Apple's recent software problems are bad, but shouldn't lead to knee-jerk personnel decisions

By any account, Apple had a rough year with iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra from a software quality perspective — but there are lessons to be learned and corrective measures to execute that can only be fully undertaken with the Apple leadership staying in place.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 85

How the FCC's repeal of net neutrality could affect Apple

The Federal Communications Commission's roll-back of net neutrality rules take effect on June 11, re-igniting a firestorm of debate and speculation over the future of the internet in the U.S. But Apple, who supports net neutrality, finds itself in a unique position in the discussion: It is one of the few companies that has actually been affected by the kind of restrictive internet provider practices that net neutrality aimed to prevent.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 103

Review: Sphero R2-D2 and BB-9E from 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' are great toys, better Swift learning aids

Toys, and particularly tech toys, can have very short half lives. AppleInsider has been playing with three of Sphero's "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" app-controlled droids by a dad who was there in 1977, and by a pair of children who long to be a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 5

Google Assistant arrives on the iPad, but still isn't going to replace Siri soon

After a year stuck just on Android devices, and then another year on the iPhone, Siri competitor Google Assistant has come over to the iPad — AppleInsider fires it up, to see how it fares on its own, and compared to Apple's offering.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 42

Reminder: Apple says it's only streaming 4K iTunes movies, not offering downloads

People wanting to upgrade their desktop iTunes movie purchases to 4K are out of luck — Apple is only streaming video in that resolution, not offering downloads, according to an official support document.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 51

How to implement Apple's two-factor authentication for security on Mac, iPhone, or iPad

Given the news about the cost of a pilfered iCloud account, it seems only prudent for users to take precautions. A good safety measure is two-factor authentication — AppleInsider shows you how to turn it on from your Mac or your iPhone.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 32

Track the 'bomb cyclone' with the best third-party weather apps for your iPhone or iPad

Apple's native iOS Weather app is pretty spartan. Given that a good portion of the east coast of the U.S. is in the midst of a "bomb cyclone" spreading wind, rain, and snow from the mid-Atlantic to Maine — use one of these weather apps to get a bit more data than Apple supplies.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 35

Rock Bottom Prices: Apple's 15" MacBook Pro as low as $1,799 ($800-$1,000 off); plus no tax in 48 states

While supplies last, save up to $1,000 on Apple's 15" MacBook Pro (Late 2016). Pick up the standard model for $1,799 or upgrade to a high-end config for $1,999 . Apple's loaded 2.9GHz, 1TB, Radeon 460 model is also just $2,499 ($1,000 off). Plus, shipping is free with no sales tax on orders outside NY and NJ.

Christine McKee 8 years ago 0

Review: Apple's powerhouse iMac Pro wows with stellar performance and design

Apple's new, high-end iMac Pro packs a ton of power into a svelte, all-in-one desktop machine. Its performance and style are more than enough to impress, giving professional users a much-needed workhorse option in the iMac lineup — provided you can stomach the $5,000-and-up price tag.

Max Yuryev 8 years ago 53

Keep your iPhone X safe with one of these protective cases

Anyone looking to buy an iPhone X at launch is probably concerned with keeping their new mobile device as safe as possible. AppleInsider has rounded up a selection of the cases on the market that offer protection with style.

Malcolm Owen 8 years ago 55

Apple 2017 year in review: iPad gets cheaper than ever, more expensive than ever with new options

Apple's iPad lineup got bigger and more expensive than ever in 2017, with the introduction of new high-end Pro models. But the company also pivoted and introduced a budget-priced 9.7-inch model that marks the most affordable entry price for an iPad ever. The combination helped sales return to long-awaited growth.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 28

Apple 2017 year in review: The realities of AR and VR plus Apple's ARKit

At the start of 2017, it was thought that Apple was falling behind other companies in developing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) related technologies in its products. By the end of the year, Apple has taken small steps towards establishing itself in the VR industry, but it has made great strides in the field of AR, with ARKit being the main driver for its progress.

Malcolm Owen 8 years ago 9

$29 battery exchanges for iPhone 6 and newer now available at most Apple retail locations

Many Apple retail locations in the U.S. started the $29 battery replacement for the iPhone 6 or newer, well in advance of a previously announced January timeframe — but appointments are filling up, and turnaround times are growing.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 81

Apple 2017 year in review: The 'Pro' desktop market is revisited with the iMac Pro, with more in the pipeline

After years of no updates to Apple's "Pro" desktop line, the company uncharacteristically made some public statements in April about a forthcoming line refresh, which led to the iMac Pro's release in December. But, the remarks made may or may not ultimately lead to what Apple fans want to see.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 68

This week on AI: Apple bows to pressure on iPhone batteries, iMac Pro ships, Amazon Echo wins Christmas & more

It might nominally be the holidays, but perhaps not for many people at Apple, as the company scrambled to deal with an ever-growing scandal over its decision to slow down iPhones with weak batteries.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 1

How to personalize Siri's voice response settings in iOS 11

There's a good chance that if got an iPhone or an iPad for Christmas, you've probably still using Siri's default voice settings — but as AppleInsider can show, there are a few ways to personalize Siri's sound and functions in iOS 11 [now with video].

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 24

Video: Putting the iMac Pro thermals to the test

Apple's new iMac Pro now uses a much more advanced dual fan cooling solution, with almost 75 percent more airflow and an 80 percent increase in system thermal capacity. AppleInsider put it to the test to see how it performs with CPU and GPU intensive tasks, and we came away with interesting results.

Max Yuryev 8 years ago 51

Apple 2017 year in review: iPhone X with Face ID signals major platform shift

To mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, Apple released the iPhone X — that's pronounced "ten," as the company is eager to point out. While it may not be an earth-shaking revelation, it's an important signpost for where Apple plans to be 10 years from now — assuming we're even still using smartphones in 2027.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 30

Analyst guesswork sets unrealistic expectations for Apple's iPhone in 2018, forgets iPad exists

Prognosticating sales of tech products can be a difficult and thankless job, particularly when the companies selling the products themselves don't announce sales figures. But that doesn't excuse inconsistencies, unrealistic projections, or a lack of critical thinking skills.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 16

iMac Pro now shipping from Apple authorized resellers with no tax in most states & 0% financing

Apple authorized resellers are now shipping the iMac Pro with no tax in 46 to 48 states, saving many shoppers $400 to $930 compared to buying direct. No interest financing offers are also available on approved credit — and expedited delivery is free on many models.

Christine McKee 8 years ago 0

iMac Pro arrives at Apple's retail stores

Customers who can afford its $4,999 pricetag may now be able to find the 8-core base model of the iMac Pro in some U.S. Apple stores, ready for pickup.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 30

iFixit matches Apple's $29 battery swap cost, covers pre-iPhone 6 devices

Looking to equal or beat Apple in the aftermath of its iPhone battery apology, iFixit has dropped the price of its do-it-yourself battery swap kits to $29 or less. More significantly this includes kits for the iPhone 4S, 5, 5s, and 5c, which are excluded from Apple's discounted battery replacements.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 60

Podcast

AppleInsider podcast covers iPhone X supply chain rumors, Alexa atop the App Store, Apple's response to battery debacle

Victor Marks 8 years ago 11

Roundup: The best cases for Apple's 2017 9.7-inch iPad that you can buy

If you got Apple's latest 9.7-inch iPad equipped with an A9 processor under the tree and are looking for the perfect case in which to house it, we've rounded up a list of the best iPad cases from slim, designer options to rugged models that offer enhanced protection.

Christine McKee 8 years ago 0

Chicago flagship Apple Retail store roof not well suited for snow, ice

Apple's North Michigan Ave., Chicago retail store is having a problem with snow and ice falls off the roof, and has roped off areas of the surrounding court to protect shoppers.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 62

Apple apologizes for iPhone slowdown controversy, will reduce out-of-warranty battery replacement to $29

Apple on Thursday addressed mounting criticism over the revelation that it slows down iPhones with aging batteries to prevent performance issues. In addition to apologizing, the company has also lowered the price of out-of-warranty battery replacements to $29, and will issue a software update in early 2018 to let users find out more information about the health of their device's battery.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 232

Apple to start surveying 'Today at Apple' participants next month

Beginning in January, Apple will start collecting feedback from everyone who attends one of the company's free "Today at Apple" sessions at its retail stores.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 10

Hoping to capitalize on Apple battery controversy, HTC and Motorola volunteer that they don't slow down old phones

Bad publicity for Apple is a potential opportunity for competitors to gain ground, as seen with the iPhone battery controversy compelling HTC and Motorola to issue statements, saying they do not throttle performance on phones with older batteries.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 52

Italian clothing maker defeats Apple, wins rights to use 'Steve Jobs' trademark

The founders of an Italian clothing company operating under the name of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs have won the rights to continue using that branding, in spite of a long-running Apple legal challenge.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 35

Criminal lawsuit over iPhone battery slowdowns filed in France, where planned obsolescence is illegal

Fallout continues to grow following the discovery that Apple slows down older phones with aging batteries to prevent random shutdowns, as a new criminal lawsuit in France aims to hit Apple's pocketbook — and could even result in jail time.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 108

iMac Pro vs. 5K iMac, speakers and FaceTime cameras compared

Apple's long-awaited iMac Pro has just our doorstep, and we've been hard at work benchmarking and testing it ever since. Here, we offer a closer look at the improved speakers, as well as a comparison of the FaceTime camera.

AppleInsider Staff 8 years ago 6

Apple's first store in Saudi Arabia could open in 2019

Apple is reportedly readying its first store in Saudi Arabia, though a grand opening could be as distant as two years out.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 1

South Korea probes Apple's decision to slow down iPhones with weak batteries

The Korea Communications Commission has reportedly asked for an explanation in the wake of Apple's admission that it slows down older iPhones to prolong battery life.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 39

Teardown of Apple's iMac Pro shows RAM upgrades possible - with extreme difficulty

One of the first teardowns of Apple's iMac Pro shows that it is in fact possible to upgrade the RAM on the computer, though all but the most experienced people will probably want to pay a specialist.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 29

Computer History Museum will host Apple Lisa source code following review

Preservationists have extracted the source code and some launch software for Apple's Mac predecessor, the Apple Lisa, and are intending to make it available from the Computer History Museum after Apple examines and releases it for publication.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 14

Citing security, Apple's board mandates CEO Tim Cook use private jet for all business & personal travel

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook earned a whopping $102 million in pay and awards in 2017, along with the perk of flying private wherever he travels. But the latter decision wasn't his — it was mandated by the company's board of directors, who are concerned about his safety.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 65

Apple tops device activations during holidays, iPhone X handily beating iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus

Apple once again leads the industry in smartphone and tablet activations during the week before Christmas, with very strong sales of the iPhone X leading the iPhones released in 2017, with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 availability both overseas and as used devices adding to the lead.

AppleInsider Staff 8 years ago 39

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