Apple Planning March Event!

What’s next, Apple?

We’ve placed our hand on the oddly shaped crystal ball in our secret clairvoyant cave, and here’s what it told us:

Apple will be holding a Special Event in March to announce a 2nd generation Apple Watch which will ship most likely in April.

The new model will possibly have a list of new health measurement features that were not up to par for the first Gen Apple Watch, as well as a front facing Facetime camera and the ability to do more without needing a connection to an iPhone

At the same media event it is rumored that Apple will announce an iPhone 6C, a cheaper and smaller 4 inch iPhone.

Our crystal apple is also telling us that they will unveil a magnificent line of teleportation devices, but I think it might have gotten it’s dates wrong. That’s so 2033, crystal ball. Geez. Can’t trust any future telling device these days.

Apple Maps for the win?

Do you use Apple Maps or Google Maps on your phone? Of course, when it first came out, users were pretty sore about Apple maps usability and, uh, navigational errors, but things have changed people! Apple has made some major improvement up in Maps!

But you might already know that, if you have an iPhone. Apparently, Apple Maps is now used three times more than Google Maps on iPhone.

They’re looking at over 5 billion map related requests per week.

When we’re looking at all smartphones, however, lots of people are still sticking with our ol’ buddy Google Maps, which has two times more users than Apple Maps. A lot of this though could be  because Apple Maps is only available on iOS while Google Maps is available on both Android and iOS.

Which Maps do you prefer to use?

Apple’s top Apps and games of 2015

What’s App? HA!

Here’s Apple’s list of the best of the best in Apps for 2015.

1. Periscope
2. Enlight
3. Robinhood
4. Workflow
5. Instagram
6. HBO NOW
7. Hopper
8. Darkroom
9. Lark
10. The Everything Machine
11. Pacemaker
12. Tandem
13. Jet
14. Timeline
15. Vee for Video
16. Fit Men Cook
17. Spark
18. RefME
19. Wildcard
20. Paper by FiftyThree
21. GIPHY CAM
22. PRY
23. Reuters TV
24. Zova
25. Blue Apron

Onto Gaming, here’s what delighted the Joysticks of Apple curators in 2015.

1. Lara Croft GO
2. Fallout Shelter
3. Mr Jump
4. Dark Echo
5. Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade
6. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
7. Vainglory
8. Dungeon Boss
9. Puzzle Craft 2
10. PAC-MAN 256
11. You Must Build A Boat
12. AG Drive
13. MARVEL Contest of Champions
14. Horizon Chase – World Tour
15. Shadowmatic
16. Wonky Ship
17. Super Sharp
18. Last Voyage
19. Ski Safari 2
20. Downwell
21. Rayman Adventures
22. Afterpulse
23. Psych! Outwit Your Friends
24. HoPiKo
25. Blades of Brim

We’re here all week!

Apple releases battery case for iPhone 6

This last week Apple released an iPhone 6 Smart Battery Case that gives you waaay more juice. The case is said to prolong your talk time to 25 hours, and your internet time to 18 hours.

The battery status is displayed on the iPhone Lock screen and in Notification Center, so you know  how much charge you have.

The case is silicone, with a hump lookin’ thing sitting in the middle where the extra battery sits. It comes in Charcoal Gray and white and they’re charging (ha!! Get it? Ha!)  a whammin’ $99.

The Future of Television

Want to know what the future of television is? Boy, we sure do. We hope it’s something to do with virtual reality and kittens. And puppies.

Here’s what Apple thinks it is, via their Ad, aptly named ‘The Future of Television’. We think they’re thinking much more short term, much more focused around the new Apple TV, and far less about small, young, animals.

Deal of the day! Apple Watch Edition! HELLA CHEAP!

Remember yesterday when we told you that you can get an Apple Watch from Target and they’ll give you a free $100 gift card to go with it? Today’s deal beats that! Take that Target!

Best Buy has come out swinging, offering any Apple Watch $100 off. Same deal essentially, but they just straight up take that $100 off that sucka!

What are you waiting for? Wednesday is Apple Watch buying day SON!

Get free cell phone service! Right now!

How do you guys feel about free cell phone service? Do you feel good about it? Yeah? Read on fools!

Ringplus has an eggzellent deal on right now – pay $12 upfront, buy a special SIM card (unless you have a Sprint cell phone) and you get a no-contract cell phone service that allows you 1200 real cellular minutes, 1200 texts, and 1200 MB of LTE data per month, plus tethering.

For free. All of it. Free!

It’s called the Leonardo 3 Free plan and there’s a couple of very, very minor catches. Numero uno – when you call someone, instead of hearing the dial-tone, you’ll hear ads. Let some wheelers and dealers bend your ear for however long it takes you friend to pick up.

Before you sign up, you’ll also need to take a short survey and link your Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn account. If you don’t currently have one of those, you can add it within 3 weeks after sign up.

As we said, you’ll need a special SIM unless you already have a Sprint cell phone.

You can buy a SIM from RingPlus here for $15. According to reports, you can also go into an Apple store and ask for a Sprint SIM to fit into your phone and they’ll give you one for free.

If you’re an iPhone guy or gal, you’ll need an unlocked or Verizon iPhone 5C or above. Alternatively, you can check out some sweet $40 phones that will work with the service, like the Sprint Prepaid – Motorola Moto E 4G with 8GB Memory or the VM 1GB Nokia Lumia 635 4G, both currently on sale at Best Buy.

The initial $12 payment is for overage, and if your Top-Up balance reaches $0, another $12 auto Top Up will be automatically charged to your credit card on file.

The service uses the Sprint network, so if  you know that it’s sketchy in your area, you should take that into consideration.

The deal is available Tuesday December 8, 2015 from 12 Noon PST until Thursday December 10, 2015 at 12 Noon PST.

Go get it!

Merry Christmas Video from Apple

From Apple’s family to yours, here’s Stevie Wonder and Andra Day singing his 1967 holiday classic, “Someday At Christmas”.

From us too. Can we do that? Nah, we probably can’t do that. Stay tuned for our Christmas video, from our family to yours, featuring… our Guinea Pig, PapaNu. And…Rihanna. Yeah. Singing that Chipmunk Christmas song. K? K. In the meantime, enjoy this.

New iPhone ads!

Apple just released 2 new ads celebrating and, uh, advertising the iPhone. Because no -one’s heard of those, right?

The first is letting us know just how powerful the iPhone 6s is (motorcycle metaphor!) – and hence how much faster everything you use it for is… and all the cool things you can use it for. Cue Jon Favreau.

Video 2 is all about that lovely lady we all love to talk to – Siri. Siri can do all kinds of wonderful things, like tell Penelope Cruz crossword answers. That’s cheating Penelope. 

Apple Music coming to Sonos

Apple Music is coming to Sonos!

Apple promised waaaay back in June that Apple Music would be available on the fancy wireless speakers before the end of the year, and now they’re making good, announcing this past week that the Music Streaming service will be available as a public Beta on December 15th, with general availability starting early next year.

Beta means that its basically a preview, where users can give feedback to make the service and it’s integration into the speakers better. You’ll be able to access everything but “Connect,” the social feature that links you with artists.

 
Sonos currently offers users a range of streaming services like Spotify and Tidal, and until Nov. 30th last year – Beats Music. Apple Music is a very welcome addition. You can find out more here.