Apple blocking support personnel vacations from Sept. 15-28 for launch of new iPhones & iOS 7
AppleCare employees have been restricted from taking time off for a two-week period, from Sept. 15 through 28 ??a span during which Apple is expected to launch its new iPhone lineup, as well as the revamped iOS 7 mobile operating system.
An internal company document shared with AppleInsider purportedly shows time off available for AppleCare employees for the latter half of September. As can be seen in the calendar, available time off drops off significantly starting Sunday, Sept. 15, and continues through Saturday, Sept. 28.
The image provided shows the calendar being accessed via virtual private network from an internal Apple employee domain. Potentially identifying portions of the picture have been cropped out.
Apple is generally expected to make its new iPhone models available for sale on Friday, Sept. 20, just over a week after the company is gearing up to hold a media event to introduce the new devices. Based on prior years' release schedules, it's likely that iOS 7 a few days prior, perhaps on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Between the debut of new iPhones and the launch of a different-looking operating system in iOS 7, AppleCare telephone support will likely have their hands full. As such, Apple has restricted employee time off for a two-week span covering not only the expected launch, but a full week after.
Developers have had their hands on iOS 7 since the new platform was unveiled at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The platform has a cleaner and more colorful look than its predecessor, with simpler icons and graphics, but it also packs in new features and functionality, such as a revamped Notification Center and quick-access Control Center.
Built-in apps and functions such as Photos, Camera, Weather, Safari, multitasking and Siri also sport new designs that may initially confuse new users once they are prompted to update to iOS 7.
Artist's conception of a possible iPhone 5S. Source: AppleInsider
As for hardware, Apple is set to hold an event on Sept. 10 that will focus on the company's new iPhones. Specifically, Apple is expected to introduce a new high-end "iPhone 5S" with an integrated fingerprint sensor under the home button, as well as a more affordable "iPhone 5C" with a plastic back available in a range of colors.
The iPhone is Apple's most popular product, and 2013 is expected to be the first time the company launches two new models at the same time, which sets the stage for the company's biggest product debut ever.
An internal company document shared with AppleInsider purportedly shows time off available for AppleCare employees for the latter half of September. As can be seen in the calendar, available time off drops off significantly starting Sunday, Sept. 15, and continues through Saturday, Sept. 28.
The image provided shows the calendar being accessed via virtual private network from an internal Apple employee domain. Potentially identifying portions of the picture have been cropped out.
Apple is generally expected to make its new iPhone models available for sale on Friday, Sept. 20, just over a week after the company is gearing up to hold a media event to introduce the new devices. Based on prior years' release schedules, it's likely that iOS 7 a few days prior, perhaps on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Between the debut of new iPhones and the launch of a different-looking operating system in iOS 7, AppleCare telephone support will likely have their hands full. As such, Apple has restricted employee time off for a two-week span covering not only the expected launch, but a full week after.
Developers have had their hands on iOS 7 since the new platform was unveiled at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The platform has a cleaner and more colorful look than its predecessor, with simpler icons and graphics, but it also packs in new features and functionality, such as a revamped Notification Center and quick-access Control Center.
Built-in apps and functions such as Photos, Camera, Weather, Safari, multitasking and Siri also sport new designs that may initially confuse new users once they are prompted to update to iOS 7.
Artist's conception of a possible iPhone 5S. Source: AppleInsider
As for hardware, Apple is set to hold an event on Sept. 10 that will focus on the company's new iPhones. Specifically, Apple is expected to introduce a new high-end "iPhone 5S" with an integrated fingerprint sensor under the home button, as well as a more affordable "iPhone 5C" with a plastic back available in a range of colors.
The iPhone is Apple's most popular product, and 2013 is expected to be the first time the company launches two new models at the same time, which sets the stage for the company's biggest product debut ever.
Comments
Announcement date: September 10th
Pre-Order date: September 13th
Store availability date: September 20th
New iOS.
Two new phones.
New Mac OS.
New iPads.
And maybe soonish:
Wearable device.
And a new kind of TV.
Oh and:
Totally new Mac Pro.
All that is supposedly coming out in the near future?
Holy guacamole, Batman.
I agree. I think that iPhones for marketing reasons are going to be announced by themselves. Apple does not want to crowd the picture too much and each needs it's time to shine and get the expected press.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 512ke
Wait. Let me get this straight.
New iOS.
Two new phones.
New Mac OS.
New iPads.
And maybe soonish:
Wearable device.
And a new kind of TV.
Oh and:
Totally new Mac Pro.
All that is supposedly coming out in the near future?
Holy guacamole, Batman.
Definitely going to need a bigger bowl of chips.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdasd
I'd be surprised if iOS 7 is released before October.
Saddling everyone who buys a new phone with a complete system change a few weeks later?
I hope not, the screaming would be endless.
Unfortunately, if they fail to do any one of them, the stock will plummet - no matter how well they do everything else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 512ke
Wait. Let me get this straight.
New iOS.
Two new phones.
New Mac OS.
New iPads.
And maybe soonish:
Wearable device.
And a new kind of TV.
Oh and:
Totally new Mac Pro.
All that is supposedly coming out in the near future?
Holy guacamole, Batman.
Yes, an issue for the corporation for sure.
But bet on iOS7 and iPhones only on Sep 10. I'd be surprised if anything else muddies the event.
...I think folks don't realize the immense drive/focus this all takes from each person in the company, including Tim Cook.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 512ke
Wait. Let me get this straight.
New iOS.
Two new phones.
New Mac OS.
New iPads.
And maybe soonish:
Wearable device.
And a new kind of TV.
Oh and:
Totally new Mac Pro.
All that is supposedly coming out in the near future?
Holy guacamole, Batman.
Ok, I think this list needs to be amended somewhat. Here are the things that they are definitely going to do:
Sept 10th:
New iOS
New phones (my bet is on two models, but it could be just the one)
Sept 24th - Oct 8th:
New Mac OS
New Mac Pro
Updated MacBook Pro lineup
New iPads and iPad Minis
I also think they will do an update to the Apple TV, to allow for 802.11ac and maybe a faster processor in it (so streaming to it from a Mac or iOS device is even more fluid)
These are maybes, and seem more like Investor Hard-On Material. Personally, I do not think they will get into either of these areas:
Wearable iWatch
An Actual Apple TV
Listen, anal-ists are always hard on Apple. They figure since they haven't reinvented a new market and brought up something brand new with a holographic display and can order to do anything with just your own thoughts they must be failing completely; and it is Tim Cook's fault, and what would Steve Jobs do since Apple is so beleaguered. /s
Why not? They have to decouple os and hardware announcements going forward if they want multiple models per year. The iPad upgrade don't depend on a new OS. And the iPhone C can come with a version of iOS 6 to start with. iOS 7 isn't ready. Full stop. iOS 5 was issued in October. Only iOS 6 - which had few or no changes - was released in September. The iPhone 5S may need iOS 7 but it will probably be released later if so. The iPhone C will be announced on the 10th. With iOS 6.
EDIT: macs aren't coupled to os releases. And iPhones are only coupled to new OS releases in "tier 1" countries anyway. The rest of the tech world won't care because Android doesn't couple the OS and hardware, how could it? A few early adopters will have to download iOS 7 over the net before they have to download iOS 7.1 like everybody else. Big deal.
If it isn't ready don't ship it to bad press. Ship the new iPhones with an upgraded iOS 6.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdasd
iOS 7 isn't ready. Full stop.
How do you figure? I use iOS 7 daily and have not had a single problem with it. I have used all of the functions that I need to, I have no connection issues, and it does seem rather snappy on my iP4S. The only time I have problems is when I am using 3rd party applications, but that is more on the application end than it is on iOS's end.
So tell me, where do you have issues with this release, or are you repeating something you heard?
Crashing apps are an issue aren't they? But yes the new API don't always work, the animations judder. The ui needs work but that's a judgement call. I find bugs all the time. The music app fails to download my purchased music for me - and I know I am not alone. They are not one beta from release.
( in general the os if bug free would be great)
This could be a public relations disaster.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdasd
Crashing apps are an issue aren't they? But yes the new API don't always work, the animations judder.
But again, that is on the application developer who hasn't made the optimizations for iOS 7 (or hasn't released them). If this was a simple point-release, then this argument would be valid. As for your animations that you are referring to, are these iOS animations (system layer) or in certain applications? For instance, I tried playing Solstice Arena on iOS 7 and it was completely unplayable because the animations it was using was for iOS 5/6, and not for iOS 7 (which changed a significant number of API animation calls). But I know that is not an iOS 7 issue, that is an application issue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdasd
The ui needs work but that's a judgement call. I find bugs all the time. The music app fails to download my purchased music for me - and I know I am not alone. They are not one beta from release.
( in general the os if bug free would be great)
I have not had your music problem that you are experiencing (not to say that isn't there, just saying). Also, the UI seems solid to me. It was a bit jarring at first, but as I have gotten used to it, it seems a lot better than what iOS 6 ever was.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdasd
Another problem. You get the old ui if you don't resubmit. You get the new ui if you use Xcode 5 even if you set the earliest deployment target to iOS 6 or before. . When GM is announced the devs will have to use Xcode 5 to get in the store. So to fix a crashing bug devs have to redo the entire UI for iOS 7 which is not necessarily trivial.
This could be a public relations disaster.
I agree with you on this point. The potential for a PR disaster is there. However, if they handle it correctly, and fix the issues with Xcode 5, they may make it out with minimal problems.
Although the MacPro looks stunning, I wonder why Apple even bothers anymore, no consumer needs that kind of power, or can afford the price tag. Any prosumer who does need that kind of power would be much smarter to build their own machine for a fraction of the cost.
I'm sorry Apple, but when you are dealing with VERY powerful machines, it doesn't much matter what they look like, only idiots (most consumers) care about that stuff, and they don't really have that much money.