Apple

Amazon takes on Netflix with standalone $9 per month Prime Video subscription

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 18, 2016

Online retailer Amazon announced this morning that it has started to offer its Prime Video service as a standalone subscription independent of its $99.99 annual Prime membership, which includes things like free two-day shipping, unlimited streaming of music, movies and television shows and other perks.

In an effort to step up its challenge to Netflix, the e-commerce giant has priced its standalone offering at $8.99 per month—a dollar more than Netflix's entry-level $7.99 plan in the United States.

New Apple Music ad has Taylor Swift singing along to Jimmy Eat World

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 18, 2016

Following an amusing Apple Music commercial earlier this month in which pop artist Taylor Swift can be seen wiping out on the treadmill, a brand new ad for Apple's music service was posted Monday on the official Beats 1 Radio channel on YouTube.

In it, Swift is singing along to “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World from their album “Jimmy Eat World”.

Apple rumored to be running a secret vehicle research and development lab in Germany

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 18, 2016

Influential German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung this morning ran a story on Apple's rumored electric car, code-named Project Titan, claiming that the iPhone maker is running a secret vehicle research and development lab in the heart of Berlin.

Apple's 15-20 person “top class” team at the site is mostly comprised of engineers hired away from several German car manufacturers, who are described as “progressive thinkers” in their respective fields. The report adds that Apple is said to be planning to use Austria-based automotive contract manufacturer Magna to build its electric vehicle.

How to submit feedback and bug reports to Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 15, 2022

If you're annoyed by buggy Apple software, why not take the time to submit a bug report to them so that they're aware of it?

You see, it's in Apple's interest to improve its products and give customers the best possible experiences.

Letting the company know about a software problem you've been plagued with is always helpful, and if enough people report the same bug, the issue will hopefully be escalated to someone who's in charge.

In this tutorial, we'll show you how to file a bug report or submit feedback using Apple's many bug-reporting tools and services.

Apple TV’s Siri can now tune you in to live broadcasts in supported apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 15, 2016

Apple has enhanced the tvOS operating system via a silent backend update that now permits users to ask Siri to tune in to live broadcasts in supported apps such as Disney XD, ESPN and CBS, the latter having gained integration with the Apple TV's universal search feature yesterday.

MacRumors has caught wind of this useful new feature addition on a splash screen that customers see after upgrading their 4th-generation Apple TV to the new tvOS software.

Fresh iSpaceship renderings visualize visitor reception buildings, food shacks and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

The Silicon Valley Business Journal yesterday shared a batch of new renderings depicting some new buildings and structures planned for Apple Campus 2, an upcoming flying saucer-shaped 2.8 million square foot structure that should become the company's new headquarters in January 2017, barring any unforeseen delays. The Apple-commissioned renderings depict two visitor reception locations, several outdoor food stations and an elegantly designed maintenance shed.

Apple to end support for QuickTime for Windows

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 15, 2016

Apple reportedly has plans to deprecate support for QuickTime for Windows, according to a research note issued Thursday by software security firm Trend Micro, which found a pair of new vulnerabilities in the software. Apple will no longer be issuing security updates for QuickTime for Windows, the advisory cautions.

An Apple support document provides the steps that Windows users can follow to uninstall the software. QuickTime for Mac is unaffected.

iTunes Movies and iBooks Store go offline in China without explanation

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 15, 2016

As of this morning, customers in China are unable to access Apple's content stores for digital movies and books, the iTunes Store for Movies and the iBooks Store, as both services went offline last evening without explanation. These stores are now inaccessible in China on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, as well as on computers with iTunes.

No reason was give for the downtime and Apple had not commented on the move at post time, but AppleInsider has learned that it has something to do with the government's pending investigation into Apple's business practices.

Ultra-thin MacBooks with metal injection mold-made hinges due in second half of 2016?

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 15, 2016

Apple is expected to revamp the rest of its notebook lineup around ultra-thin MacBook models later this summer, which poses questions regarding the future of the existing MacBook Air lineup as Apple's thinnest notebooks. In a new report Friday, Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes cited local component makers as saying that they are starting to see increasing competition for related component orders ahead of a rumored launch of “new ultra-thin MacBooks in the second half of 2016.”

Apple’s allegedly brokered $2.6 billion deal with Samsung to supply OLED panels for iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 15, 2016

Apple has reportedly brokered a deal with its South Korean frenemy Samsung, worth an estimated $2.59 billion, to supply OLED panels for future iPhones, scheduled to ship in 2017. Citing sources familiar with Samsung's plans, The Korea Herald reported Friday that Samsung's mobile display making arm, Samsung Display, will manufacture about hundred million OLED panels annually, measuring 5.5 inches diagonally, starting next year.

Blockhead makes your MacBook charging brick less annoying

Anthony Bouchard ∙ April 15, 2016

I love my Mac, but honestly, I hate the AC adapter. The 'wall wart,' as I like to call it, sticks out so far from the wall that it can be incredibly inconvenient for plugging in behind couches and in other tight spaces.

Blockhead, which was only just recently announced, eliminates the annoying protrusion of Apple's AC adapter and is now available from Ten One Design.

Now that the Blockhead is available for purchase, we've been lucky enough to get our hands on one. In this review, we'll walk you through its design and how it looks.

Apple’s environmental webpage hints at ‘MacOS’ name change

Cody Lee ∙ April 14, 2016

More evidence that Apple is planning to rebrand OS X to MacOS in the near future has been discovered on Apple's environmental webpage. First spotted by 9to5Mac, the recently updated page specifically refers to "MacOS" devices.

The news follows a March report that pointed to a MacOS reference hidden inside OS X code. And of course the change has long been speculated about, as it would bring the desktop OS branding in line with Apple's other platforms.