Apple

Leaked screenshots show off minor design changes in upcoming iTunes 12.4 update

Apple is working on a minor update for desktop iTunes and MacRumors was able to obtain screenshots which show off several design improvements in tow for the app. This isn't the top-to-bottom overhaul we've been all waiting for though the changes in iTunes 12.4 should make this infamous Mac and Windows app a bit easier to use.

As per the leaked screenshots, iTunes 12.4 packs in a redesigned media picker, a persistent sidebar for quick access to different sections of your iTunes library, a slightly reworked mini player and a tad simpler menus.

How to repost Instagram photos, videos, and stories on iPhone

Repost photo to Instagram

The Instagram app lacks the option to repost Instagram photos, videos, and stories natively, so people usually screenshot photos to post them as their own. This works fine as a workaround but requires extra steps, such as cropping the screenshot. Maybe more importantly, it generates photos of poor quality.

Reposting, also known as regramming, is quite a common practice, even though the Instagram application doesn't provide a way to easily do that. As a result, you must use third-party applications. In this post, we will show you how to repost Instagram photos, videos, and stories from your iPhone using an app we developed ourselves called Reposter for Instagram.

Apple’s reportedly decided not to add Smart Connector to iPhone 7

An unconfirmed iPhone 7 part which leaked out of China back in March had us wondering whether the iconic smartphone might come outfitted with the iPad Pro's Smart Connector. Since then, various analysts and sources have speculated that this could indeed be the case, including the fairly reliable Japanese blog Mac Otakara.

Today, however, Mac Otakara reports that Apple has decided not to include the Smart Connector on the iPhone 7 after all.

Apple makes your Mom star in ‘Shot on iPhone’ ad

Mother's Day is this Sunday and Apple is taking notice. In addition to airing a Mother’s Day-themed iPhone 6s ad and sending an email blast to remind customers to pick up an Apple Watch as a Mother’s Day gift recommendation, the company has now launched a dedicated website that lets you make your Mom appear in her own 'Shot on iPhone' film.

The interactive web app is aptly named “Moms Shot on iPhone” and is really amazing.

Dedicated Connect tab is going away in iOS 10’s Apple Music overhaul

Apple is going to pull plug on the dedicated Apple Music Connect tab when iOS 10 launches this fall, if a new report from 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman is anything to go by. Citing sources familiar with the upcoming Apple Music overhaul, the publication claims that the Connect tab will be “demoted,” its functionality integrated into the For You recommendations section.

“Connect will still exist within applicable artist pages as it does today, but its demotion from the set of Apple Music tabs indicates that the feature has not lived up to Apple’s expectations from last year,” reads the article.

Apple wants to lease a 800,000 square foot warehouse for Project Titan R&D work

The Wall Street Journal yesterday shared some rather interesting development regarding Silicon Valley's worst-kept secret, an Apple-designed electric car, dubbed Project Titan. The firm is apparently seeking a massive 800,000 square foot warehouse, presumably to keep research and development work on Project Titan secret for as long as possible.

Furthermore, the iPhone maker is said to be in the process of expanding Project Titan team, which reportedly had about 600 employees last year, according to sources.

Design of Apple’s ‘A11’ chip for 2017 iPhones and iPads has been finalized

Taiwanese component makers are currently scrambling to fulfill orders as the Cupertino firm is getting ready to kick off production of this year's upcoming iPhones and iPads.

Moreover, Apple's engineers should now be close to completing work on a 2017 iPhone and have certainly been developing a 2018 iPhone for some time now.

Trade publication DigiTimes wrote in a new report that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC), a foundry that builds chips for Apple, has now taped out an Apple-designed 'A11' chip that will power 2017 iPhones and iPads.

$4.99 Apple Music subscriptions now available to eligible students in seven countries

As first reported by TechCrunch, Apple's begun offering half-price Apple Music subscriptions to students who are enrolled in an eligible college or university.

Costing just $4.99 per month in the United States with the same features as the regular $9.99 per month plan for consumers, the fifty percent discount is now available to students in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

The company is working with UNiDAY, a student verification technology provider, to ensure that students who sign up are actually enrolled in classes.

Camera Plus goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Apple on Thursday updated its App of the Week promotion with the app Camera Plus (not to be confused with the popular Camera+). This means that from now through next Thursday, you’ll be able to pick up the photo editing app for free—a solid savings of a buck.

Camera Plus describes itself as the app for "the best macro photos and remote photography." It features the usual photo app options like filters and effects, but it also has special tools for taking close-up photos, and a feature called AirSnap for taking photos remotely.

Apple announces new enterprise partnership with SAP

Apple and SAP announced a new partnership on Thursday, which they hope will "revolutionize the mobile work experience for enterprise customers of all sizes." The joint effort will combine powerful native iOS apps with the cutting edge capabilities of SAP's HANA platform.

The two companies also plan to deliver a new SAP HANA Cloud Platform SDK exclusively for iOS that will provide businesses and developers the tools to build their own enterprise apps. And, as part of the deal, SAP will develop native iOS apps for critical business operations.

YouTube planning to launch a live TV subscription service in 2017

Google has accelerated efforts to beat Apple to market with a live TV service on YouTube, dubbed “Unplugged”, Bloomberg reported yesterday. Work on boosting YouTube's infrastructure is already underway as launching the service has taken on a high priority.

For a yet-to-be-determined monthly fee, YouTube users will be able to subscribe to so-called skinny bundles of television programming, streamed over the Internet.

These bundles should include some of the most popular offerings from major U.S. broadcast networks and cable services.