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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

Makosuke Dedicated MacNNer Joined: Aug 06, 2001
Decent little mid-model bump. Now if they could just do something with the year-and-a-half-old Mini. Some of us have an use for a box somewhere between a Mac Pro and an iMac, but it's pretty hard to justify shelling out for something that's that far down the upgrade curve for a home system.
C'mon, guys, I don't wanna have to hackintosh it, just a modest refresh would be acceptable.
prl99 Senior User Joined: Mar 24, 2009
The price difference between an 11-inch i5 MBA and a 128GB iPad A7 WiFi-only is only $100. I'd like to see a speed comparison between the two. The only feature difference is a touch screen isn't it? Maybe it's time for Apple to release the iPad Pro as a touch screen MBA. Of course, they'd also need to add cellular capability but at $929, the iPad 128GB with WiFi+cellular is already more expensive than the base 11" MBA so there is room. The MBA weighs 2-3lbs depending on model so it's twice as heavy (what's an extra pound?) but it is a much more capable computer.
@Makosuke, I agree with your Mac mini comment. I'd like a mini/maxi with a real GPU and a CPU closer to the iMac. I wouldn't even mind having a power brick to give more room inside the box while removing a heat source. Hum, they sell the mini as a server, what about two power bricks for a redundant power supply? I'm not really kidding about this. People complain the mini will never be a real "server" because it doesn't have a redundant power supply. Why should the server box be saddled with the power supply, keep it modular and have the PS external. This would be a great third-party addition, a dedicated Mac mini power grid with a configurable number of "blade" power supplies for a Mac mini server farm.
OtisWild Junior Member Joined: Feb 02, 2005
Hate to say it, but these are pretty poor. Both should have at least 1080p and touchscreens for this much money.
coffeetime Grizzled Veteran Joined: Nov 15, 2006
Agree. A headless iMac would be nice.
Jeronimo2000 Dedicated MacNNer Joined: Aug 20, 2001
@OtisWild: you go try and use a vertical touchscreen for more than 5 minutes. Then get back to me with your findings.
DiabloConQueso Grizzled Veteran Joined: Jun 11, 2008
I agree -- why shoehorn a touchscreen into the laptop? Laptops aren't used in the same positions as tablets, and the positions they're used in is largely dictated by the methods of input they accept.
For example, when people use their tablets with external keyboards, they typically arrange them in a very much "laptop-like" fashion: keyboard flat in front of them, with the tablet propped up at an angle behind it.
It doesn't work in reverse, though -- if you put a touchscreen into a laptop, it will be difficult and fatiguing to use it in the standard laptop position. With a laptop, though, and unlike tablets, you can't easily use a laptop in the positions you'd use a tablet in. Can't lay it flat on your lap (unless you want a keyboard jutting up on one side), can't hold it in front of you, can't lay down in bed and hold it above you.
Different input methods dictate different positioning for devices, and laptops just aren't conducive for touch-screen input due to their form factor and shape. The "laptops" that do have touchscreens either don't sell well (for obvious reasons), or allow you to reconfigure the shape of the laptop into a more tablet-like form factor for when you use the touch-screen input.
If you want any usability out of a touch-screen on a MacBook Air beyond just shoehorning a touch-screen in for the hell of it, you're going to have to modify its form factor greatly, and, at that point, you're not talking about a MacBook Air anymore, you're talking about a whole different, new product.