Drexel University finds a brilliant (and crazy?) new way to use iPads

These days, it's not surprising to see all sorts of strange and unusual items in vending machines. Even on the consumer electronics front, it's easy to spot vending machines sporting high-end earphones and even iPods. But what we haven't yet seen is a vending machine that dispenses iPads.

Until now.

Continue reading...

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 10:05PM, April 03

Watch: The new ‘Fantastic Four’ trailer you’ve been waiting for

The next movie in the Avengers series — Avengers: Age of Ultron — is easily the most hotly anticipated Marvel movie of the year right now, and it will finally be released on May 1st. It's not the only upcoming Marvel movie, however, and now we finally get a new taste of Marvel's upcoming Fantastic Four reboot courtesy of a brand new trailer.

This is the one you've been waiting for.

Continue reading...

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 09:30PM, April 03

Apple Adds New 'Guided Tours' Page to Apple Watch Site

Apple today updated its dedicated Apple Watch website with a brand new "Guided Tours" section that includes several Apple Watch walkthrough videos. The introductory video on the site, entitled "Welcome to Apple Watch," walks users through all of the things the Apple Watch can do.



The site also includes dedicated videos on various Apple Watch features, like Messages, Faces, and Digital Touch. Other video walkthroughs on features like Phone Calls, Siri, Maps, Music, Apple Pay, and more, are labeled as "Coming soon" and should be uploaded over the course of the next few hours.





These videos are also referenced within other areas of the Apple Watch site, with a Fitness video, for example, available in the fitness section, and the Messages video available in the "New Ways to Connect" section.



Today's walkthrough videos from Apple come a week ahead of Apple Watch pre-orders, which are set to begin on Friday, April 10 at 12:01 AM PT.

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 09:08PM, April 03

Watch: Math teacher concocts the best 2015 April Fools prank

Every year April Fools' Day brings some interesting pranks, with tech companies getting more and more serious about, tech jokes. Google had a variety of fresh April Fools stunts of its own, and even Samsung and HTC rose up to the challenge, posting some interesting fake products earlier this week.

But they all pale in comparison to what math teacher Matthew Weathers did in class the other day.

Continue reading...

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 07:33PM, April 03

Buyer's Guide: Discounts on Retina iMac, MacBook Air, Older MacBook Pro, and Apple Accessories [Mac Blog]

Despite the approach of the Easter holiday, there aren't too many deals available this week. We've had good prices on the iPad for the last few weeks, but most sales have ended, so if you're planning to buy one of Apple's newest tablets, you might want to hold off for a week or two until prices drop a bit further.



That said, there are some good discounts on the Retina iMac and other iMacs, and 2014 MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro models continue to be available at low prices.



We've also got a lot of apps on sale this week, and there are a few Apple-related accessories available on the cheap, including Beats headphones.

iPad Air 2

Best Buy continues to offer the lowest prices we've seen on a few select iPad Air 2 models. The 16GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is available for $499.99, $130 off its regular price. The 64GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is available for $599.99, $130 off. The 128GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is priced at $699.99, also a $130 discount.





B&H Photo is offering a small discount on all of its iPad Air 2 models, dropping prices by $30 to $50. With the discount, the 16GB WiFi only iPad Air 2 is priced at $459 and the 64GB model is priced at $569.

iPad Air

Best Buy is also discounting cellular versions of its iPad Air stock, dropping the price on the 16GB Verizon Space Gray model to $379.99 and the price of the 32GB Verizon Space Gray model to $429.99, two of the lowest prices we've seen on those tablets.



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



- iPad Air Wi-Fi 128GB Space Gray - $549

- iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 128GB (AT&T) - $579

- iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 64GB (AT&T) - $449

- iPad Air Cellular Silver 64GB (Verizon) - $566.99

- iPad Air Cellular Silver 128GB (Verizon) - $579

- iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 128GB (Verizon) - $559

iPad mini 2

Amazon has a few iPad mini 2 models available at discounted prices. The 16GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Silver is available for $339. The 16GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Space Gray is available for $335. The 32GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Space Gray is available for $399.99.





Best Buy and Amazon also 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) - $450

- iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 128GB (AT&T) - $400

- iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 64GB (AT&T) - $399.99

- iPad mini Cellular Silver 128GB (Verizon) - $439.97

- iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 128GB (Verizon) - $534.99

- iPad mini Cellular Silver 64GB (Verizon) - $396.99

- iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 64GB (Verizon) - $398.99

iPad mini 3

Best Buy has discounts on a single iPad mini 3, the 128GB Cellular iPad model in gold. The price is $579.99, a discount of $150.

iMac

- 21.5-inch `1.4GHz/8GB/500GB (Best Buy) - $999.99, $100 off

- 21.5-inch 2.7GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $1,189, $110 off

- 21.5-inch 2.9GHz/8GB/1TB (Best Buy) - $1,379, $130 off

- 27-inch 3.2GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $1,689, $110 off

- 27-inch 3.4GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $1,794, $205 off

- 27-inch 3.5Ghz/8GB/1TB Retina iMac (Best Buy) - $2,349, $250 off

Mac mini

- 1.4GHz/4GB/500GB (Amazon) (Adorama) (B&H Photo) - $464.99, $34 off

- 2.6GHz/8GB/1TB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) - $649.99, $49 off

- 2.8GHz/8GB/1TB (MacMall) - $934.99, $64 off

MacBook Air

- 2015 11-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB - (B&H Photo) (Adorama) $829, $70 off

- 2015 13-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (B&H Photo) (Adorama) - $949.99, $50 off

- 2014 11-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/128GB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) - $729, $170 off

- 2014 11-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) - $899, $200 off

- 2014 13-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/128GB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) - $799, $200 off

- 2014 13-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB (Best Buy) - $899, $300 off

Retina MacBook Pro

- 2014 15-inch 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB (Best Buy) (B&H Photo) (MacMall) - $1,799, $200 off

- 2014 15-inch 2.5GHz/16GB/512GB (B&H Photo) -$2,249, $250 off

- 2014 13-inch 2.6GHz/8GB/128GB (B&H Photo) - $1,129, $170 off

- 2014 13-inch 2.6GHz/8GB/256GB (B&H Photo) - $1,249, $239 off

- 2014 13-inch 2.8GHz/8GB/512GB (Amazon) - $1,550, $249 off

Apps

There are quite a few 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.



iOS board game San Juan is available for $0.99, down from $4.99. Valiant Hearts: The Great War is available for free, down from $4.99. Orbitum is available for free, down from $1.99. Blek is available for $0.99, down from $1.99.



Apple is running an "Amazing Photo + Video" promotion in the Mac and iOS App Stores this week, and more than 30 popular apps are available at 50 percent off.



Puzzle game Back to Bed was named Apple's app of the week this week, and it will be available to download for free for the next six days.

Apple Accessories

Fluxmob is offering $10 off the Bolt battery/charger and throwing in a free Arc lightning cable through 4/5. Target is offering a $10 gift card with the purchase of an Apple TV.





Groupon is selling the Griffin USB Power Duo wall and car charger pack for $9.99, down from $29.95. Groupon is selling the Scosche BoltBOX Retractable Lightning cable for $12.99, down from $24.99. The Sony Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Lightning Dock is available for $139 from Groupon, $10 cheaper than Amazon's price and more than $100 off the original price.





Best Buy is offering up to 20 percent off all Beats headphones.



MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 07:26PM, April 03

How to Pre-Order the Apple Watch [iOS Blog]

Following several months of anticipation, the Apple Watch is almost in the hands of customers around the world. Apple will begin accepting Apple Watch pre-orders on Friday, April 10 ahead of an April 24 release date in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. The wrist-worn device should have wider international availability in the near future.





Apple Watch starts at $349 for the entry-level Sport model, while the stainless steel model ranges from $549 to $1,099 and the 18-karat gold edition starts at $10,000. The exact pricing for the Apple Watch will depend on which model, size and bands a customer chooses to purchase. To help with the buying process, we've prepared a guide on how to pre-order the Apple Watch in stores and online.

How to Pre-Order the Apple Watch

Buy Online and Ship to Home

Apple will begin accepting pre-orders for the Apple Watch on April 10 through the Apple Online Store and Apple Store app at 12:01 AM Pacific Time. Pre-orders will go live in all first wave launch countries at the same time:

• 
  


• U.S., Canada: 12:01 a.m. (Pacific Time), 3:01 a.m. (Eastern Time)


• 
  


• U.K.: 8:01 a.m.


• 
  


• Germany: 9:01 a.m.


• 
  


• France: 9:01 a.m.


• 
  


• Australia: 5:01 p.m. AEST


• 
  


• Hong Kong: 3:01 p.m.


• 
  


• China: 3:01 p.m.


• 
  


• Japan 3:01 p.m.


• 
  

If you are looking to pre-order the Apple Watch without trying on the device, you can purchase the exact model you want from either storefront and the product will be shipped to your home or a specified address for free with delivery beginning on April 24. Apple Watch Edition customers also have the exclusive option of shipping the gold watch to a local Apple Store via courier for pickup.



Ordering Online Without an Appointment

Beginning on April 10, you can order directly from Apple's online store or through the Apple Store app as soon as pre-orders go live at midnight Pacific Time. Oftentimes, ordering through the app can be a faster process, as the online site can become congested with many people trying to order at once. If you need help deciding on an Apple Watch to choose ahead of pre-ordering, make sure to check out our Apple Watch Buyer's Guide.



Pre-orders placed online will ship out to customers ahead of April 24, for an April 24 delivery date, for as long as supplies last. We've heard some rumors suggesting supplies will be limited, so if certain varieties of the Apple Watch sell out, only those who pre-ordered early will get an April 24 delivery date. If you want to be sure to get an Apple Watch on launch day, make sure to order right away.



Try-On Appointment and Buy Online

If you would prefer to try on the Apple Watch before pre-ordering, you can schedule a try-on appointment through the Apple Online Store or Apple Store app. You will then arrive at the Apple Store for your scheduled appointment with a Specialist, at which point you can try on two Apple Watch models of your choice at a time. We're going to publish a detailed walkthrough of the try-on experience as well, so keep an eye out for that.





Following your try-on appointment, the Specialist or Genius assigned to you can assist you with pre-ordering an Apple Watch from the Apple Online Store before leaving the store. If you are not interested in purchasing an Apple Watch at that specific time, you can schedule another try-on appointment by speaking with an Apple retail employee or visiting the Apple Online Store at a later date. Apple is not offering walk-in purchases of the Apple Watch without a product reservation, which will not be fulfilled until April 24, so ordering online for home shipment is the only option during the pre-order period.



Walk-In Queue and Buy Online

Apple will also be allowing walk-in customers to be added to the queue of try-on appointments at its retail stores, although expect longer wait times than scheduling an appointment through the Apple Online Store or Apple Store app. If long wait times are expected, Apple offers the option to send you a text message when your try-on appointment is approaching.





Apple will not be offering walk-in purchases of the Apple Watch during the pre-order period, or upon launch, so appointments will ultimately lead to making an online purchase as outlined in the Try-On Appointment and Buy Online section above. When the Apple Watch launches, all walk-in customers will require a Product Reservation to purchase a device through a retail store.

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 07:01PM, April 03

BREAKING: Apple finally announces Apple Watch preorder timing

Apple on Friday finally confirmed preorder timing for the Apple Watch, which will be released on April 24th but will begin pre-sales next Friday, April 10th. Beginning at 3:01 a.m. EDT / 12:01 a.m. PDT, the Apple Watch will be available for preorder on Apple's website.

Preorder availability will begin simultaneously in all markets where the Apple Watch will be sold at launch. And later that day when Apple's retail stores begin to open, actual retail Apple Watch units will become available to try on and test in Apple Stores.

Continue reading...

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 06:05PM, April 03

The 10 best TV shows you can stream on Netlix right now

Earlier today, we ran a post that detailed the 10 best movies you can stream on Netflix right now. The list was obviously packed full of great titles — they are "the best," after all — but something was noticeably absent. What if you're looking for a great TV series to stream on Netflix?

Don't worry, we've got you covered.

Continue reading...

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 05:44PM, April 03

Apple Announces Apple Watch Pre-Orders Will Kick Off at 12:01 AM PT on April 10

Apple today updated the Apple Watch page of its online store to note that online pre-orders for the Apple Watch will begin at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on Friday, April 10. Just after midnight on the West Coast is Apple's typical time for pre-orders, and the company will likely take the store down beginning at 9PM to prepare for orders.





Apple will accept orders both through its website and through its Apple Store app on the iPhone. Placing an order through the app can often bypass some of the congestion that occurs when pre-orders first begin.



Pricing for the Apple Watch begins at $349 for the Apple Watch Sport, $549 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $10,000 for the gold Apple Watch Edition. Pre-orders will ship out to customers beginning on April 24, which is the device's official launch date.

Read More [...]

Posted in 2015 at 05:39PM, April 03