News Apple Procduct Update : Buyer's Guide - Discounts On iPad Air 2, MacBook Air, Apple Accessories, And More

If you've been waiting to buy an iPad Air 2, this may be the week to do it. Best Buy has cut prices on many models by $50 to $100. Prices aren't the lowest we've seen, but they're close, especially on higher-capacity models.
Best Buy is also having a sale on some of its MacBook Air models, dropping the prices by $100. With the deal, the prices are the lowest we've seen on the 11-inch MacBook Air models since they were released. Best Buy is also now selling the Apple Watch, but there are no discounts to be had on the device.
Apple's Back to School promotion is still going on, and as of this week, it's expanded to the online store as well. Apple is offering a free pair of Beats Solo2 headphones with the purchase of a Mac.

iPad Air 2 :

Best Buy is discounting its selection of iPad Air 2 models this week, dropping prices from $75 to $100. The biggest discount is on the 128GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in Gold and Space Gray, available for $729.99, the lowest price we've seen on that particular model.


The 16GB Wi-Fi only model is available for $449, the 64GB Wi-Fi model is available for $524.99, and the 128GB Wi-Fi model is available for $599.99, $100 off.

B&H Photo is offering a discount on some of its iPad Air 2 models, dropping prices by $30 to $75. The biggest discount is on the site's 64GB Cellular iPad Air 2 models, which are available for $654.99. The discount is available on all colors, including Silver, Gold, and Space Gray.

Other B&H iPads are discounted by $30 to $50 and prices vary by model. The 16GB entry-level Wi-Fi model, for example, is priced at $469, while the 64GB Wi-Fi model is $569.

iPad Air :

Best Buy, Amazon, and B&H Photo have discounts on a bit of remaining stock of now-discontinued higher-capacity iPad Air models, as listed below.

- iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 64GB (AT&T) - $539.99
- iPad Air Cellular Silver 128GB (Verizon) - $663.99

iPad mini 3 :

B&H Photo is offering some discounts on various iPad mini 3 models, dropping the price by up to $100. The 16GB WiFi + Cellular iPad mini 3 in silver is available for $429, the lowest price we've seen, and the 128GB version is available for $639. The 128GB WiFi only iPad mini 3 in Silver is priced at $499, a $100 discount.


Discounts for each model and color vary, but most models are being offered at a lower price than you'll find at the Apple Store, and buying from B&H, you won't have to pay sales tax unless you're in New York.

iPad mini 2 :

Best Buy, B&H Photo, and Amazon have remaining stock of now-discontinued higher-capacity iPad mini 2 models, which are a good deal if you're looking for an iPad mini. Compared to the iPad mini 3, the iPad mini 2 only lacks Touch ID.

- iPad mini Cellular Silver 128GB (AT&T) - $549.99
- iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 128GB (AT&T) - $538.99
- iPad mini Cellular Silver 128GB (Verizon) - $528.98
- iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 128GB (Verizon) - $534.99 (Lowest Price Ever)
- iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 64GB (Verizon) - $429

iMac :

- 2013 21.5-inch 2.7GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $1,199.99, $100 off
- 2013 21.5-inch 2.9GHz/8GB/1TB (Best Buy) (Adorama) (B&H Photo) (MacMall) - $1,399, $100 off
- 2013 27-inch 3.2GHz/8GB/1TB (Best Buy) (Amazon) (B&H Photo) - $1,679.99, $120 off
- 2013 27-inch 3.4GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) - $1,794.99, $204 off
- 2014 27-inch 3.5GHz/8GB/1TB Retina iMac (Adorama) (B&H Photo) (MacMall) - $2,199.99, $100 off
- 2015 3.3GHz/8GB/1TB Retina iMac (Amazon) (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $1,899.99, $100 off

Mac mini :

- 1.4GHz/4GB/500GB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $464.99, $34 off
- 2.6GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $664, $35 off
- 2.8GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) (MacMall) - $938, $60 off

MacBook Air :

- 2015 11-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (Best Buy) (B&H Photo) - 799.99, $100 off (Lowest Price Ever)
- 2015 11-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/256GB (Best Buy) - $999, $100 off (Lowest Price Ever)
- 2015 13-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (Best Buy) (B&H Photo) - $899, $100 off
- 2015 13-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/256GB (Best Buy) (B&H PHoto) - $1,099, $100 off
- 2014 11-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB (Adorama) - $798, $300 off (Lowest Price Ever)
- 2014 13-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/128GB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $879, $120 off
- 2014 13-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB (Adorama) - $999, $200 off

Retina MacBook Pro :

- 2015 13-inch 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB (Best Buy) (B&H Photo) - $1,199, $100 off
- 2015 13-inch 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB (Best Buy) (B&H Photo) - $1,399, $100 off
- 2015 13-inch 2.9GHz/8GB/512GB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) (MacMall) - $1,699.99 $100 off
- 2015 15-inch 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB (Adorama) - $1,815, $180 off
- 2015 15-inch 2.5GHz/16GB/512GB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $2,349, $150 off
- 2014 13-inch 2.6GHz/8GB/256GB (Adorama) - $1,229, $259 off
- 2014 13-inch 2.8GHz/8GB/512GB (B&H Photo) - $1,449 $350 off
- 2014 15-inch 2.5GHz/16GB/512GB (B&H Photo) - $1,999 $500 off

Apps :

There are also quite a few iOS apps that are on sale at discounted prices or available for free for a limited time. We'll highlight a few here, but make sure to check out our sister site AppShopper for a complete list.

Endless runner Canabalt is available for $0.99, down from $2.99. Puzzle game Hundreds is available for $1.99, down from $4.99. DJ app GrooveMaker 2 is available for free, down from $9.99.

Shoot 'em up game Crazy Tanks is available for $0.99, down from $1.99. Infinity Blade II is available for $2.99, down from $6.99. Infinity Blade is available for $2.99, down from $5.99.

Photography app Matter was named Apple's App of the Week, so it will be free to download until next Thursday when a new app is picked.

Apple Accessories :

PayPal Digital Gifts is offering a $50 iTunes eGift Card for $40 on eBay. DailySteals is selling an Apple Earpods and Lightning Cable bundle for $12, down from the regular price of $38. Groupon has a 4-pack of Griffin Lightning cables for $24.99, down from the regular price of $69.99.


The LifeProof Nuud Waterproof Case for the iPhone 5 is available for $44.99 from Groupon, down from $89.99. The LifeProof Nuud case for the iPad mini is available from LivingSocial for $49.99, down from $119.99.


Groupon has the Waloo crocodile print Apple Watch band for $24.99, down from $49.99. The site is also selling the iPM Leather Strap with Magnetic Closure for the Apple Watch for $54.99, down from $129.99. The Waloo Bamboo Charging Dock for iPhone and Apple Watch is available for $24.99 from Groupon, down from $49.99.


The Titan Heavy Duty Lightning cable by FuseChicken is available from StackSocial for $24.99, down from $35. Groupon has a Nylon Incase Sleeve for the MacBook Pro for $24.99, down from $60. Best Buy has the Jawbone UP3 for $149.99, a $30 discount off the regular price.


Best Buy has the Harman Kardon Onyx Bluetooth Speaker available at a $200 discount, dropping the price to $199.99. Best Buy is also selling select Beats Solo2 Wireless headphones for $229.99, a discount of $70.


Best Buy has the Belkin WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set for $49.99, down from $99.99, and the Logitech Type+ case for the iPad Air 2 is available for $69.99, a discount of $30 off the normal price.


MacMall is still offering MacRumors readers 20 percent off AppleCare for iPad with the purchase of any iPad or iPad Air 2, using the coupon code MWBCJMACRUMORS.

Groupon's also hosting an Apple Event, discounting a huge range of additional Apple accessories ranging from the Apple TV, iPads, and iPhones to cases and keyboards.

MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.

Posted by Unknown Saturday, August 08, 2015

News Google Glass Update : New Google Glass For Businesses Will Reportedly Attach To Other Eyewear

The next edition of Google Glass will target enterprises and feature an attachable design, a news report suggests, shedding new light on rumors that have been circulating over the past several months.

The device will feature a curved, rectangular form factor much the way the first, consumer-focused Glass edition did, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. It will differ from that version, however, in that it will reportedly feature a button-and-hinge system rather than a fixed frame, making it attachable to different kinds of eyewear.

Google aims to have the device in use by this fall at companies in healthcare, manufacturing and energy, and is already distributing it to software developers creating applications for that purpose, the WSJ reported on Thursday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the situation.

A new consumer version is also in the works, but it reportedly won’t appear for at least a year.

Google didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment for this story.

The original $1,500 Google Glass version is widely considered to have been released before it was ready for consumer use, and it encountered a strong backlash over privacy concerns.

Expected in the new, enterprise version are a faster Intel processor and improved wireless connectivity. An external battery pack connects magnetically to the device, the latest news suggests, promising better battery life than what was offered by its predecessor.

Finally, a longer and thinner prism display is adjustable both vertically and horizontally, the WSJ said, offering improved flexibility.

“The new Google Glass story sounds much better the second time around,” said wireless and telecom analyst Jeff Kagan.

Consumers will probably become more comfortable with such technology eventually, but “it will take a while before the average person gets to that point,” Kagan added. In the meantime, “taking Glass to certain industries to start sounds like a much better idea.”

Posted by Unknown Friday, July 31, 2015

News Gaming Gadget Review: Inno3D GeForce GTX 980 Ti iChill X3 Ultra

Something kind of weird is happening in the graphics world. The high-profile and eagerly anticipated launch of AMD's Radeon R9 Fury X has unwittingly sparked a surge in sales for Nvidia's rival GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Our conversations with retail partners suggest that keeping GTX 980 Ti on the shelves is proving to be a challenge, as said cards are now being snapped up by all those gamers who were, until recently, sat on the fence.

Buoyed by such news, and heartened by the fact that there are currently no custom R9 Fury X cards, Nvidia's partners are doubling down in their efforts to flood the market with an eclectic array of air- and liquid-cooled GTX 980 Ti solutions. Inno3D has both bases covered with five variants to choose from, and we have the mid-range iChill X3 Ultra in for review today.

Priced at around £575 - that's £50 more than the GTX 980 Ti entry point - this, clearly, isn't one for the faint of heart. Inno3D's unusual, almost Goth-like aesthetic design is very much an acquired taste, and you could either love the shroud's intricacy, or it may even give you nightmares.

It's a scary-looking beast, and it definitely doesn't shy away. Measuring 300mm in length and occupying the best part of three expansion slots, the iChill X3 Ultra is one of the meatiest GTX 980 Tis we've seen and tips the scales at 1.2kg. You could argue you're getting more card for your money, and if a compact form factor isn't a priority, you'll like the fact that Inno3D has made good use of the card's dimensions.

There's a full-size backplate, for starters, which shields the PCB and gives the card an extra feel of rigidity. The way in which the backplate extends well beyond the PCB reveals that the card is bigger than it needs to be, though the extra room does allow for three 90mm fans to be squeezed into the gigantic cooler.

Described as a modular design that's "easy to install, easy to clean," the iChill X3's metal cover can be detached using an Allen key, providing simple access to the three removable fans and a 118-fin aluminium heatsink interspersed with five heatpipes of varying widths. The removable parts are a handy way of keeping the card free of dust in the long run, though do be careful during the disassembly as the shroud does feel fragile and plasticky in parts.

A side-on-view gives you a better idea of the iChill X3 Ultra's girth. Such bravado hints at a good dollop of factory overclocking and Inno3D duly obliges by notching-up base and boost frequencies from 1,000MHz and 1,076MHz to a much tastier 1,152MHz and 1,241MHz, respectively. That's on par with Gigabyte's G1 Gaming, but Inno3D goes a step further by elevating memory from a reference 7,012MHz to an effective 7,200MHz. A nice touch, as overclocked memory is something of a rarity on custom GTX 980 Tis.

Inno3D has made all the right tweaks and, just as importantly, knows better than to mess with what already works. Power continues to be sourced by 6+8-pin connectors, two SLI fingers allow for multi-GPU configurations and Nvidia's usual display outputs - dual-link DVI, HDMI 2.0 and a trio of DisplayPort 1.2 - are ever present.

The iChill X3 Ultra's overall aesthetic has divided the crowd here at HEXUS HQ, though one element we all agree on is the black I/O panel - it's a neat little addition that fits in well with most PC enclosures.

Knowing that it lacks the brand power to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Asus, EVGA, Gigabyte and MSI, Inno3D is relying on a balanced mix of price and factory overclock. The iChill X3 Ultra should be one of the fastest GTX 980 Tis available at the £575 price point - if not the fastest - so let's see if the benchmarks stack up.

Nvidia's partners were all holding their breath a few short weeks ago, but with AMD's Radeon R9 Fury X failing to beat GTX 980 Ti into submission, they can all now rest easy and flex their muscles with a revitalised retail push.

It's almost an unfair battle with a myriad of custom GTX 980 Tis going up against the single-flavoured Radeon, however such choice does provide would-be buyers with a challenge: if you've decided GTX 980 Ti is the right GPU for you, which card should you buy?

EVGA's well-rounded Superclocked+ ACX 2.0+ is a firm favourite around these here parts, and is followed closely by Gigabyte's G1 Gaming, but it's good to see a lesser-known brand throwing its hat into the ring and Inno3D has done exactly that with the GTX 980 Ti iChill X3 Ultra.

Built to look formidable, overclocked on core and memory, yet able to remain whisper quiet, Inno3D's £575 solution is full of promise and should be on your list of GTX 980 Tis to consider

Posted by Unknown Thursday, July 09, 2015

News Tech Gadget Update : GoPro Shrinks The Camera Again: Hero4 Session Review

GoPro Inc., the popular maker of tiny video cameras, is making them even tinier.


How tiny? The new GoPro Hero4 Session is the size of an ice cube, about half that of previous GoPros. It can fit into the spokes of a bike, hang onto the end of a fishing pole or turn a toddler into a documentary filmmaker.

The Session goes on sale July 12, and GoPro gave me one to try over the past week. It isn’t the best-quality camera GoPro has ever made, but it’s so small and simple, I’m likely to keep using it.

Just brace for the sticker shock: $400. That’s the same price as an Apple Watch, not to mention last year’s Hero4 Silver, which has a touch screen and better picture quality.

With the Session, GoPro is going for its iPod Shuffle moment. In 2005, Apple upended its own booming music player business with the Shuffle, an iPod small enough to wear on a necklace. Its main selling point was what it lacked: no screen, no removable battery and no complex controls.

The Session is the first new design in nearly a decade for GoPro, which has an astounding 70% of the U.S. video-camera market, according to NPD. Like the Shuffle, the Session sheds features to slim down and broaden its appeal. It has no screen to view pictures, no extra buttons to change modes, no way to swap its two-hour battery.

But the refinements in the new design are, for the most part, worth the sacrifices. They go a ways toward addressing my longstanding complaint that GoPros require too much futzing.

The Session still takes full-HD video, but is pool-party ready without the waterproof housing its predecessors required. The Session’s lens is covered by a clear shield, and the USB ports for charging and swapping out memory cards are pressure sealed (safe to an undersea depth of 10 meters). The microphone drains like a human ear when you take it out of the water, so you can go from the pool to the picnic table in seconds.

The Session also cuts GoPro’s number of buttons from three to two—really just one big one you use regularly. Tap the shutter button once to power it up and start recording video, or hold it down for still shots. (A tiny digital readout next to the button gives you confirmation that it’s working.) Press the shutter again to stop recording and turn it off. This is a significant speed improvement over older GoPros and competing action cams from companies like Sony.

A few aspects of the new design did aggravate me. The 1.5-inch, 2.6-ounce cube is cute, but when all sides are equal, how can you tell which way is up? The Session can sense its orientation, and will flip its video in 180-degree increments. But it can’t rotate 90 degrees. I held it wrong initially, and took video you have to watch with your head tilted like a confused puppy.

The session holds enough power to shoot about two hours of HD video, and doesn’t waste any juice when it isn’t shooting. But the sealed battery means you must be conscientious about charging it. That takes about 90 minutes.

The big question, of course, is why you’d need a GoPro at all when you already have a smartphone. The answer is that you’re willing to stick them in places you’d never put your phone or regular camera.

I had no problem handing the Session over to a 2-year-old who, transfixed by its cute shape and blinking red light, produced incredible footage of his afternoon. Seen from the Session’s wide-angle lens, the tyke looked like a giant stomping around toy trains.

I also stuck it on the bottom of a skateboard, on a puppy and in a cocktail glass. GoPro Chief Executive Nick Woodman says he’s fond of holding it in between his teeth to document playing with his children.

Compared with other GoPros, the Session’s ruggedized, compact design made it easier to think of it as camera I can just keep in my bag. If you’ve got a pool in the backyard, it’s a no-brainer.

The Session’s design has plenty of appeal, but if you’re fussy about your cinematography, it isn’t the right choice. The image sensor GoPro put into the Session is fine, but not as good as the Hero4 Silver and Black, which can take higher-resolution shots and pick up more light in dark scenes.

The Session also requires you to be OK with filming without a screen to frame your shot. You get over this limitation when you realize the super-wide-angle lens does a remarkable job capturing whatever’s interesting. You can also use the Session’s second, smaller button to connect it to your phone via Wi-Fi to preview, download shots or change modes.

GoPro has long encouraged perspective creativity by selling an array of mounts, all of which are compatible with the Session when you clip on its included plastic frame. It has also introduced a few new ones, like a $60 glove called the Strap. GoPro has even announced plans for its own quadcopter drones and 360-degree virtual-reality rigs.

Now that the Session plots a new design direction for its cameras, GoPro’s biggest problem is that it doesn’t have an answer to what to do with all that footage. Sure, the camera comes with an editing program; it’s a bit buggy, but who even has the inclination to edit their videos anymore?

The Session ought to be smart enough to upload all your footage to the cloud as soon as you get home and plug it in, for storing and sharing those moments. Mr. Woodman says his company is working on such a cloud service. That GoPro can charge $400 for the Session without it is a testament to its quality design and powerful marketing, but it is sorely needed now.

GoPro’s marketing has always been about extreme athletes. Like Nike, I suspect the message is aspirational for most customers. Its actual base looks increasingly more like extreme parents. For them, the Session is the best camera on the market for documenting the rough and tumble of family life.

Posted by Unknown Monday, July 06, 2015

News Microsoft Gadgets Update : Mass Effect Franchise Creator Will Oversee Microsoft's HoloLens Game Development

HoloLens may not solely focus on gaming, but Microsoft appears to have big plans for games on the augmented reality glasses, and today it's named the man who will oversee those plans.

As revealed in a post on Microsoft's official Xbox Wire website, Casey Hudson has been named the creative director of Microsoft Studios, where he'll oversee development on games for HoloLens and Xbox, among "other awesome projects." Hudson is best known as the creator of the Mass Effect franchise at Electronic Arts subsidiary BioWare, a company he left in August to "take on a new set of challenges."

 
In a brief interview on the Xbox Wire post, Hudson said his "primary focus will be the creative direction of HoloLens Experiences," though he added that he "will be involved in driving a creative focus for Xbox and Windows gaming."

Hudson, who spent 15 years at EA and BioWare, said he was able to try and early prototype of HoloLens prior to its announcement, though he didn't give any indication of what kind of gaming experiences users can expect with the glasses. The veteran game designer said he will "influence the full-spectrum experience on HoloLens, from hardware to OS, to applications and games," however.

Microsoft hasn't set a release date for HoloLens, though the company has said it will launch sometime "in the Windows 10 timeframe." Windows 10 for computers and large tablets is expected to launch in the summer – possibly at the end of July – followed by a smartphone and small tablet version later in the year. A HoloLens release would likely follow that, possibly in late 2015 or early 2016.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, May 19, 2015