that feature 20 brightness levels; that’s four more than the 16 brightness levels that you’ll find on a MacBook’s keyboard. The backlight can be adjusted via two dedicated keys next to the screen brightness shortcut keys.
One downside to the backlit keys is the extreme effect it has on battery life. Without backlighting enabled, Razer’s case can last an assured 600 hours on a single charge via the included microUSB cable. With the backlight set to maximum brightness, the battery life drops down to a mere 10 hours.
No Smart Connector
If you’re a fan of Apple’s iPad Pro Smart Connector, then you’ll be disappointed to learn that Razer’s keyboard case doesn’t support the feature. Although support among third-parties is limited, the Smart Connector is superior to traditional Bluetooth connectivity in a couple of ways: first, it negates the need to charge peripherals, because the Smart Connector delivers power directly from the iPad; two, it allows peripherals to instantly pair with the iPad Pro without needing to mess with Bluetooth settings.
If you’re currently using Apple’s Smart Keyboard Case, or one of Logitech offerings that takes advantage of the Smart Connector, then going back to a Bluetooth keyboard case may seem archaic. While I tend to lean that way as well, consider a couple of reasons why Razer made the decision to go Bluetooth-only.
First and foremost, using a Bluetooth connected keyboard case won’t drain your iPad’s battery as much as a Smart Connector-enabled case. When you consider the fact that Razer is offering backlit keys that can drain the case’s battery in as little as 10 hours, it’s clear to see that Bluetooth was the right way to go.
Even more importantly, Razer’s keyboard surface can detach from the case that houses the iPad Pro. This, of course, automatically disqualifies it from relying on the Smart Connector for connectivity.
Conclusion
If you use your 12.9″ iPad Pro for work on a regular basis, and your work involves long form typing, then the Razer Mechanical Keyboard Case is worth strong consideration. Thanks to the low-profile mechanical key switches, I was able to type much faster on the Razer keyboard than even my 12″ MacBook keyboard, and I enjoyed the flexibility that the detachable case + kickstand brought to the table. I was also able to lap type using this case, though that’s probably not something that Razer would recommend doing.
The biggest downside with this case is its bulkiness. It’s considerably more bulky that my 12″ MacBook, and thicker than a 13″ MacBook Pro. When you start getting into that area of bulk, it makes one begin to question the practicality of such a setup, even if the typing experience is far and away better than typing on Apple’s Smart Keyboard.
The kickstand is also, for all of the positive value that it brings to the equation, kind of finicky. It doesn’t always want to close easily, and it adds another layer of cumbersomeness to set up.
If you can live with the bulkiness of the case, the lack of a Smart Connector, and its steep price, then head over Amazon.
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