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Chart of the day: why Apple must buy Beats or build own subscription music product

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 16, 2016

Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty released an interesting chart highlighting the need for an Apple-branded on-demand music streaming product. Currently, the company only sells individual songs or whole albums on iTunes.

The analyst worryingly writes in a note to clients issued Wednesday that iTunes sales are down 24 percent year-on-year. Moreover, Apple's 800 million iTunes users are spending an average of $3.29 on iTunes.

For the sake of clarity, the figure represents combined per-user purchases of music, movies, iOS and Mac apps and more. That being said, Apple is clearly taking a heat due to its refusal to introduce a subscription music service because iTunes users seem to spending more on apps and less on music nowadays...

iTunes 11.2.2 update arrives with podcast bug fix and stability improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 28, 2014

Apple has just released a new version of iTunes. This is a third update to the company's desktop jukebox application in less than two weeks.

iTunes 11.2.2 is now available through your Mac's Software Update, offering several stability improvements and fixing a bug related to the software's handling of podcasts.

The update is recommended for all iTunes users and should be now available for Mac and Windows via the Mac App Store's Updates tab or as a standalone download via Apple's website...

Quickminder: create reminders with no fuss, no muss

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated March 1, 2018

Reminder apps are fast becoming the new Twitter app in that it seems everyone is having a go at making one, and the App Store is full to the brim with both some great alternatives to the stock iOS solution. Unfortunately, it's also littered with some downright poor ones.

A reminder app is a very personal choice, too. Some people will love one app while others will declare another to be the one and only app to use for making sure you don't forget things. While we're fans of the likes of Omnifocus and Things, it's safe to say that both apps can sometimes be overkill for many, and downright madness for others.

Which means that reminder apps can still thrive in an area dominated by the two aforementioned apps along with a handful of smaller solutions. One of our new favorites, quickminder, has found a niche for itself thanks to its blazing speed and luscious looks. And yes, that's their lack of capitalization, not ours.

Education pricing for iPads now available

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 28, 2014

Eligible students, their parents, as well as employees of K-12 schools, have long been able to purchase Macs at educational discounts. As of today, educational pricing extends to iPads, including the latest iPad Air and the iPad mini with Retina display.

As available through the Apple Store for Education, the entry-level Wi-Fi-only iPad Air with sixteen gigabytes of storage has been marked down to $469.

That's a $30 savings over its normal retailing price of $499. As for the Retina iPad mini, you're looking at a modest $20 discount for the entry-level model...

Action RPG Battleheart Legacy hits the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 28, 2014

Role-playing games (RPG) are tremendously popular in the App Store and even though I generally dislike wasting my time playing demanding and too complex titles on a tiny smartphone screen, I'll be taking this one for a spin.

Yes, developer Mika Mobile has finally released its long-expected spiritual successor to 2011's hit mobile RPG Battleheart. After nearly two years of development, the iPhone/iPad game is now available in exchange for $4.99.

The re-imagined Legacy takes the gameplay from the original into bold new directions. The game takes place in the exquisitely rendered 3D fantasy world and has you battling hordes of enemies as a powerful wizard, a notorious rogue or some of the other available heroes like a noble knight or a savage barbarian, each with its own set of skills and items.

You'll encounter quirky characters while discovering the stories of a troubled realm along the way, all without having to spend hours just managing your heroes. Sounds tempting? Read on for the full reveal...

Google’s cute self-driving car goes for a test drive

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Google's self-driving autonomous cars have been conceived in Google X, a semi-secret research facility run by CEO Larry Page and dedicated to making skunkworks projects that could lead to major technological leaps in the years ahead, moonshots of sorts if you will. After years of development, the Internet giant has now revealed its design for self-driving car prototypes and they look damn cute.

Google's Sergey Brin took to Code Conference last night to formally announce his company's vehicle that has no steering wheel, pedals or gear shift. The design isn't finalized yet because Google is essentially building its own car here from scratch rather than retrofit existing Toyota and Lexus designs, like the previous prototypes...

Apple suppliers say iWatch has round face, goes into production in July/August

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 28, 2014

With five days until Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, rumors are swirling that the company could announce some new hardware at the five-day conference and pundits are holding their breath for a long-awaited iWatch announcement.

According to the latest supply chain chatter, the device will indeed resemble a traditional wrist-worn watch and will even have a rounded face. Jump past the fold for the full reveal...

Microsoft demos real-time voice translation feature for Skype

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 2, 2017

Last night at Recode's inaugural Code Conference, Microsoft announced a new real-time voice translation feature for its Skype VoIP service. The company says it's currently in beta form, but it plans to eventually roll it out to all devices.

The goal of the feature is to allow users to hold a conversation with someone speaking a foreign language, with Skype providing near-instant voice translations for both parties. And judging by the initial demonstration, it works fairly well...

Apple says Australian iOS device attacks not caused by iCloud breach

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 2, 2016

On Monday, a number of iOS and Mac users came forward with complaints that their devices had been remotely locked by hackers. In most of the cases, a message appeared via Find My iPhone on the locked devices, demanding payment for the hack to be reversed.

As far as we can tell, the attacks have been concentrated on Mac and iOS products in Australia. And among the various theories of how the hackers were able to set a remote lock has been the fear that iCloud was breached. But Apple says it hasn't been compromised...

Apple launching iPads on Japan’s NTT DoCoMo next month

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Apple just issued a press release, announcing that it will begin offering NTT DoCoMo versions of its iPad Air and Retina iPad mini in Japan next month. The carrier, which is the largest in the country, began offering the iPhone for the first time last fall.

The new iPads will be available for pre-order starting June 2, and will officially launch in retail stores a week later on June 10. Those interested in picking up one of the tablets can choose from a variety of purchase plans, some of which call for $0 down...

Apple to announce $3 billion Beats acquisition this week

Cody Lee ∙ May 27, 2014

Apple has remained mum on rumors that it's looking to acquire Beats Electronics, but it appears it's finally ready to break the silence. The New York Post reports tonight that the Cupertino firm is expected to announce the acquisition within the next few days.

Perhaps even more interesting is that the Post says Apple has managed to trim some $200 million off the price tag during the past two weeks of negotiation. According to the outlet's sources, the company has reached a deal to buy Beats for an even $3 billion...

Adobe Revel now offers 2GB of free photo storage

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

Adobe updated its Revel client for iOS today, bringing the app to version 2.3. The update brings about a few design tweaks, which make the app easier to use, and a handful of bug fixes, but the big news here is the bump in free storage.

Free accounts for Adobe's cloud-based Revel service now get 2GB of storage space, or enough for around 1000 photos. That's quite the change from the previous model, where non-paying Revel users were limited to just 50 uploads/month...