'HBO NOW' Now Available for Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad - Mac Rumors

The recently announced HBO NOW channel has gone live on the Apple TV set-top box, iPhone and iPad ahead of the series premiere of HBO hit show Game of Thrones on April 12. The new Apple TV channel and iPhone and iPad app allow users to stream all of HBO’s original content, past and present, as well as its entire movie catalog. The standalone streaming service costs $ 14.99 per month, with customers receiving the first month free if they sign up in April.

HBO NOW sorts the premium network’s content into various categories, including a watchlist, series and movies. There is also the option to search for TV shows and movies, and a settings menu. The streaming service is presumably limited to the United States due to content licensing restrictions. The new Apple TV channel should appear for all users today alongside a companion app for iOS devices.

HBO NOW’s official iPhone and iPad app [Direct Link] is rolling out on the App Store right now, and should become available for all users by the end of the day. After subscribing to HBO NOW through Apple TV or an iOS device, users can also access the HBO NOW website to stream content on the web using a Mac, which should be a familiar experience for those who have used Netflix.

HBO NOW for iPhone and iPad has a similar setup as the Apple TV channel, with a side menu of categories including Home, Watchlist, Series, Movies, Comedy, Sports, Documentaries, Collections, Late Night and Settings. The app is currently featuring Game of Thrones and Silicon Valley as some of its headline programming, while other popular HBO series include Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Girls, and Entourage.

HBO NOW is based on paying a flat monthly rate of $ 14.99 instead of needing an existing cable or satellite subscription like HBO Go requires. By providing access to a wide range of content across multiple devices, including Apple TV, Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and eventually other platforms, HBO NOW has adopted a Netflix model that should prove valuable for cord-cutters looking to watch HBO content without paying for an entire channel package.

Related roundup: Apple TV , Tag: HBO NOW

mac – Google News

Rumored iPad Mini 4 Rear Shell With iPad Air 2 Design Elements Shown Off in ... - Mac Rumors

When Apple launched the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 in late 2014, many people were disappointed with the iPad mini update, which essentially just added Touch ID to the existing iPad mini 2 with no other external design changes. Since then, there have been a few rumors suggesting Apple is working on an iPad mini 4 update that includes iPad Air 2 design elements like a thinner body.

French site Nowhereelse.fr [Google Translate] today shared a video and some images of what’s said to be an early version of the rear casing for the upcoming iPad mini 4.

The aluminum shell closely resembles the shell of the existing iPad mini, but it does include several design elements introduced with the iPad Air 2. There’s a single row of larger speaker holes alongside the Lightning port at the bottom of the device, rather than two smaller rows, and the mute switch on the device has been removed and replaced with a microphone hole.

Rumors have suggested the iPad mini 4 will be thinner than the iPad mini 2 and the iPad mini 3, giving it a thickness more akin to the iPad Air 2, but it is difficult to determine the device’s possible thickness based on the images that were shared. Along with an iPad Air-style design, an updated iPad mini 4 would likely adopt one of Apple’s more recent processors, possibly the A8X in the iPad Air 2 or an A9 processor coming later this year.

There’s been little word on when an updated iPad mini might launch, but given Apple’s historical fall release schedule for iPads, it’s unlikely we will see the iPad mini 4 until the later months of 2015.

Related roundup: iPad mini 3 , Tag: iPad mini 4

ipad – Google News

Apple iPod Touch 6th Generation Possibly not Canceled after All, Coming in ... - Master Herald

The iPod Touch 6G can easily take the prize for this year's most confusing device, as it's been surrounded by countless rumors, many of them contradicting each other and going in completely opposite directions. Some have been claiming that Apple are going to revolutionize the iPod Touch line with this product, while according to others, the company is actually looking to kill off the brand and focus more on the iPhone and iPad lines.

Both sound equally plausible, as more people have turned to their phones as their main multimedia devices lately. And yet, the iPod line still enjoys a strong following and many people would be excited to see a new release in it, especially if it's an iPod Touch. What could the new iPod Touch offer to make it a truly attractive choice and revive interest in the line though?

According to some rumors, Apple are actually going to split the device from its "parent", the iPhone, and make it a somewhat more unique product with its own features. Previously, the iPod Touch was basically just a clone of the iPhone with its cellular capabilities removed, but it seems like Apple aren't very eager to continue this style anymore. This could be in response to recent criticisms towards the company that they have been a bit weak on the innovation front.

And after all, the iPod originally revolutionized the music market, and it's entirely possible that the company could do that again with the new iPod Touch if they play their cards right. The new iPod has been rumored to be one of the first devices to ship with iOS 9. If that's true however, then it means Apple are also planning a new major iPhone launch. It wouldn't make much sense for the company to debut the new major version of their operating system on anything else but the iPhone, or maybe at least the iPad.

One of the attractive features that the new iPod Touch 6G is rumored to have is a retina display, making it an even better multimedia device. The focus of the iPod may be on its music player capabilities, but many people also enjoy the devices as a portable video player, and giving the new iPod Touch a solid high definition display could prove a winning move for Apple.

This could be the device that decides whether or not Apple will cancel the iPod line for good, so fans of the company who don't want to see the music player brand getting killed off should make sure to keep an eye out for the new iPod, and invest in the device if they find it attractive.

ipod – Google News

Read these hilariously negative reactions to the original iPhone announcement - BGR

While we're all likely familiar with wave of negative reactions that sprouted up following Apple's iPod introduction, you might be surprised that not every one was on board the iPhone bandwagon following Steve Jobs' 2007 product introduction. Given how revolutionary the iPhone was at first glance, one would think that tech heads on the Internet would have universally praised the smartphone revolution that was now staring them right in the face.

One would think…

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Over the weekend, Reddit user Intensely tipped us off to an incredible Engadget comments thread from Jobs' now iconic iPhone unveiling. While some commenters were blown away, there were a fair number of detractors who were all too quick to color the iPhone as a disappointment destined to fail.

Below are some of the more eye-catching examples.

"Apparently none of you guys realize how bad of an idea a touch-screen is on a phone. I foresee some pretty obvious and pretty major problems here.

I'll be keeping my Samsung A707, thanks. It's smaller, it's got a protected screen, and it's got proper buttons. And it's got all the same features otherwise. (Oh, but it doesn't run a bloatware OS that was never designed for a phone.)

Color me massively disappointed."

Ah yes, who can forget the riveting Samsung A707?

"No Bluetooth?

No WiFi?

I'll stick with my Verizon 6700, thanks.
Plus, I'm not fond of being locked into iTunes."

Thankfully, the original iPhone did have WiFi.. which was much needed given that it only came with Edge connectivity.

"Im not impressed with the iPhone. As a PDA user and a Windows Mobile user, this thing has nothing on my phone. It sure is good at what it was designed for, a phone that entertains and talks… other than that, i dont see much potential. How the hell am I suppose to put appointments on the phone with no stylus or keyboard?! I can sync it with my computer, but when Im on the go, I cant do either!

No thanks Apple. Make a real PDA please…."

Guess this guy is still waiting…

"lol last i checked many companies tried the tap to type and tap to dial … IT DOESNT WORK STEVIE, people dont like non-tactile typing, its a simple fact, this isnt a phone its a mac pda wow yippie….

I mean it looks pretty but its not something i forsee being the next ipod for the phone industry…

and its funny how people are "orgasming" when you havent even seen it being used or a real presentation of it just a mockup graphic on the screen, yes its thinner than the q and the samsung, guess what those were 2006 phones, this is a 2007 apple phone, what did samsung and motorola stop developing last month or something?

It took apple how long to develop this ONE PHONE, samsung and motorola release new phones every few months lol, and constantly innovates and gets better, im sorry but if im sending text messages i'd rather have my thumb keyboard than some weird finger tapping on a screen crap."

As it turns out, apparently delivering just one phone a year is all Apple needed to do.

"Hmm, Trademark problems anyone? Besides that, once we see a picture, I may want one. If its at least as functional as a nano."

As it turns out, the iPhone was just a tad more functional than an iPad Nano.

"Touch screen buttons? BAD idea. This thing will never work."

"Wow! An update to the ROCKR! Cool. Oops….(akward.)"

But the best comment of all goes to this guy.

"These comments remind me of the folks who thought the original iPod didn't stand a chance…"

iphone – Google News

Apple iPod Touch 6th Generation Possibly not Canceled after All, Coming in ... - Master Herald

The iPod Touch 6G can easily take the prize for this year's most confusing device, as it's been surrounded by countless rumors, many of them contradicting each other and going in completely opposite directions. Some have been claiming that Apple are going to revolutionize the iPod Touch line with this product, while according to others, the company is actually looking to kill off the brand and focus more on the iPhone and iPad lines.

Both sound equally plausible, as more people have turned to their phones as their main multimedia devices lately. And yet, the iPod line still enjoys a strong following and many people would be excited to see a new release in it, especially if it's an iPod Touch. What could the new iPod Touch offer to make it a truly attractive choice and revive interest in the line though?

According to some rumors, Apple are actually going to split the device from its "parent", the iPhone, and make it a somewhat more unique product with its own features. Previously, the iPod Touch was basically just a clone of the iPhone with its cellular capabilities removed, but it seems like Apple aren't very eager to continue this style anymore. This could be in response to recent criticisms towards the company that they have been a bit weak on the innovation front.

And after all, the iPod originally revolutionized the music market, and it's entirely possible that the company could do that again with the new iPod Touch if they play their cards right. The new iPod has been rumored to be one of the first devices to ship with iOS 9. If that's true however, then it means Apple are also planning a new major iPhone launch. It wouldn't make much sense for the company to debut the new major version of their operating system on anything else but the iPhone, or maybe at least the iPad.

One of the attractive features that the new iPod Touch 6G is rumored to have is a retina display, making it an even better multimedia device. The focus of the iPod may be on its music player capabilities, but many people also enjoy the devices as a portable video player, and giving the new iPod Touch a solid high definition display could prove a winning move for Apple.

This could be the device that decides whether or not Apple will cancel the iPod line for good, so fans of the company who don't want to see the music player brand getting killed off should make sure to keep an eye out for the new iPod, and invest in the device if they find it attractive.

ipod – Google News

At 5, The iPad's Chief Feature Is Its Lasting Elasticity - TechCrunch

The iPad turned five on April 3, and while none could deny that the Apple tablet has been successful in the intervening half-decade, what's more interesting is trying to pin down the chief cause of its continued ability to impress users and find a place in their computing workflow. I'd argue that the iPad's primary success factor, as well as the reason behind both its recent flat sales, and why it still has plenty of years left as one of computing's most successful device categories are all one and the same: Extreme flexibility.

Apple's slate is a gadget with many lives; the original iPad is still in service for at least a few friends I know, despite not supporting the latest hardware. Its web browser is still perfectly functional for those whose needs rarely extend beyond a little Internet wandering, and while I've had one of just about every iPad model to date, the older ones always creep back into active use in varying capacities.

Sometimes, it'll seem as though the need for an iPad is waning in light of improvements to surrounding tech – better battery life for MacBooks, for instance, or larger displays on devices like the iPhone 6 Plus. Yet an iPad is always uniquely suited to some specific task, and having them around provides an immense convenience benefit vs. not having them when those needs arise. For instance, iPads have proven ideal digital comics readers; under-cabinet mounted interactive recipe books and YouTube viewers; guitar instructor; and even in-car navigation systems even in times when I wasn't using them on a daily basis as a general purpose computing device.

I've often found that it's easy to forget about the iPad, especially five years after its launch; but the tendency to overlook the Apple tablet is evidence that it has achieved exactly its designers' original intent. This is a computer that excels at getting out of the way, resulting in a transparent computing experience that you don't even realize is happening. The best process, after all, is one that's so natural as to go mostly unnoticed.

The iPad becomes whatever you need it to, and even older hardware can perform many of these functions very well. That's why I think recent flat growth in sales isn't a significant klaxon to worry about – it means that older devices are still quietly helping in the background exactly as they were intended to, leaving users without any strong impetus to upgrade immediately. But if anything, the iPad's usefulness is only more deeply ingrained than ever, meaning it's not something many will come to appreciate until older hardware fails to live up to modern software needs, or there's a breakdown, etc.

To some extent, we've only just begun to see the potential of the iPad as a solution to computing problems we didn't even know existed. It could be the perfect console for managing a smart home, for instance, or an ideal production device with advances made possible by improvements to mobile processor and input tech. But the iPad's key virtue is that it will continue to fulfill our needs with a quiet elasticity that's hard to identify except in retrospect.

ipad – Google News

Camera Showdown: Galaxy S6 vs. iPhone 6, One M9, More - PC Magazine

How does the Samsung Galaxy S6 camera compare to other top smartphones? We took a close look.

Move over, iPhone. The Samsung Galaxy S6 takes the crown as delivering the best cameraphone photos in our tests.

If you’re looking for the ultimate sharpness in different conditions, the Samsung Galaxy S6—with its 16-megapixel main camera and 5-megapixel front camera—tops the iPhone. (The iPhone’s camera launches a little faster and its autofocus is a bit more reliable, which we didn’t look at here.)

We took a bunch of test photos in different lighting conditions with several top cameraphones: the Apple iPhone 6, HTC One M9, LG G3, Samsung Galaxy S6, and Sony Xperia Z3 . (All were U.S., not international models.)

Here’s how they shook out. We scored the phones on five images in terms of image quality. On each one, we assigned one point to the weakest and five points to the strongest.

Backlit Main Camera

Without any manual metering, the S6 wins this one handily. The Sony comes in second, even with the blown-out background, while the iPhone, LG, and HTC all underxpose the books by a lot.

Samsung – 5
Sony – 4
iPhone – 3
LG – 2
HTC – 1

Daylight Main Camera

The quality of these images is resolution-dependent, so you’re going to have to decide whether you prefer the iPhone’s slightly more pleasing color and exposure balance, or the S6′s additional pixels. We’ll go with the iPhone by a nose. The LG and HTC are a little lacking, and the Sony is the worst.

iPhone – 5
Samsung – 4
LG – 3
HTC – 2
Sony – 1

Low Light Main Camera

This is where all cameraphones tend to fall apart, and all the cameraphones do, in fact, fall apart here. Blurring is always a problem in low light—even when mounted on a tripod, like you see here. The best of the bunch is actually the LG G3 , with clean text but a bit of a green cast. That’s followed by the S6, iPhone, HTC, and Sony.

LG – 5
Samsung – 4
iPhone – 3
HTC – 2
Sony – 1

Low Light Selfie

The Samsung, HTC, and Apple phones all show different strengths here. Samsung has the widest angle—great for group shots—but it’s smoothing out a lot of detail. The iPhone goes the opposite direction, showing tons of noise but also tons of detail. The HTC falls in between. The LG and Sony front cameras aren’t worth discussing.

Samsung – 5
iPhone – 4
HTC – 3
LG – 2
Sony – 1

Outdoor Shot

The S6′s superior pixel count pays off here, delivering more detail than the iPhone’s 8-megapixel sensor can pull off. The iPhone is doing well, but it doesn’t quite match up. The Sony shows plenty of detail, but the sky is a bit blown out. LG and HTC trail the pack.

Samsung – 5
iPhone – 4
Sony – 3
LG – 2
HTC – 1

Final Score
Samsung: 5 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 5 = 23
iPhone: 3 + 5 + 3 + 4 + 4 = 19
LG: 2 + 3 + 5 + 2 + 2 = 14
Sony: 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 10
HTC: 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 1 = 9

It’s pretty clear here. If you’re looking purely at image quality, the Samsung Galaxy S6 is the leader. Can the upcoming LG G4 beat that? Stay tuned for its debut, expected in late April.

iphone – Google News