Apple to Launch a 4-Inch iPhone Next Year Alongside iPhone 7: Report

Last year, Apple introduced two larger-sized iPhone models. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus were a forward step for the company from its 4-inch iPhone lineup. The company this year launched the successors to both the handsets that retain the same screen sizes, and did not launch its anticipated 4-inch iPhone alongside. But it might still be working on one. According to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a accurate track record for leaks, Apple is working on a refreshed 4-inch iPhone model which it plans to launch in 2016.
Kuo shared (via 9to5Mac) a note with investors in which he noted down Apple's expected smartphone rollout plan for next year. In the note, he said that he expects Apple to launch a 4-inch model of the iPhone as there is still demand for a small-sized iPhone. The company will, according to Kuo, market the handset as a "budget" smartphone.
The handset is expected to enter mass production in the first half of 2016, and launch alongside next year's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus lineup. As for the specifications, the handset will have full metal casing - unlike the iPhone 5c - and will be powered by A9 SoC - the same chipset that this year's iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus ship with.
The handset would not come with the 3D Touch feature, a move that Apple is likely to take to differentiate the smaller iPhone from its larger handset lineup. The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models come with this feature, and its successors are expected to keep the feature as well. 3D Touch allows users to hard press on an icon to get a quick access to the contextual menu of the app.
The analyst added Hon Hai (Foxconn) is expected to be the exclusive supplier of 4-inch iPhone. He forecast that Apple will manage to 20 to 30 million units of the handset.

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iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus Opening Weekend Sales at Record 13 Million; India Launch Date Announced

Apple on Monday announced it has sold more than 13 million new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus units just three days after the new iPhone models went on sale last Friday in select countries. The company has also announced the dates iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will be available in several other countries, including an October 16 launch for India.
Last year, Apple had announced it sold over 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus units during the opening weekend - a record at the time - and Monday's announcement tops that number. Announced earlier this month, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus come in four colours: Silver, Gold, Space Grey, and a new Rose Gold Aluminium finish. On Friday, the new iPhone models became available to customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, and the US.
 "Sales for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have been phenomenal, blowing past any previous first weekend sales results in Apple's history," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "Customers' feedback is incredible and they are loving 3D Touch and Live Photos, and we can't wait to bring iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to customers in even more countries on October 9."
iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will roll out worldwide to more than 40 additional countries and territories beginning October 9 including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan.
On October 10, the new iPhone models will become available in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will be available in India, Malaysia and Turkey on Friday, October 16 and in over 130 countries by the end of the year, said Apple.

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iOS 9.0.1 Update Brings Fix for 'Slide to Upgrade' and Other Bugs

Just a week after the release of iOS 9, a new update has already started to rollout. On Wednesday, Apple seeded out iOS 9.0.1 that focuses on fixing a few bugs.
The first update to the new version of Apple's mobile operating system fixes glitches including the inability to complete the setup assistant process for some after upgrading their Apple device to iOS 9. Some users had reported that their device was stuck on the Slide to Upgrade screen after updating to iOS 9 or while restoring from a backup. Apple had even issued instructions on its websites for users looking for fix for this bug
Other improvements in iOS 9.0.1 include fixing a bug that prohibits alarms and times from functioning properly; and a separate bug which pauses videos in Safari and Photos apps. iOS 9.0.1 also patches an issue that caused many users with a custom APN setup via a profile settings to lose mobile data.
Apart from the bugs mentioned above, a European company had warned about Bluetooth issues in iOS 9 that could important 'hundreds of thousands of EU businesses'. It is not known yet whether iOS 9.0.1 addresses this issue.
The new update also comes with security fixes. The update is available as an OTA download for all the devices that support iOS 9. Alternatively, you can snag it through iTunes as well. Find the complete changelog below:

This update contains bug fixes, including: Fixes an issue where some users could not complete setup assistant after updating Fixes an issue where sometimes alarms and timers could fail to play Fixes an issue in Safari and Photos where pausing video could cause the paused frame to appear distorted Fixes an issue where some users with a custom APN setup via a profile would lose mobile data. For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website.

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Apple Launches Move to iOS, Its First Android App

The day is finally here. Apple has just released an Android app. No, it's not Apple Music for Android - that's coming later this year. Called Move to iOS, the app instead focuses on making it easier for Android users to easily jump ship to iOS devices.
The Move to iOS app, first announced at WWDC 2015, allows users to seamlessly transfer their data (from media to messages to contacts) from Android smartphones running version 4.0 and above to an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 9.
Apple loves to boast about winning Android users at its earnings call, touting the number of people who have recently moved to purchase an iOS device. Having an official app on Google Play could boost its efforts. Here's how the company describes it.
"Everything about iOS is designed to be easy. That includes switching to it. With just a few steps, you can migrate your content automatically and securely from your Android device with the Move to iOS app. No need to save your stuff elsewhere before switching from Android. The Move to iOS app securely transfers all kinds of content for you."
This is how it works: you purchase an iPhone, or iPad, or iPod Touch. While setting it up, you will find a new option to transfer data from your Android handset. Upon clicking on which, you are provided with a 10-digit code that you feed to Move to iOS app on your Android device. The two devices now start talking to each other and begin transferring data.
The Move to iOS app will migrate your contacts, SMS texts, photos, bookmarks, email-accounts, and calendars among other data. But don't expect it to export the purchases you've made in Google Play to App Store. You will have to make separate payments for all the paid apps you want to use on your iPhone or iPad.

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Apple iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi Specifications

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iPad mini 4 India Price Details

Apple hosted a big event in San Francisco on Wednesday where the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Pro, and Apple TV were the stars. The one new launch that perhaps got the least amount of airtime at the event as well as in subsequent media coverage was the iPad mini 4.
Sporting internals similar to the iPad Air 2, the iPad mini 4 is Apple's newest 7-inch flagship tablet. Apple announced US pricing for the iPad mini 4 at the event, but there has been no information about the India price of the new tablet. Until now.
NDTV Gadgets has learnt that the iPad mini 4 will be priced in India starting at Rs. 28,900 for the Wi-Fi only 16GB variant. The 64GB Wi-Fi only iPad mini 4 will be available at Rs. 35,900, with the 128GB variant available at Rs. 42,900. The 16GB Wi-Fi + cellular iPad mini 4 will set you back by Rs. 38,900, 64GB by Rs. 45,900, and the 128GB variant by Rs. 52,900. However, there's no word yet on when the tablet will start shipping in the country.
The iPad mini 4 Smart Cover by Apple - available in Charcoal Gray, White, Midnight Blue, Red, Stone, Blue, Orange, Pink, Lavender, and Turquoise colours - will cost Rs. 2,900 in India. The iPad mini 4 Silicone Case (available in the same colours as the Smart Cover) is priced at Rs. 4,900.
The iPad mini 4 comes with a 7.9-inch 2048x1536 resolution display but it is powered by the second-generation A8 chip, compared to the A8X chip on the iPad Air 2. Rest of the internals are similar to the iPad Air 2. The iPad mini 4 is the successor to the iPad mini 3, which has now been discontinued.
Apple also announced a price cut for the iPad mini 2 aka iPad mini with Retina Display in the US. The tablet, which used to start at $299 for the 16GB Wi-Fi variant, now retails at $269 in Apple's backyard. However, NDTV Gadgets understands this price cut is unlikely to be passed on to customers in India at this point.

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iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s Receive Price Cuts in India

As expected in the aftermath of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus announcements, the older iPhone models have received a price cut in India. However, the quantum of price cut isn't as big as you would've expected based on international trends.
NDTV Gadgets has learnt that the iPhone 6 will now be priced at Rs. 52,000 for the 16GB model and Rs. 62,000 for the 64GB variant. The iPhone 6 Plus is now priced in India at Rs. 62,000 and Rs. 72,000 for 16GB and 64GB models respectively. The older iPhone 5s will now start at Rs. 35,000 for the 16GB variant, with the 32GB model now priced at Rs. 40,000. All prices are the new Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for the respective products, and they may of course be available at lower price online and indeed in physical stores.
It's interesting that the price cut for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is relatively modest, considering the models are now retailing $100 (Rs. 6650 approximately) cheaper in the US. The India price cut, by comparison, is just Rs. 1,500 compared to last year's launch price, something you can perhaps blame on the complicated relationship the Indian rupee and the US dollar have had since the iPhone 6 was launched in India. In fact, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus prices were revised earlier this year, so compared to the MRPs earlier this week, which is a better reflection of the cut, the drop for the bigger iPhone models is Rs. 4,000. That makes the cut look better, but still not as high as one might have expected.
The modest price cut is also a sign that the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will almost certainly come to India with price tags higher than their predecessors. With the iPhone 6 at Rs. 52,000, expecting the new iPhone 6s at Rs. 53,500 (the launch price for last year's iPhone 6) is silly. An India price close to Rs. 60,000 for the iPhone 6s is looking increasingly likely now.
The one good news is that Apple has given its distributors a free hand in terms of promoting and pushing the older iPhone models, and the MRPs mentioned above are only indicative. NDTV Gadgets learns that an offer for providing the iPhone 5s at sub-Rs. 30,000 is already on its way, so if you are looking for iPhone deals, your best bet is to look at older models - but then you already know that.
Update: Copy updated reflected to acknowledge the fact that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s Plus India MRP was increased earlier this year.

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iOS 9 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to Release on September 16

Apple at its Wednesday event announced the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus smartphones alongside the new iPad Pro and iPad mini 4. The company revealed the much-anticipated new Apple TV with refreshed features and the new Hermes collection of Apple Watch.
During the keynote, Apple also announced the availability date for iOS 9, the latest mobile operating system powering its iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices, which will be available for users to download and install from September 16. The iOS 9 update will be available to iPhone 4s and later, iPod touch fifth generation and later, iPad 2 and later, and iPad mini and later. The Cupertino-based giant also stated that some features of the new OS may not be available in all regions or in all languages.
Some of the major highlights of the new iOS 9 are the intelligent and proactive search apart from the improved Siri features. The new update finally brings the much-awaited split-screen multitasking to the iPad.
iOS 9 learns from your habits and routines and will suggest actions, apps and other bits of information based on them. Apple at WWDC had detailed that the new proactive assistance will offer users the most relevant information at a given time of day and will suggest actions at that particular moment based on the apps used frequently.

The voice-based virtual assistant Siri has received an all-new design, contextual reminders based on time and location, and new ways to search photos and videos. Siri will be able to process granular contextual cues as well. Spotlight is now proactive, with a full-screen interface that shows suggested contacts (again based on patterns), apps that users likely require, localised news snippets, and places of interest nearby.
iOS 9, according to Apple, will improve the overall iPad experience for users. The Split View multitasking feature has been designed specifically for iPad and comes with a new app switcher interface that lets iPad uses run two apps side by side. The new Slide Over feature lets users simultaneously work on a second app without leaving the one being used currently and easily switch between apps. The new Picture-in-Picture feature lets users continue a video or FaceTime call while using an app.
iOS 9 brings many built-in apps including the redesigned Notes app, which will allows users to draw sketches with their fingers, create checklists, and even save important items in the Notes app; an all-new News app comes with a new design of a print magazine that can learn users' interests and suggest relevant content; Apple Pay in the meanwhile has received new capabilities including support to discover, merchant rewards programs and shoppers will now be able to manage their cards in the new Wallet app, and support for transit in Maps, which now shows metropolitan transit systems and schedules

Commenting on the announcement, Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, said, "iOS 9 is packed with intelligence that makes every experience with iPhone and iPad even more powerful - Siri can do more than ever and new proactive assistance helps you get more done before you ask, all while protecting users' privacy. With iOS 9 we focused on strengthening the foundation of iOS with a deep focus on quality, and with the help of more than one million users who participated in our first ever public beta program, we're excited to release the best version of iOS yet."

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21.5-Inch 4K Display iMac to Be Launched in October: Report

Last year, Apple held an October event to launch new iMac computers, and it seems the company has plans to hold a similar event this year as well. As per a new report, the company plans to launch a 21.5-inch 4K display iMac in October. As for the event on September 9, the long-rumoured iPhone 6s might not sport sapphire protection on top of its camera, but it would have a higher-resolution FaceTime sensor, says another report.
Apple will hold an event in October to refresh its iMac lineup, 9to5Mac reports. The company would introduce a new version of its 21.5-inch iMac with 4K display, the report added. The launch could happen in conjunction with the official rollout of the OS X El Capitan and iOS 9 operating system updates.
The upgrade to 4K model means a massive jump to 4096x2304 pixels from the 1920x1080 pixels in the current generation 21.5-inch iMac. Other improvements could include faster processors and improved colour saturation, the report further noted. Apple may continue to sell the lower-resolution (1080p) 27-inch iMac variant (despite launching a 5K variant last year).
As for the new iPhone, KGI analysts have corroborated on several previous reports, concreting the leaked specifications that we have read before. The report however also claimed that the new iPhone 6s will have a 5-megapixel FaceTime camera (up for 1.2-megapixel in current generations).
The report goes on to claim that the new iPhone won't have the sapphire protection running atop lens. This is because despite being more scratch-resistant, sapphire is brittler compared to the Gorilla Glass, making it more prone to shattering when dropped. The report also noted that the new iPhone models will have 16GB internal storage in the most basic variant.

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Apple TV Refresh to Reportedly Feature Motion Controls; Pricing Tipped

Apple is expected to launch an overhauled version of the Apple TV alongside the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at its scheduled September 9 event. As we move closer to the mega event, more information about the company's upcoming media streaming device is trickling out. The latest reports suggest that the new Apple TV might cost close to $200 (roughly Rs. 13,200), and offer a remote with Nintendo Wii-like motion controls. The company is also said to be working on a TV subscription service which it plans to launch by next year.
The next-generation Apple TV will cost between $149 (roughly Rs. 9,800) and $199 (roughly Rs. 13,200), 9to5Mac reported. It's a substantial jump from company's current generation Apple TV, which is currently priced around $69 (the device received a price slash earlier this year in India, and now sells at around Rs. 5,000). The extra bucks gives you some interesting features, another report added.
The new Apple TV will come with an improved remote, which will offer support for motion sensors, similar to the Nintendo Wii nunchuk controller, TechCrunch reported. The remote is said to include a microphone as well, alongside the usual physical buttons, and a touchpad. The inclusion of a touchpad sensor in the new remote is in line with several previous reports.
The introduction of motion sensors in the remote, along with a touchpad, suggest the odds of Apple using the next-gen Apple TV to go big on gaming. If introduced, the media streaming box would allow users to enjoy the rich collection of titles available on iOS. This could allow Apple to get into gaming console business as well, and the relatively lower price of Apple TV (compared to Xbox One and PlayStation 4) could attract a huge number of customers as well.
The report further reveals that the new version of the Apple TV will come with Apple's A8 processor, which it has previously used in iPhone 6. Previous reports have suggested that the new Apple TV will also feature Siri, the company's digital voice assistant - giving credence to the inclusion of the microphone. It seems likely as Android TV box already offers such functionality with Google Now support.
The company is reportedly also working on a streaming cable TV service, which would compete with the likes of Netflix, Roku, and Amazon, among others. The company plans to release a subscription of multiple TV channels for as low as $40 (roughly Rs. 2,600). This, however, won't happen until next year, the report said. As a result of this, for first couple of months, the new Apple TV will require you to sign-in with respective cable networks to watch their content. This software feature will also be rolled out to the third-generation Apple TV, which according to the report will not be discontinued and kept in the product lineup as an entry-level offering.

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Apple Schedules iPhone Event for September 9

Apple has sent out media invitations for an event on September 9. The event, where the Cupertino-based company is expected to launch new iPhone models, will be at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.
The company announced its event through an interesting teaser it sent to the media outlets. The caption of the poster reads, "Hey Siri, give us a hint." When say that to Apple's virtual assistant on an iOS device, Siri wittingly states the launch date in some of the cheesiest ways you could expect from a tech company.
"You'll have to wait until September 9. I bet you were one of those kids snuck downstairs to open presents early, weren't you?" one of Siri's responses read. "The only hint I can give you right now is a hint of lime. And that there's a big announcement on September 9," the second one noted.
As for what to expect at the event, much like every year, Apple has tried its best to keep all the juicy information secret from others. But the past news reports suggest that the Cupertino-based company will launch a couple of iPhone models at the event.
The company is expected to launch the iPhone 6S (successor to the iPhone 6), the iPhone 6S Plus (successor to the iPhone 6 Plus), and the iPhone 6c (successor to the iPhone 5c). Rumour has it that the company also plans to launch a refreshed version of the Apple TV.
It seems the company is primarily focused on making its phone's camera, which is arguably already the best in class, even more better. A new report claims that the iPhone 6S will come with a 12-megapixel rear camera with the capability of shooting videos in 4K resolution.
Moving forward, quite literally, the selfie camera is said to come with a flash. The report added that the new iPhone will come with Apple Watch-esque motion wallpapers.

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iPhone 6c Won't Launch on September 9, iPhone 5c to Be Discontinued: Report

With Apple finally announcing its September 9 event that's anticipated to see the launch of the its new iPhone models - expected to be called the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus - new leaks and rumours claim to give a close look at just what the Cupertino giant will unveil. A report claims the long rumoured iPhone 6c isn't getting launched at Apple's September 9 event alongside the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Last year's plastic-clad iPhone 5c will not be seeing a refresh either, and the series will be discontinued, the report adds.
Earlier reports claimed that Apple may launch three iPhone models this year - the iPhone 6s (successor to the iPhone 6), the iPhone 6s Plus (successor to the iPhone 6 Plus), and the iPhone 6c (successor to the iPhone 5c).
If the report is to be believed, Apple will have a five-model iPhone lineup this year. With the iPhone 5c discontinued, the company will have iPhone 5s at the bottom rung, with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, and the iPhone 6s Plus rounding it off. Incidentally, all of these iPhone models have Touch ID, the fingerprint sensor.
Many were expecting the company to launch an affordable iPhone, the iPhone 6c at the event to combat against the increasingly growing, Android-dominated smartphone market. Rumours have been conflicting about the size of the iPhone 6c's display, with some pointing to a 4-inch display in a way to still offer the small form factor Apple had adhered to in the growing phablet market, and others pointing at a 5-inch size in between the current 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus.

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iPhone 6s Details Tipped by China Telecom Representative; Video Surfaces

Adding to a number rumours and leaks on the Web, a new report now has quoted a telecom operator representative to detail some of the features of the anticipated iPhone 6s. Another report in the meanwhile features a video and some images purported to be of the smartphone's innards, giving some additional details.
A social media representative for China Telecom has confirmed some of the iPhone 6s features in a Weibo post (via GforGames), details which have already been in rumoured since May this year. The representative states the iPhone 6s will come with Force Touch technology, improved camera, and 2GB of RAM. While we have already heard about these features, the representative has added that until now he has not heard any news on the Pink/ Rose gold-coloured iPhone 6s variant, the image of which was spotted online last week.
In the meanwhile, a video via MacRumors is claimed to show a 'partially-functioning' iPhone 6s assembled from various components that have seen leaks in the past few months. The video shows the individual powering on the smartphone, which then shows a gear icon on the display. The device does not boot to iOS. Design-wise the handset appears the same as the current iPhone 6 model.
Several images have also been published showing the device's logic board and an unnamed processor, which is said to be the rumoured Apple's A9 processor. While in the previous leak by 9to5 showing the logic board, we were shown that the smartphone would use Qualcomm MDM9635M LTE modem with increased data speeds, the new image shows us the Qualcomm WTR3925 RF chip. The second image shows the alleged A9 processor alongside the A8 processor found in current models. The chip is however unnamed so nothing can be said for sure. The final image shows the display panel, which is rumoured to sport the Force Touch feature. However, the image fails to prove the rumour.
Whatever the final product may be, it would not stay hidden for long as there are only few weeks remaining for Apple's anticipated September 9 event where it is expected to show off the new iPhone models, the new Apple TV, and new iPad models.

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Apple TV With A8 SoC and iOS 9 Core Tipped to Launch on September 9

As we approach closer to Apple's expected September 9 media event, information about the products anticipated to launch there has started to trickle out. The latest leak is about the company's set-top box and media streaming device, Apple TV, which is reportedly getting a major revamp.
Apple TV, the first generation of which was launched in 2007, has undergone two major improvements since but hasn't seen any hardware update since 2012. According to a report by 9to5Mac, that will change at next month's event wherein it claims that Apple will introduce the next generation of its set-top box.
The report said that both software and hardware of the Apple TV are up for big improvements. The new Apple TV will run a full-fledged iOS 9 core - an optimised version of company's mobile operating system for the TV. Furthermore, the Apple TV will also have an improved support for the new iOS 9 Proactive Assistant - offering contextual and more relevant searches tailored to a user's taste.
On the hardware front, the set-top box will become thinner and little wider. The device will continue to have a plastic body instead of switching to a metal shell, however. This is being done to ensure a better connectivity.
On the processor side, the Apple TV is said to come with a dual-core variant of the iPhone 6's A8 chipset - a significant improvement over the A5 processor in the third-generation of Apple TV. Other features include 32GB inbuilt storage and 1GB of RAM.
Another component of the Apple TV which is said to be getting a major boost is the remote control. The company is said to bring a new, bigger, improved remote with touch-based input and gesture support. The company could add Force Touch technology to it, as seen in its new MacBook, as well as Bluetooth technology and an infrared sensor to presumably add backward compatibility for non-Bluetooth home AV devices.
The report added that the company could open the Apple TV remote SDK to developers in an attempt to bolster gaming applications support on the Apple TV. Several files in OS X 10.11 El Capitan betas suggest that the TV remote will have integrated audio technology which could be to bring Siri support to the device.
The company is reportedly also working on new video applications that would allow media companies to release their channels for Apple TV that will give better control to users.
We'll know for sure at the September 9 event, where the company is also expected to launch the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus smartphones.

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iOS 8.4.1 Now Available for Download; Fixes Several Apple Music Bugs

Apple on Friday released iOS 8.4.1, a minor update for the operating system that powers the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This update primarily fixes bugs in Apple Music, the company's music streaming service that was launched in June along with iOS 8.4.
Apart from fixing several Apple Music bugs, the iOS 8.4.1 update fixes an issue that could prevent some users from turning on iCloud Music Library. This is probably the last update for iOS 8 as Apple prepares to unveil iOS 9 next month, alongside its new iPhone models - expected to be called the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
Like always, the update is available via the Settings app on iOS 8. This can be downloaded over-the-air or by connecting your iOS device to iTunes. We recommend taking a full backup of your iOS device before updating.
Full iOS 8.4.1 changes:

This release includes improvements and fixes to Apple Music.

Resolves issues that could prevent turning on iCloud Music Library

Resolves an issue that hides added music because Apple Music was set to show offline music only

Provides a way to add songs to a new playlist if there aren't any playlists to choose from

Resolves an issue that may show different artwork for an album on other devices

Resolves several issues for artists while posting to Connect

Fixes an issue where tapping Love doesn't work as expected while listening to Beats 1

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iPhone 6c Tipped to Launch Alongside iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Amidst the numerous iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s leaks, a tipster has once again brought the iPhone 6c into the rumour mills, stating that it might show up next month along with the two anticipated models. Soon after however, the rumour was contradicted by another publication.
Known tipster @evleaks, aka Evan Blass, in a tweet on Tuesday stated, "Sounds like iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and 6c will all arrive concurrently." Blass however did not reveal any other details about the product.
This goes in line with a report from earlier this year that stated the smartphone to arrive in the second half of this year. In addition, Nowhereelse website reported a week ago that the rumoured iPhone 6c could sport a slightly bigger battery than iPhone 5s at 1715mAh. Other rumours add that Apple could introduce new colours with its iPhone 6c handset. The device is also being said to feature a 4-inch display.
These rumours are however being contradicted by Fiksu (via 9to5Mac), which in a blog post on Tuesday said it has spotted two new iPhone models in its July Web traffic logs going by the name iPhone 8,1 and iPhone 8,2, tipping the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus but skipping the iPhone 6c. To bring this in context, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s carried iPhone 7,1 and iPhone 7,2 as their identifiers, while the iPhone 5c was seen with the iPhone 5,3 moniker.
The post adds that it has observed the iPhone 8,1 and iPhone 8,2 handsets using a variety of travelling, gaming, and lifestyle apps. The US lead the number of hits, while some came from Germany and Brazil, as per the website.
Whatever Apple's final decision may be, it would not stay hidden for long as there is less than a month remaining for the Apple's September 9 event, where it is likely to show the new iPhone models, the new Apple TV, and new iPad models.

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iPad mini 4 to Support Split View, Sport More Powerful Hardware: Report

Apple's rumored iPad mini 4 might support the Split View (two apps running side-by-side) feature revealed for the iPad in iOS 9. A resource file found within the Safari 9 browser in OS X El Capitan shows support for Split-View in Safari for the iPad mini. If true, this could also mean that the specifications of the upcoming iPad mini 4 will be on par with the iPad Air 2, which runs on the Apple A8X.
Developer Hamza Sood and 9to5Mac also report about a developer tool in El Capitan that's designed for developers to test the responsiveness of website designs allowing the simulation of an iPad mini with Safari in split-screen view.
Announced at WWDC in June earlier this year, the new version of Apple's mobile operating system -- iOS 9 - comes with Split View, a feature that brings multitasking capability by allowing users to run two apps side-by-side, with the ability to adjust their screen space.
The feature was not announced for all the iPad tablets. Due to hardware limitations, only the iPad Air 2 supports Split View. If the forthcoming iPad mini tablet is capable of supporting Split View, it is very likely that it comes with the same robust A8X SoC, or a comparable offering, as the iPad Air 2.
Launched in 2014, the iPad mini 3 was a minor improvement over the iPad mini 2. Apart from its availability in Gold, and the inclusion of Touch ID, last year's model didn't have any other new feature. The possibility of seeing a significant hardware boost in the purported iPad mini 4 doesn't seem too far-fetched.

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iPhone 6s, Revamped Apple TV Launch Event Scheduled for September 9: Report

Apple may launch its next iPhone, believed to be dubbed iPhone 6s, alongside the new Apple TV on September 9, claims a report citing sources familiar with the company's plans.
BuzzFeed reports citing sources that Apple intends to hold the event in the second week of September, and will move away from its traditional Tuesday date for events by holding it on September 9, which is a Wednesday. Apple's last two iPhone launch events - the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s in 2013, and iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus alongside the Apple Watch last year - on the second Tuesday of September, so why the company plans to shift to Wednesday isn't clear.
The report adds that Apple may show its latest iPad, rumoured to be called iPad Pro featuring a 12.9-inch display, at the same event. Corroborating earlier leaks, the new report also claims that the next generation Apple TV will launch at the September 9 event. Based on previous reports, the new Apple TV is said to feature a slimmer chassis, a "drastically improved" remote with touch-pad input, increased on-board storage, and an operating system that supports Siri.
A series of leaks have seen specifications and other details emerge about the upcoming Apple iPhone 6s alongside iPhone 6s Plus models. The new iPhone models are said to feature Force Touch technology, and a recent report claimed that the Force Touch panels for the handsets entered the mass production stage. To refresh, the Force Touch technology first debuted in the Apple Watch, followed by the new 12-inch MacBook.
Apple was last month also tipped to be preparing for the largest initial production run for its next iPhones by the end of the year, asking suppliers to manufacture 85 million to 90 million units of two new models with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays.
Based on preliminary leaks, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are expected to feature the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays respectively as last year's models, but will feature additions like 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a 12-megapixel rear camera instead of an 8-megapixel offering, and an upgraded front-facing FaceTime camera with 1080p recording apart from a front-facing flash, and a more efficient Qualcomm LTE modem.

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iOS 9 Beta 5 Automatically Switches to Cell Data When Wi-Fi is Weak

Apple on Thursday released the fifth beta version of iOS 9 to developers, alongside the third beta for public beta testers. The pre-release versions for the OS for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch features build number 13A4325c, and is available over-the-air or can be downloaded via the Apple Developer Centre.
The iOS 9 Developer Beta 5 and iOS 9 Public Beta 3 bring a galore of additions including new wallpapers, Wi-Fi Assist, keyboard tweaks, updated CarPlay interface, Siri UI changes, Wi-Fi calling feature for AT&T subscribers, and more.
The latest beta brings a large collection of new wallpapers while removes several old ones. The new beta also adds a Wi-Fi calling option for AT&T users; though MacRumors points out that feature is not yet available for consumers. A new Wi-Fi Assist feature can also be seen at the bottom of the cellular settings page which will automatically switch to data connection when in a weak Wi-Fi connection. The toggle says, "Automatically use cellular data when Wi-Fi connectivity is poor." It's worth pointing that iOS and other mobile operating systems right now shift to cellular data only when Wi-Fi is unavailable, and not when you may be on Wi-Fi with poor Internet connectivity.
The beta also adds a new "Shuffle All" option in Apple Music; it can be found at the top of My Music when viewing album, genre, or listening to song. New tweaked shift, delete, and dictation keys can be found in the keyboard on iPhone. The settings for Handoff functionality have been changed, which means there will be no App Store suggestions on the lock screen and instead it will only show suggestions from installed apps.
The interface for CarPlay has been updated adding a large artwork that shows behind music controls. The beta 5 also adds like option with heart button when in Beats 1 radio or Apple Music. Siri has received some interface tweaks for the Suggestions option which will no show only icons for calling and messaging a contact.
Some other minor changes include a new animation for when Wi-Fi is turned off and the Text shortcuts option in keyboard settings has been renamed to "Text Replacement."

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US Senator Urges Probe of Apple's Music Streaming Practices

A US senator wants two federal agencies to investigate whether Apple Inc is breaking antitrust law in how it treats music services that compete with the streaming service it launched in June.
Democratic Senator Al Franken in a letter on Wednesday said that he was concerned that some Apple practices could limit choices and raise prices for consumers. The letter was sent to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez.
The FTC is already looking into complaints about Apple's rules governing app developers but has not opened a formal investigation.
The FTC confirmed receipt of the letter but declined to comment. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The complaints focus on the fact that Apple plays two roles in music streaming. First, it provides the App Store platform for competing streaming services including Jango, Spotify, Rhapsody and others, while taking a 30 percent cut of all in-app purchases for digital goods. Secondly, it has its own streaming service.
Franken, who is from Minnesota, noted a complaint often made by streaming companies: that they are barred from putting in their app advertisement that customers can pay less if they download the app from a website instead of the Apple platform. They are also barred from advertising discounts.
"These types of restrictions seem to offer no competitive benefit and may actually undermine the competitive process, to the detriment of consumers, who may end up paying substantially more than the current market price point," Franken wrote in his letter.
In the past, Apple has declined to comment to Reuters and other news organizations on the issue and did not immediately respond to requests on Wednesday.
In a separate letter also sent on Wednesday, the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog accused Apple of pressing the three big music labels to give Apple exclusive rights to artists in an effort to eradicate free ad-supported music services.
"The FTC and Justice Department can ensure that Apple does not dominate the market and eliminate the free music sector by prohibiting it from entering into agreements with clauses that will give it market dominance," the group said in their letter.

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