Activist investment firm Corvex Management is pushing streaming radio service — and Apple Music competitor — Pandora to seriously consider selling the company, instead of pursuing what it has dubbed a "costly and uncertain business plan."
Corvex is the single largest shareholder in Pandora with a 9.9 percent stake, or about 22.7 million shares, according to Reuters. Corvex is a hedge fund run by Keith Meister, a protege of billionaire activist investor and former Apple shareholder Carl Icahn. "Despite its many strengths, [Pandora] has been unable to date to translate its great product into a great business with an attractive public market valuation," Corvex wrote. The investment firm believes Pandora could garner interest at a "substantial premium" to its recent stock price. Pandora had a market capitalization of $2.29 billion on Monday, and Corvex believes potential buyers could include large Internet companies, phone makers, and media conglomerates. In March, Corvex told Pandora management of plans to replace some of its board members, but withdrew that plan based on Pandora Chairman Jim Feuille's apparent willingness to consider a sale, according to The Wall Street Journal. The company subsequently appointed Tim Westergren, a former musician who spearheaded Pandora's music algorithm technology, as CEO. Westergren initially indicated opposition to a sale. This surprised and disappointed Corvex, which led to this week's public call for the company to be sold.
Pandora said in response that it "has a profitable core business, combined with a strong balance sheet" and is "confidently investing to fully capture the massive opportunity ahead of us." It touted its constant dialogue with shareholders and commitment to achieving long-term value for them. Pandora's shares are down more than 25 percent in 2016 and more than 45 percent year-over-year. Unlike other streaming services, which have negotiated deals with record labels to allow listeners to pick songs, Pandora has acted more like a radio station, playing songs that match a genre but not allowing customers to make selections. It is now playing catch-up and negotiating with record labels for the licenses it needs to offer more on-demand music services. As of last fall, Pandora had 78.1 million active users, though most of those were free, ad-supported accounts. Apple Music, meanwhile, has more than 13 million paid customers, with no free tier outside of three-month trials and Beats 1 radio. Pandora expanded into a new sector with the purchase of ticketing and digital marketing company TicketFly for about $450 million last year. Corvex cited that acquisition as an example of a "questionable capital allocation" decision in its letter.
Coinciding with Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook's first-ever visit to India, the iPhone maker will reportedly make a pair of key announcements for the emerging market, related to software development and local start-up companies.
Citing unnamed sources familiar with Apple's plans, Reuters reported on Tuesday that Apple will announce a startup accelerator in India. The goal is for Apple to work more closely with developers in India on apps for iOS and OS X, increasing the amount of localized content available in the country. The report also said that Apple plans to expand its $25 million tech center located in Hyderabad, India. The 250,000-square-foot software development facility opened in the country earlier this year. Cook's visit could also coincide with retail announcements, as recent reports have indicated the Indian government is prepared to waive regulatory hurdles that have previously blocked Apple from opening stores in the country. It's been suggested that Apple's first three Indian stores are on track to open by the end of 2017. From an earlier encounter between Cook and Modi.
Cook is set to arrive in India on Tuesday, and will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this week. The trip marks Cook's first time in India as the head of Apple. iPhone sales in the market surged 56 percent last quarter, but Apple has depended largely on older models to stay competitive. The company has also sought to import used iPhones into the market, but has run into some resistance from the local government in those efforts. Foxconn, Apple's primary assembly partner, is said to be working on a plant in the town of Maharashtra that will reportedly be dedicated exclusively to Apple products. The $10 billion facility could address some of those issues Apple currently faces as it works to further penetrate the market. In recent months, Cook has told investors that he sees huge growth potential in India, and emerging market with a population of nearly 1.3 billion people. Cook and Apple previously bet heavily on China, a move that fueled much of the company's growth over the last few years.
Rumors of iPhone 7 have so far revolved around purportedly leaked schematics and part images, which only allude to obvious potential hardware changes (a dual lens camera, an iPad Pro-like Smart Connector and replacing the legacy headphone jack with Lightning). However, many of Apple's biggest iPhone leaps have been externally invisible, driven by software advances unlocking the power of advanced silicon hardware inside, many of which debuted at WWDC.
Apple's Swift invite to WWDC 2016 Apple is notoriously secretive about its future plans right up to the point where it is ready to release new hardware at its Apple Event launches, or alternatively, new software and cloud services at its annual Worldwide Developer's Conference in June. Here's what to look forward to at next month's developer event, focusing specifically on iOS 10 and the devices that run it. WWDC is all about software, as it is the company's annual meeting with app developers, accessory partners and others who interface with Apple's platform APIs. While the company has occasionally debuted new hardware at WWDC, in recent years the event has focused almost entirely on new software releases (iOS, Mac OS, watchOS and iCloud) and ways developers can make the most of Apple's platforms.WWDC has showcased incremental advancements that provide clues about where Apple is headed Apple's WWDC has showcased incremental advancements that provide clues about where Apple is headed—including strong foreshadowing of future hardware. For example, Apple began talking to developers at WWDC about gaming related hardware controllers long before it introduced Apple TV. It also unveiled its Bluetooth-based Continuity services prior to introducing Apple Watch, which tightly integrates with your iPhone using those same technologies first perfected on Macs and iOS devices. Last year's iPad multitasking features in iOS 9 were a harbinger of the two new upscale iPad Pro models aimed at business users. Previous iPhone innovations were often invisible to spy shots Consider first how little we knew about earlier iPhone releases just from spy photos circulated before their launch. Apple's second generation iPhone 3G debuted a cheaper plastic case than the original model, intended to make it affordable to a much larger audience. But inside that shell was a series of major improvements ranging from its application processor chip to its camera and support for 3G mobility and GPS location services. A spy photo would not have revealed any of that. The next year, iPhone 3GS looked virtually identical, but it added a digital compass, a video camera and doubled its processor speed. That enabled it to run a new class of more powerful and sophisticated apps, without any radical reshaping. Once gain, that model wildly outsold its two predecessors. Apple's new design for iPhone 4 notoriously leaked when a prototype was discovered left behind at a bar. But despite having some real Apple hardware in their hands, bloggers at Gizmodo didn't even realize that the device would launch a new high resolution Retina Display, and they didn't know anything about its powerful new A4, the first new ARM chip Apple had developed internally with significant silicon optimizations. Jason Chen's prototype iPhone 4 They also didn't know — just from looking at it — that the device would launch the all new FaceTime, or that it would include the first gyroscope in a smartphone. iPhone 4 went on to become the biggest smartphone launch of its time. The subsequent iPhone 4s built upon these enhancements with even more invisible updates, including those enabling efficient Siri voice recognition (via new mics and sophisticated voice recognition and noise canceling hardware). It also added support for the new iMessages in iOS 5, and a new leap in application processor speed with the A5 chip. Apple's next external jump, iPhone 5, introduced a taller screen and the new Lightning connector, neither of which were widely seen as must-have features or examples of revolutionary innovation. The biggest improvement, besides its faster A6 chip and greatly enhanced camera, was support for LTE, something that many carriers at the time were just beginning to roll out beyond major cities. It went on to sell more units than ever, and lived on for another year as iPhone 5c. iPhone 5s similarly looked little different from its predecessor apart from the metallic ring around its Home button alluding to its support for Touch ID. Its biggest leap was the surprise delivery of A7, the world's first 64-bit smartphone chip. That chip also incorporated a very sophisticated imaging engine that helped establish iPhones as excellent mobile cameras, drawing a sharp distinction with cheap Android phones that smeared memories into blurry photographs.
Apple has since launched two iPhone 6 models that actually did significantly change in their outward appearance with larger, higher resolution displays. But the A8 behind the scenes — packing a much faster GPU — did much of the work to make that larger screen possible while still retaining iPhone's lag-free user interface. Last year's iPhone 6s models similarly had no physically discernible features, but got a more durable frame, a faster A9 chip and packed significantly better cameras (with software support for Live Photos), along with adding sophisticated support for 3D Touch pressure sensitivity—creating distinctive shortcuts throughout the user interface, on the Home screen and within apps that added support for the new features (and tons of developers quickly scrambled to do just that). Despite looking little different from the original iPhone 6, iPhone 6s slightly outperformed its predecessor in its crucial launch quarter, even despite more difficult economic conditions and very unfavorable currency changes, particularly affecting China. iPhone 6s didn't need a wildly new form factor to maintain the same unit sales surge as its blockbuster predecessor. This indicates that while iPhone 7 might not look radically different on the outside, it won't be out of line for a new iPhone to deliver a major jump in features and capabilities due to externally invisible hardware advancements and new software that can take advantage of them and expose them to third party developers. New at WWDC: iOS 10 While all of the headline features of iPhone 7 aren't expected to drop until September, a new version of iOS regularly debuts at the June WWDC, often paving the way for new features on the upcoming iPhone launch. We won't know for certain everything Apple is working on related to iPhone 7 and iOS 10 for another month, but here's an outline of things the company likely — or definitely — has in its crosshairs. A few are obvious, such as continuing work on Xcode, the company's development tool for building iOS software, and Swift, Apple's new development language that's taken off and gained enthusiastic adoption despite its fledgeling newness. Rumors have also already outlined potential changes to Photos, as well as Apple Music being the recipient of a targeted enhancement, specifically adding 3D Touch support for previews, enhancing content search and better exposing lyrics.
Fire sales on 2015 12" MacBooks have opened the door for AI readers to combine existing coupons and grab a model for an all time low of $964 with no tax in 48 states and 3 free accessories. Or grab a Late 2013 27" iMac with HD display for $1,199 with no tax outside NY. 2015 12" MacBooks from $964 with no tax outside NY & NJ
Apple MacBook 12 inch Coupon Code Joining Best Buy, B&H, ABT and others, Apple authorized reseller Adorama this week dropped pricing across the board on its remaining 2015 12" MacBook inventory. Since Adorama is already offering AppleInsider Price Guide shoppers an additional $35 off each model with promo code APINSIDER (apply before payment info during checkout), dropping both the Space Gray and Silver base models to $964.00 — the lowest price ever offered for a 12" MacBook to date. The same promo code also works on all other 2015 12" MacBook configurations, for combined savings of up to $335 off. In addition, Adorama will not collect sales tax on orders shipped to an address outside of NY and NJ. What's more, each order also includes a free three-piece accessory bundle consisting of an Apple USB-C to USB Adapter, LG super drive (for reading/writing CDs and DVDs), and a Sabrent 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub. These deals are valid for existing Adorama customers while supplies last and are subject to expire at any time. Please see terms and conditions. Speed Test: 2015 MacBook vs 2016 MacBook
Shoppers looking for a 12" MacBook are likely to save upwards of $400 with this offer when compared to buying a brand new 2016 model at full price with tax. In fact, AppleInsider recently pit a 2015 MacBook against the new 2016 MacBook in a head-to-head speed test and found the 2016 models delivered only marginal improvements in most benchmark tests. Up to $335 off 12" MacBooks + 3 free accessories 12" Gray (1.1GHz/8GB/256GB) for $964.00 @ Adorama ($335 off)12" Gray (1.2GHz/8GB/512GB) for $1,364.00 @ Adorama ($235 off)12" Gray (1.3GHz/8GB/512GB) for $1,664.00 @ Adorama ($85 off)12" Silver (1.1GHz/8GB/256GB) for $964.00 @ Adorama ($335 off) - Sold Out12" Silver (1.2GHz/8GB/512GB) for $1,264.00 @ Adorama ($335 off)12" Silver (1.3GHz/8GB/256GB) for $1,464.00 @ Adorama ($85 off)12" Silver (1.3GHz/8GB/512GB) for $1,564.00 @ Adorama ($185 off)12" Gold (1.1GHz/8GB/256GB) for $999.00 @ Adorama ($300 off)12" Gold (1.2GHz/8GB/512GB) for $1,264.00 @ Adorama ($335 off)12" Gold (1.3GHz/8GB/256GB) for $1,364.00 @ Adorama ($185 off)No sales tax outside of NY and NJ. Must be an existing Adorama customer and use promo code APINSIDER to secure the deal. Up to $410 off 12" MacBook bundles with AppleCare + 3 free accessories The same offers are available with an AppleCare extended protection plan bundled with each order. For these bundles, which also include the 3 free accessories, the APINSIDER promo code will actually deduct $70 from the price you see on Adorama's website to deliver the final pricing you see in our Macs with AppleCare Price Guide, also below: 12" Gray (1.1GHz/8GB/256GB) + AC for $1,138.00 @ Adorama ($410 off)12" Gray (1.2GHz/8GB/512GB) + AC for $1,538.00 @ Adorama ($310 off)12" Gray (1.3GHz/8GB/512GB) + AC for $1,838.00 @ Adorama ($160 off)12" Silver (1.1GHz/8GB/256GB) + AC for $1,138.00 @ Adorama ($410 off)12" Silver (1.2GHz/8GB/512GB) + AC for $1,438.00 @ Adorama ($410 off)12" Silver (1.3GHz/8GB/256GB) + AC for $1,638.00 @ Adorama ($160 off)12" Silver (1.3GHz/8GB/512GB) + AC for $1,738.00 @ Adorama ($260 off)12" Gold (1.1GHz/8GB/256GB) + AC for $1,238.00 @ Adorama ($310 off)12" Gold (1.2GHz/8GB/512GB) + AC for $1,438.00 @ Adorama ($410 off)12" Gold (1.3GHz/8GB/256GB) + AC for $1,538.00 @ Adorama ($260 off)No sales tax outside of NY and NJ. Must be an existing Adorama customer and use promo code APINSIDER to secure the deal. 27" iMac with HD display for $1199 27 iMac with HD display
27.0" (2.9GHz/8GB/1TB-HDD) for $1,199.00 ($600 off) Also this week, Apple authorized reseller B&H Photo is selling the 27-inch iMac with HD display (2.9GHz/8GB/1TB-HDD) for $1,199, which is $600 off Apple's original MSRP, the lowest current price anywhere for this model by $200, and the lowest entry price to owning a new 27" iMac from an authorized reseller available anywhere, according to our Mac Price Guide. Plus free expedited shipping and no sales tax if you ship your order outside NY. Please note, this is a closeout item that is limited to existing supply. Once it sells out, it will not be restocked. Additional Apple Deals AppleInsider and Apple authorized resellers are also running a handful of additional exclusive promotions this month on 2015 Mac models that will not only deliver the lowest prices on many of them, but also throw in free gifts like Super Drives and AirPrint printers. These deals are as follows: Deal #1: $190 to $430 off 15" MacBook Pros with AppleCare plus a Free Canon AirPrint Photo PrinterDeal #2: Lowest Prices Anywhere: Instantly save $140 to $270 off Apple's latest 13" MacBook Pros with AppleCareDeal #3: Apple's 12" MacBooks with over 50% off AppleCare, Free LG Super Drive, and Free USB-C Adapter & HubDeal #4: Quick & Easy: sell your old Mac for up to 70% of its market value, or put that towards a new Mac from Adorama
In a patent awarded to Apple on Tuesday, the company imagines entire cities outfitted with low-power wireless transmitters capable of sending pinpoint-accurate location data, as well as dynamic environmental alerts, to iPhones and in-car navigation systems.
Source: USPTO As published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple's U.S. Patent No. 9,344,989 for a "System with wireless messages to enhance location accuracy" continues the company's investigation into beacon-based navigation, but on a grand scale. Instead of helping iPhone owners find their parked car in an underground lot, or triangulate their position using advanced geofencing algorithms, Apple's latest invention seeks to address weaknesses inherent in all GPS-based navigation systems. Specifically, today's patent attempts to solve signal reception issues that crop up in densely populated cities, sometimes referred to as urban canyon environments for their tall buildings, while at the same time increasing the granularity of positioning data. Importantly, Apple's solution consumes less power than A-GPS, Wi-Fi positioning and cellular tower triangulation techniques, all current augmentations to vanilla GPS. The bold plan calls for a multitude of stationary transmitters to be installed at strategic locations next to or near a city's roads, such as adjacent buildings, within preexisting traffic lights, roadside signs, guard rails and other structures. Each transmitter is basically a smart wireless hub bristling with radio transceivers — an ideal configuration supports cellular, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi and GPS data transfer protocols. The equipment can be fed by AC line power or solar. In operation, a stationary waypoint device broadcasts its location data, plotted on a Cartesian plane, via wireless Bluetooth LE messages. Each message is sent out at a known signal strength, allowing the receiving device, like an iPhone or car, to extrapolate its relative location based on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value. The receiving device might use a variety of techniques to determine its absolute position depending on the number and quality of messages received, with two options including triangulation and time-of-flight computations. In some embodiments, an iPhone can use location data provided by the static devices in concert with GPS information, though Apple's invention is capable of operating as a closed system. As a bonus, the transmitters can also send out z-axis (vertical height) data — for use on multi-level highways, for example — a measurement often available from commercial GPS systems.
Applied to navigation, the system can be configured to track vehicle movement with a high degree of accuracy. For example, a series of transmitters might be installed along off-ramps and on-ramps, forks in a road, freeway exits and other areas where traditional GPS systems often fail to resolve user position with adequate accuracy. While not mentioned in today's document, Apple's invention could play a role in autonomous vehicle logic. In particular, the described transmitters can be configured to broadcast rich data containing information regarding traffic, road and other driving conditions. For example, a user might be informed of an upcoming speed limit change, hazardous road condition or inclement weather when driving past a connected transmitter. With existing in-car equipment, these messages might present as an onscreen dialogue and audible alert. In the future, however, the same roadside beacons could inform an onboard AI of its surrounding environment, prompting it to take action as necessary. Autonomous vehicle development revolves around artificial intelligence, computer vision and machine learning, but those advanced systems have yet to be vetted by government agencies and are not proven in mass real world deployments. A hardware safeguard, perhaps similar to Apple's proposed infrastructure, might help bridge the gap between current automotive technology and a world where driverless cars rule the road.
Apple itself is widely rumored to be working on a branded electric vehicle that some believe will feature autonomous vehicle functionality. Evidence of a so-called "Apple Car" has yet to materialize, but AppleInsider last year uncovered a secret car lab Apple is operating out of Sunnyvale, Calif. Adding fuel to rampant speculation, Apple last week announced a massive $1 billion investment in Chinese Uber competitor Didi Chuxing, a firm with obvious automotive industry ties. Apple's citywide navigation system patent was first filed for in September 2012 and credits Devrim Varoglu and Ravisastry Parupudi as its inventors.
As the wearables market continues to evolve, new data shows a widening gap between basic and affordable fitness bands and more complex, do-it-all devices like Apple Watch — though the bulk of sales skew toward cheaper, simpler devices like Fitbit.
The burgeoning wearables segment continued to see explosive growth in the first quarter of 2016 with 19.7 million devices shipped, a 67 percent year-over-year increase, according to data from the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker. Researchers attribute surges in market demand to wider device distribution and healthy competition. Industry players, forced to differentiate their products in an increasingly crowded marketplace, are adopting new consumer targeting strategies. As the dust settles, the rift between basic single-use devices like Fitbit and complex all-in-ones like Apple Watch is widening, the study found. "There's a clear bifurcation and growth within the wearables market," said Jitesh Ubrani senior IDC research analyst. "Smart watches attempt to offer holistic experiences by being everything to everyone, while basic wearables like fitness bands, connected clothing, or wearables have a focused approach and often offer specialized use cases." Fitbit, focused on a single use for health and fitness tracking, continues to dominate overall wearable segment sales, leading with 4.8 million shipments and 24.5 percent marketshare in quarter one, up one million units from last year. While Fitbit's sale of prior product lines like Surge and Charge declined, the firm sold one million new Blaze smartwatches in the three month period ending in March. Chinese upstart Xiaomi came in second with 3.7 million units shipped and a 19 percent marketshare, while Apple followed in third with 1.5 million units and 7.5 percent of the market. In the smartwatch segment, IDC estimates that Apple is the industry's top vendor with a 46 percent share of the market, followed by Samsung with a 20.9 percent market share. Motorola comes in third with 10.9 percent of the market, while Huawei and Garmin round out the top five with 4.7 percent and 3 percent of the market, respectively. It should be noted that Apple has not announced specific sales figures for the Apple Watch, instead packaging those metrics into a catchall "Other" earnings report category. In comparison to Apple's recently reduced $299 base model pricing, Fitbit's price point averaged $100 per device in the first quarter. The affordable pricing strategy, combined with a single purpose device, has helped Fitbit establish itself as a dominant player in the wearables market. Despite significant earnings, Fitbit's growing operating costs from $79 million to $215 million have led to lower stock gains and a weaker performance on Wall Street. As for future growth prospects, some pointed out at the Met Gala in New York earlier in May. It's clear that Apple is seeking to create a product that consumers consider essential and part of their daily lifestyle.
Though the Apple Pencil is expertly designed to not roll away on a table, there's still not an ideal place to put it when it's not in use, especially when being used on your lap or while standing. Moxiware's new Apple Pencil Magnet aims to fix that with a simple and affordable accessory, though its aesthetics may not be for everyone.
The Apple Pencil Magnet is priced at $16.95 direct from Moxiware. For this review, AppleInsider purchased the blue version, though it's also available in black, green, yellow, red, and a white version that matches the Pencil's own color. The concept of the Apple Pencil Magnet is so simple, it's almost a no-brainer: It's a rubberized sleeve with an integrated magnet that allows you to attach the Pencil to the front or back of an iPad Pro. It works as advertised, though there are some small quirks. Design
The look of the Moxiware Apple Pencil Magnet will likely make or break the purchase for most users. I didn't find the baby blue color I picked to be particularly offensive, but one of my coworkers saw it and exclaimed that I had turned the $100 Apple Pencil into something that resembled a cheap Bic pen. To each their own.If you're turned off by the color-on-white contrast, as some undoubtedly will be, Moxiware thankfully offers a plain white version that matches the look of the Apple Pencil. The rubberized sleeve slides onto the Pencil with relative ease. And once it's in place, it won't move without some effort, ensuring it will stay snug on your stylus. The magnet embedded in the sleeve sticks out on one side, creating a flat edge that protrudes. When the sleeve is on the Pencil, the magnet is located high enough that it won't get in the way of your fingertips while holding the accessory.
The magnet portion will rest in the area between your index finger and your thumb, though we didn't find this to be uncomfortable in any way. And since the magnet is only on one side of the Pencil, you can always rotate it to face outward if it does happen to bother you. UsageConsidering the design of the iPad Pro was not intended to support the Moxiware Apple Pencil Magnet, we were surprised at just how well it actually works. Ideal placement of the Pencil-plus-magnet is on the right side of the iPad Pro. There, it securely snaps against the front bezel, or even on the edge and rear of the tablet.
The magnetic connection is solid. You won't be concerned about your Pencil going anywhere once it's placed against the iPad Pro.For someone who might be using the Pencil while working on their feet, particularly with the more portable 9.7-inch iPad Pro, we see the Moxiware Apple Pencil Sleeve being a huge benefit. Rather than having nowhere to put your Pencil, you can simply place it down against the right bezel of the iPad Pro, and the accessory will stay securely in place.Becaue the magnets within the iPad Pro also hold the sleeve on the right rear side of the tablet, you can also leave the Pencil attached while the front of the iPad is covered by Apple's Smart Cover. The magnetic strength is so strong that it'll even work through the Smart Cover, with the screen covered, staying atop the cover. Attaching to the right edge also allows the left edge with Smart Connector to remain open for accessories. This is not to say that the magnet is perfect. The iPad Pro wasn't designed with this accessory in mind, so placing the Pencil and sleeve against the iPad in different spots provides inconsistent results. For example, on the right bezel, there are multiple locations where the Pencil securely attaches. Sliding the sleeve and Pencil up and down the right side causes the Pencil to jump, as a result of the various magnet placements within the iPad Pro. The Pencil also attaches to other areas on the iPad Pro, with varying degrees of magnetic strength. For example, the sleeve has a strong magnetic attachment to the upper left and right corners of the iPad Pro in portrait mode. Weaker magnetic connections can be found on the bottom, to the left and right of the home button. On the left side of the iPad Pro, where the Smart Connector resides, the magnetic connection is there, but it's frankly too weak to advise placing the Pencil there. This could prove problematic for left-handed iPad Pro users who want to hold the tablet with their right hand (along the right bezel). For them, putting the Pencil down along the upper left or right corners might be better. And while the magnet works fine with the traditional Smart Cover, the magnetic connection is very weak through the bulkier Smart Keyboard accessory. In this case, you're better off sticking the Pencil to the side of the iPad, rather than atop the cover. Really, though, these are all minor points to consider. The fact of the matter is the Moxiware Apple Pencil Sleeve works as advertised — it creates a secure magnetic connection to the right front bezel and side of the iPad Pro, and it's a convenient way to stash your Pencil, especially when you're using it in a place where you can't set it down on a flat surface. Conclusion:Priced under $20, the Moxiware Apple Pencil Magnet is an easy recommendation for anyone who doesn't mind the aesthetics. The Apple Pencil is brilliantly designed, including internal weighting that prevents it from rolling away on a desk. But what if you aren't using your iPad near a flat surface? Sure, you could stow your Pencil by plugging it into the Lightning dock to charge. But if you're on the go, that's an easy way to lose the Pencil cap, or even potentially snap the Lightning connector. The Moxiware Apple Pencil Magnet is a much better alternative. In fact, using Moxiware's product got us wondering why Apple didn't do something similar. Simply sticking your Pencil against the iPad when not in use is convenient and easy. Apple, of course, already makes accessories that stick to — and are powered by — the iPad Pro through its Smart Connector port. It's easy to see how a future Apple Pencil might feature its own Smart Connector attachment, giving users an easy way to stow and charge their stylus on the iPad. It's certainly a much simpler way than the current Lightning connector option. Regardless, Apple Pencil 1.0 how it is today works extremely well with the Moxiware Apple Pencil Magnet. It's an affordable, simple accessory that works as advertised. An easy recommendation. Score: 4.5 out of 5Pros Magnetic connection to right side of iPad Pro is strong, safeA convenient way to stow your Apple Pencil while not in useReasonably priced and easy to useCons Magnet placement may not be ideal for every use caseAesthetics critics may not want to conceal the Apple Pencil design Where to buy The Moxiware Apple Pencil Magnet is available to purchase direct from Moxiware for $16.95 plus shipping.
