More Back to School Deals on Apple!

It’s sale time! And back to school time. Cool?

Get your self to some of the big box stores for some slash priced deals on Apple products!

Apple Airpods Wireless Headphones for $144 at Walmart (normally $159.99).

Apple iPad 128GB 5th Generation WiFi Tablet in Silver for $349 at Walmart (normally $429).

Apple Watch Series 1 42mm for $179 at Walmart (normally $279).

At Best Buy’s Back to School Apple sale, you can get a range of good deals, made better if you take advantage of Best Buy’s student discounts. 

Grab an older MacBook Pro or MacBook Air  –  for instance, you can get a 13-inch MacBook Air for just $900, down $100 from its normal price. With student pricing, that works out to $750.

Also take up to $200 off the iPhone 6 and 6s and the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

Best Buy is additionally offering 30% off several certified refurbished products ranging from Apple Watches to Smart Keyboards.

Happy Shopping! ( And schooling ).

iOS 12 Fourth Public Beta Released

Apple has seeded the fourth public beta of iOS 12 to public beta testers today!

If you want to join the beta testing program can sign up on Apple’s beta testing website, which will give you access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas. BUT! Beware, as it’s a Beta, there can and will be bugs.

Case in point: today’s iOS 12 beta introduces several new bugs that testers should be aware of:
After restarting a device, paired Bluetooth accessories might not function correctly or might be displayed using the device’s address instead of name.
Using Apple Pay Cash to send or request money via Siri may result in an error.
When using CarPlay, Siri can’t open an app by name. Shortcuts that involve opening an app won’t work, and Shortcuts that require confirmation might not work.
Some Shortcuts requests might not work.
When multiple ride-sharing apps are installed, Siri might open an app instead of providing an ETA or location when asked. Apple suggests asking again as a fix.
Users might not see custom UI when using Siri Suggestions Shortcuts with built-in intents.

But, what about the good stuff?

The iOS 12 update brings changes like Group FaceTime, (YAY!) local multiplayer shared AR experiences, new Animoji, and a Memoji feature that’s designed to let you create a personalized Animoji that looks just like you, WHICH, alongside stickers and text, can be used in FaceTime and the Messages App with the new Effects camera.

New Do Not Disturb features make it easier to manage notifications, as do interactive notification options and notification grouping on the Lock screen.

Siri is better with more information available, as well as Siri Shortcuts that work with third-party apps to create voice-activated automations, and Siri is also smarter and able to provide info on motorsports, food, and celebrities.

The camera will launch up to 70 percent faster and the keyboard will appear up to 50 percent faster.

The revamped Maps app (Available for now only in Northern California) displays foliage, pools, buildings, pedestrian pathways, and other map elements more accurately, and it brings improvements to traffic, real-time road conditions, construction notices, and more.

iOS 12 will be available to developers and public beta testers as a beta for the next two months to allow Apple to work out said bugs ahead of a Fall launch alongside their shiny new iPhones.

What’s coming next for Apple?

Don’t worry, Summer’s not over yet, but that doesn’t stop those of us in the tech world looking forward to that magical time, Fall, when the leaves are falling and new Apple products are appearing in hands all over the world.

What kind of Apple products, you say?

Purportedly (as always), here’s what you may or may not expect to see;

A new lower price MacBook Air, same size, larger screen.

Apple Watch Series 4, apparently, the device will have it’s very own first major design shift this year, with a reduction in the bezel size; so, a larger display with no increase in body size. This would give the display edges a curve, similar to the iPhone X.
The new Apple Watch will also no longer use the current physical Digital Crown and Side button and instead use ones powered by its Taptic Engine.

The iPad Pro will get an iPhone X-like design overhaul with a reduction in bezel sizes on both the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro variants.

Three new iPhone models are expected: two models with OLED screens, one 5.8 inches and one 6.5 inches. The third would be a 6.1-inch LCD lower priced model.  According to reports, all three models will have the TrueDepth camera array and use Face ID.

Foxconn is expected to assemble the majority of Apple’s three iPhone models coming out later this year, whilst the rest of the  orders will be fulfilled by Taiwanese manufacturer Pegatron.

So there you have it. And one more thing? We hope so! We love one more thing!!

Best Apple Laptop for school? 2018 Version

So you have some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, eh? Fancy some new Apple gear? It’s an investment in your future, you know, your grades would suffer if you didn’t  buy something shiny and new, right?

If that’s the case, or if you just really want a new laptop, Here are you options:

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch, 128GB, 256GB –

The cheapest: even without any discounts you can get the MacBook Air from $999. If you pay a little more, you can get twice the storage space with a 256GB SSD.

On the flip side, the display is the only Apple laptop that is not Retina, and is also the least powerful model.

BUT it does have the longest battery life, at 12 hours (two hours longer than other models). It is also the only model that has older hardware such as an SD card for photographers and familiar USB sockets.

If you’re a student or working in education then Apple is selling the Air from $849.

Apple 12 inch MacBook 256GB

The lightest of the lot, and super slim, even though  the screen is only an inch smaller than the 13″ MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

Retina display! Yay! Can increase storage to 512GB with a 256GB SSD. Double Yay! Has a force-touch trackpad. Yay?

Fast, but likely not heavy packing enough for video editing or gaming.

Starting at $1299 for regular folk, if you’re in education or a college student, you can get this baby for… $1249.

2018 MacBook Pro 

This big mama is at the pricier end of the Apple tree, and both heavier and thicker than either the MacBook or the MacBook Air. It has a beautiful retina display and is the fasted, most recently updated, and most powerful Apple laptop you can get right now.

If this sounds like your cup of expensive tea, you also have a couple of secondary options to decide on.

Firstly, you can get either the 13-inch or the 15-inch. Then, you have to decide if you want the base model  Then, you have to decide if you want the base model or if you want the Touch bar and touch ID.

The Touch Bar shows features and options of your software super clearly, and the Touch ID brings the iPhone-style way of unlocking and of paying in online stores.

Adding Touch ID and Touch Bar adds $500 to the price but that also means a better screen: it’s the same Retina display but with True Tone which adjust display color and brightness to fit your surroundings. Fancy.

Something additional to consider, is that only the Touch Bar models of the MacBook Pro are capable of being expanded to have 32GB RAM and 4TB of SSD.

You can get the Macbook Pro for-

13-Inch – From $1299 ( or $1249 with education pricing)

13-Inch with Touch Bar and Touch ID – from $1799 (or $1699 with education pricing)

15-Inch with Touch Bar and Touch ID – From $2399 (or $2249 with education pricing)

Similar to last year, if you are a (verified) college student, a parent purchasing on behalf of higher-education students, or faculty/staff at either a higher-education or K-12 institution, you can get a free or discounted pair of Beats headphones with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad Pro, and 20% off AppleCare.

This offer will be available until Sept. 25.

Happy shopping!

Apple’s Back to School Promotion

Apple has been running it’s Back to School promotion since July 12th, but not to fear – you’ve got more than a while to make use of the perks if you’re a student in the market for a new Apple product!

So what’s the deal?

Similar to last year, if you are a (verified) college student, a parent purchasing on behalf of higher-education students, or faculty/staff at either a higher-education or K-12 institution, you can get a free or discounted pair of Beats headphones with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad Pro. You can also qualify for up to $200 off a qualifying Mac with Apple education pricing, and 20% off AppleCare.

This offer will be available until Sept. 25.

The eligible Macs are iMac Pro, iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook, Mac Pro, or MacBook Air , which will get you either a free pair of Beats Solo 3 Wireless headphones, Powerbeats 3, or Beats X.

If you’re more in the market for an iPad Pro you get the the option of either Powerbeats 3 or Beats X, or you can pay an extra $100 to get the Solo3 Wireless headphones.

The promotion is available through Apple’s online store, but customers may also go directly to retail outlets, visit authorized campus stores or call 1-800-MY-APPLE.

The full terms and conditions are available on Apple’s website.

(PRODUCT)RED iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Now Available to Order

Special (PRODUCT)RED editions of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were revealed yesterday and are now available to order on Apple.com and through the Apple Store app on iPhone and iPad.

The new models are the same price as the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models in Apple’s standard colors.

iPhone 8 / (RED) / 64GB: $699
iPhone 8 / (RED) / 256GB: $849
iPhone 8 Plus / (RED) / 64GB: $799
iPhone 8 Plus / (RED) / 256GB: $949

The first deliveries will arrive to customers Friday, April 13, and in-store availability at Apple Stores and select authorized resellers will begin on the same day in the United States.

Apple’s new (PRODUCT)RED edition iPhone X Leather Folio is also available to purchase for $99 starting today.

The (PRODUCT)RED products are part of Apple’s 11-year partnership with (RED), founded in 2006 by U2 frontman Bono and activist Bobby Shriver. The brand and its licensed red-colored products help to raise funds for The Global Fund, which helps people affected by HIV or AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in eight African countries.

For each (RED) product sold, Apple makes a contribution to The Global Fund, and have so far raised over $160 million.

Apple Planning iPhones With Touchless Gesture Controls and Curved Screens

There have been unconfirmed reports that in an effort to stand out in the smartphone world, Apple is planning to incorporate “touchless gesture control” and curved screens into future iPhone models.

The touchless control feature would apparently let iPhone owners navigate iOS “by moving their finger close to the screen without actually tapping it.” This technology, if the reports are correct, would still be about two years away, unless Apple finds even better tech to come out with instead.

The curved iPhone display feature would curve inward “gradually from top to bottom,” unlike Samsung’s smartphones that curve down and away at the edges of the screen.

Along with these claims comes reports that Apple will expand OLED technology to more devices, releasing a larger model iPhone later this year with a 6.5-inch screen, up from the 5.8-inch size in the current iPhone X.

The company is also apparently working on an update to the iPhone X’s size and a new, lower-cost LCD model.

Apple to release an even bigger iPhone?

Apparently, Apple will release three new smartphone models this year, to be announced in the Fall.

What could they possibly be?

Well, we’re essentially, probably, maybe, looking at a more affordable iPhone X, an updated iPhone X, and one high-end model that could be the largest iPhone ever, featuring a nearly 6.5-inch edge-to-edge display. The body of the device will be roughly the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus, but the display will be about an inch larger.

The updated iPhone X will reportedly  feature a next-generation processor, maybe a gold color option, and maybe a dual-SIM card capability. Here’s hoping?

The cheaper iPhone X model would have an LCD screen, a glass back, and aluminum edges.

All of this, obvs, is rumorific. But, it always is. We kind of like the ideas in this particular batch of rumors, though.

New Deals from T-Mobile and AT&T

This week, from T-Mobile, we have a limited time offer to ‘Share the Apple Watch experience.‘

If you buy one Series 3 Apple Watch, you get a second one for half off.

Small Print—>  Via 24 monthly bill credits with qualifying DIGITS™ plan. If you cancel wireless service, credits stop and remaining balance is due.

AND! Also from T-Mobile, and offer to Get 4 lines of unlimited for just $35 each. PLUS 2 screen Netflix.

Small print —> For new customers only activating 4 lines of service. Capable device required. Limited-time offer; after bill credits with AutoPay. Receive Netflix Standard 2-screen (up to $10.99/month value) while you maintain 2+ qualifying T-Mobile ONE lines in good standing. 

From AT&T, you can get a new 32GB iPad for $49.99 when you buy a new iPhone on AT&T Next.

Small Print —> Get a 32GB iPad for $49.99 on a 2-year agreement* when you buy any iPhone on AT&T Next(R) *Svc activation req’d on both devices. Fees, charges & restr’s apply.

Skiiers and snowboard rejoice!

Apple has announced that starting TODAY, skiers and snowboarders can now use Apple Watch Series 3 to track their activities.

Apple Watch apps Snoww, Slopes, Snocru, and Ski Tracks have each been updated to take advantage of custom workout APIs released in watchOS 4.2 that enable tracking of the following specialized snowy metrics:
Total vertical descent and horizontal distance
Number of runs
Average and maximum speeds
Total time spent
Calories burned

The ski and snowboard tracking is limited to Apple Watch Series 3 models, which are the only ones with a built-in altimeter to track elevation.

God speed good skibum sirs!