Setting up 90 iPads in 90 minutes
Just came across this article from Fraser Speirs on zero-touch iPad deployment. Check out the details of how he setup 90 iPads in 90 minutes. One step closer to zero-touch iPad deployments!
http://www.speirs.org/blog/2016/7/14/towards-zero-touch-ios-deployment
Apple Maps van just spotted in Rocklin, CA
Just spotted the Apple Maps “street view” van cruising our neighborhood in Rocklin, CA. Looking forward to soon have street view integration in Apple Maps!
Apple to Host Fall Event on September 9th
Apple’s Fall event is rumored for Sept 9th. It should be pretty standard: iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 9, OS X El Capitan.
But with a possible “one more thing”…a new Apple TV (finally!) complete with an app store. Also, a possible iPad Pro (12.9” iPad) announcement!
Rumor Source: http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnpaczkowski/apples-fall-iphone-event-to-be-held-sept-9#.kgBBek784
Image Source: https://curved.de/news/apple-tv-touch-so-koennte-die-4-generation-aussehen-29810
New iOS 9 Feature: Send voicemail as an audio file
For years I’ve been annoyed that there was no way to send a voicemail from my iPhone to my wife’s iPhone. With iOS 9, it looks like there will finally be a way!
Here’s how it works:
- You receive a new voicemail.
- Open the Phone app -> Voicemail tab.
- Tap the voicemail you’d like to send and it will expand to show additional buttons.
- Tap the Share Sheet button (the box with the arrow pointing up).
- The share sheet opens with options for sending the voicemail as an audio file to Messages, Mail, Notes, Voice Notes, and possibly other Apps.
Disclaimer: iOS 9 is only at Beta 1 at this point, so there is a chance it could be removed for the final release, but let’s hope it makes it into the final iOS 9 release!
Big thanks to Bearxor on the MacRumors forums for discovering this new feature!
Live on AppChat Radio to discuss all things WWDC 2015!
Super excited to be on AppChat Radio to discuss all things #WWDC2015 with my buddy John! We talk OS X El Capitan, iOS 9, watchOS 2, Apple Music, and more! Take a listen to AppChat Radio Episode 11!
And be sure to follow us on all the social things:
Bright Blue Leather Loop Apple Watch band review
When I first saw Apple’s Bright Blue Leather Loop watch band, I thought it was a unique looking band, but wasn’t sure if it was for me, or if it would look very good with the Space Gray Apple Watch Sport. I was even more unsure of this band when I learned of the price tag ($149.00, which is nearly half the price of the Watch!).
But after wearing the Bright Blue Leather Loop for the past week, I’ve come to the conclusion that this band is like no other out there, and is a great example of Apple’s engineering and design. Plus, it’s just a very cool band and I am highly satisfied with it!
Here are some of my thoughts:
- The leather has a smooth pebble-like feel, not a soft feel, more like plastic in a way. The firmer feel probably has to do with the magnets encased in a thin layer of leather embedded in the band that make up the closure.
- There is a rich leather smell when you put your nose up to the band, but the smell has weakened over the past few days.
- It attaches perfectly to the Apple Watch with no room for play in the connector (compared to the sport band which has a slight amount of play in the connector).
- The color is a unique rich blue, I wouldn’t call it “bright” blue though. The space gray Watch and the bright blue band form a really neat color combination, that is unique, without being too flashy.
- Has a modern and more formal look (compared to the Sport Band). It seems like it came from the future.
- Magnetic closure allows for infinite adjustments creating a perfect fit for everyone. The magnets feel very strong, but I wonder how long the magnetic strength will last.
- Locking the band in place provides a satisfying audible *CLICK* as the magnets in the band come together.
- Sometimes as the band shifts around slightly, it can feel like the Taptic Engine is tapping me on the wrist for a notification, but when I look at my Watch no notifications have come in. Although, after a few days I’ve gotten used to these “phantom taps”, and am able to ignore them.
- The shipping box is designed with a pull tab that allows it to be opened without a knife or blade.
- The plastic case that the band rests in is relatively heavy and has a nice quality feel. Unfortunately, it will just live in my garage with the rest of my Apple product boxes, until I am ready to sell the band.
- Even though $149 seems like a steep price for just a watch band, it is a very reasonable price when considering that it creates an entirely new look, and is almost like having a second completely different watch.
- The leather band isn’t waterproof so I have to be conscious about wearing it only when not working out. Luckily, with Apple’s proprietary band connector, I can swap bands in about 10 seconds.
- I’m not sure if there is any special care for the leather (Apple doesn’t have any leather care recommendations), but I’ve read that using a leather conditioner may soften and protect the leather. I might try Chamberlain’s Leather Care Liniment no. 1 to see how that works.
What do you think about this band? Would you buy one?
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook!
Enjoy the photos below!
WWDC 2015 Notes
OS X
-10.11 will be called “El Capitan”, after the mountain in Yosemite
-Focus on experience and performance
-New gestures in Mail for marking unread and deleting emails
-Pinned sites in Safari, tabs that always remain open in your browser. Indicator that shows which tab audio is playing in.
-Spotlight enhancements – natural language search in Spotlight search.
-Window management – drag and drop for split view.
-Beta out today for developers, public beta in July, free upgrade to everyone this Fall.
iOS
-83% of iPhone users on iOS 8
-Battery life, performance, security, intelligence without compromising privacy
-iOS Intelligence – new interface
-Detailed reminders – remind to get the coffee off the top of my car
-When looking at web page in Safari, adds reminder using Siri
-Proactive – example of running every morning, the iPhone home screen offers the “now playing” screen after you plugin headphones, or open audio book when getting in car.
-Time to leave reminder uses traffic and location to determine time to leave reminder
-Phone call from unknown caller, it will look in email to try to determine callers name
-Enhanced predictive Search – offers contacts, app, location searches based on context
-“Back to previous app” API from Messages and other apps
-Focus on privacy – all intelligence is done on device, not in cloud
-Will work on all devices that support iOS 8
-Public beta in July, release in Fall
Apple Pay
-Discover card will be supported
-Apple Pay coming to UK
-Tons of new stores and venues supported
-Loyalty and rewards cards being added
-Passbook renamed to Wallet since it supports new types of cards
Notes app
-Photos
-Checklists
-Styles
-Drawing
-Add web site links in Notes
Maps
-Public transit in Maps
-Surveyed entrances to subway stations
-Search buttons in Maps for Food, Gas, etc
News app
-Custom layout, rich typography
-Personalized news content
iPad updates
-All new iPad multitasking
-Split view
-App thinning
HomeKit
-Carbon monoxide sensors
-Shades
-Security
-Access home remotely and securely using iCloud
CarPlay
-Wireless CarPlay
-Car manufacturers can integrate their apps to control in-vehicle systems
Swift
-Swift 2 is open source
watchOS
-Native apps coming to Apple Watch
-Great new capabilities and native apps
-Kevin Lynch
-watchOS 2
-Timepiece: Photos watch face or photo album face, timelapse photo locations
-Complications: App developers can make complications (car charge level, sports scores, etc)
-Time Travel: rotate digital crown to move through time and see future information (events, weather, etc) *flus capacitor sold separately
-Nightstand mode: when Watch is on side and charging, there is a new clock UI and alarm
-Communication: separate friend groups and add friends from your Watch
-Email: able to reply to email
-FaceTime audio now supported
-Health & Fitness: Fitness apps can run natively on Watch and show heart rate
-Use Siri to start workouts
-Apple Pay: store cards and loyalty cards supported on Watch
-Transit now supported
-Control HomeKit enabled devices
-Siri can show Instagram Glance even if not selected
-UI and logic can now run on Watch
-Apps can directly communicate with know. wifi networks
-Microphone access, audio through speaker, video, HealthKit access, HomeKit, accelerometer, Taptic engine, Digital Crown
-watchOS 2 developer beta today, available to everyone in Fall
One more thing…(Apple Music)
-Apple Music
-Jimmy Iovine on stage
-Streaming music services
-Beats1 first worldwide 24/7 radio station
-Curated playlists
-Connect: social media network where artists can post photos and posts
-Custom playlists based on your interests
-iTunes for Android
-$9.99/month
-$14.99 family plan
Predictions for Apple’s summer event (WWDC 2015)
Every summer Apple hosts its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. Apple reveals the stuff they’ve been working the past year that will help App developers make modern and and cool Apps. Here are some of my predictions of what we might see this coming Monday June 8th at 10am PST:
- iOS 9 – subscription music service using Beats Music acquisition (“Apple Music”?), public transit directions in Apple Maps, Siri improvements, predictive or context-aware Siri, font changed to new “San Francisco” font, under-the-hood reliability improvements and bug fixes.
- Apple TV – expect a major update since Apple TV hasn’t been updated in the past few years, new hardware, subscription streaming TV service, third-party Apple TV Apps, new touch-sensitive remote control. ***UPDATE*** Late breaking chatter says Apple will delay the announcement of a new Apple TV. All the nerds are flabbergasted since this was going to be the most exciting news coming out of WWDC. Let’s hope we’ll still see an announcement!
- Apple Watch – native Apps are coming to Apple Watch, this means speedier, responsive, more powerful Apps coming to your wrist!
- OS X – improved stability and maybe a couple new features, to be named after a famous place or city in California, previous names were “Mavericks” and “Yosemite”, could we see “Tahoe”, “Catalina”, or “Napa”?
- HomeKit – home automation integrated with Siri, use your voice to control lights, thermostat, garage door, possibly a new Home app. We are finally seeing new hardware for sale that integrates with HomeKit.
- Apple Pay – added support for loyalty cards.
What are you most excited about from Apple? Leave a comment! And don’t forget to follow Real Apple Nerd on Facebook and Twitter!
Watch the event LIVE here: http://www.apple.com/live/
Real Apple Nerd 