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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj

Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket

The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94

Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa

SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If

Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm

Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE

iphonerulez Dedicated MacNNer Joined: Nov 28, 2008
The tech-pundits will of course hate the new iMac because it will be harder to repair and parts replacements will be more expensive. All I know is that my current refurb iMac 24" has been running 24/7 for about three years and if it does eventually needs to have parts replaced, it will be well worth the repairs. I only had AppleCare on it for three years and I'm willing to bet the only thing that will be need to be replaced is the hard drive which I'll likely do myself. I want to get another iMac so I'll probably pick up a 27" current high-end refurb instead of the coming model. This 24" iMac is the most reliable and trouble-free Mac I've ever owned mainly because I've never bothered to tinker inside of it.
Pixelsmack Fresh-Faced Recruit Joined: Oct 21, 2010
I agree mostly.
I purchased my 27" top-end i7 (2.93ghz, 20GB ram) 2010 iMac in early 2011 as a refurb for $1899 and it has been the single most stable PC I've ever had. I run Bootcamp on occasion but mostly I am a true OSX user. The experience has been fast and trouble free.
My only complaint is the difficulty and expense at getting a different drive in the iMac. All over town it's $500 to swap out the HDD with a SDD and relocate the HDD. The only part of that price that has changed with time is the size of the SSD you get. Which is to say, larger, as they get cheaper every couple of months. So I've not done it and it's only now starting to be noticeable in day to day use. Since I use computers at work with SSDs.
However here we are in late 2012 and I do think it's finally time to place this iMac in the "other" room. I await a new refreshed iMac with SSD, faster graphics, ram, cpus and of course an SSD!
Modifying this older iMac is not worth the money. It's a fine machine and a three-year "more than usable life-span" is all I ever ask for and it delivers!
gooser Grizzled Veteran Joined: Jun 23, 2006
who cares how thin or how thick a desktop computer is?
The Vicar Dedicated MacNNer Joined: Jul 01, 2009
Oh, no.
I love iMacs, I've seen just about every single iteration of them in actual use, and I am probably going to buy another one at some point in the not-too-distant future.
But every single time Apple makes the iMac thinner, the first generation which is thinner ends up having some kind of embarrassing, stupid hardware issue which turns out to be caused by the new form factor and can't be repaired without huge cost because "thinner" means "uses a bunch of custom or super-expensive parts".
Honestly, isn't the current iMac thin enough?
msuper69 Professional Poster Joined: Jan 16, 2000
Like nobody saw this coming.
Thank you Captain Obvious!