Weekend Wrap-Up: Apple Sets Records with iPhone 6; Microsoft Buys Minecraft

Happy Sunday, folks! It’s been an Apple-heavy week, but that doesn’t mean we’re all out of other stories.

Let’s catch up.

Apple Sets Pre-Order Records with iPhone 6

It seems like we write this story every year, doesn’t it? Apple announced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus back on September 9, and once pre-orders opened up, Apple’s numbers in that category blew last year’s out of the water. Apple revealed that over 4 million iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices were pre-sold to consumers, a new record for the company. The device officially went on sale this past Friday, which means that Apple undoubtedly sold even more iPhones in the past few days.

Microsoft Buys Minecraft for $2.5 Billion

It was rumored about two weeks ago, and it turns out that there was indeed fire creating all that smoke. Microsoft acquired Minecraft creator Mojang this past week, paying $2.5 billion for the privilege. I wondered what a Microsoft-owned Minecraft would mean for the game in terms of its cross-platform existence, and as it turns out, Microsoft will still commit to keeping the title on competing platforms like PlayStation, iOS and Android.

Pre-Orders for Moto X Start Tuesday

Looking to pick up the latest edition of Motorola’s popular Moto X smartphone? The highly-customizable original was a critical hit, and now Motorola is releasing an updated new version to the Android faithful. Pre-orders will begin this Tuesday. As far as price goes, carrier pricing will differ, but an unlocked “Pure” model of the Moto X will sell for $499.99.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Will Drop October 17

Samsung’s Galaxy Note is a popular phone amongst those who not only want a phablet, but want one that acts like a stylus-enabled tablet with all the trimmings. The latest edition, the Galaxy Note 4, is set to drop on October 17. The 5.7-inch device will retail at $299.99 on a two-year contract, or you can pick it up unlocked and untethered to a commitment for $825.99.