Apple

Apple said to consider developing original TV shows as talks over skinny iTunes bundle collapse

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 4, 2017

As part of a new strategy following failed talks with major networks regarding licensing their programming for a rumored over-the-top iTunes video service, Apple is reportedly considering developing own TV shows to offer exclusively to its iTunes customers, The Street reported Friday. The publication's track record in predicting Apple's moves isn't great so take the story with a pinch of salt.

Citing two unnamed people with knowledge of the overtures, the report alleges that Apple is internally planning to announce exclusive content as part of a cable-like offering in September, as part of the iPhone 7 introduction.

iTunes Radio now requires Apple Music subscription

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 29, 2016

Keeping true to its promise, ad-supported iTunes Radio, which launched in 2013, is no longer available for free and now requires an Apple Music subscription, leaving Beats 1 as the lone free-to-stream radio service on iTunes.

Starting today, non-subscribers who attempt to access iTunes Radio on iOS or via iTunes for Mac or Windows are greeted with a “Get on Our Wavelength” prompts, asking them to subscribe to Apple Music in order to continue enjoying Apple's selection of streaming radio stations.

Forget thinness – get rid of these bezels

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

It's no secret that for quite sometime now, Apple has been on a seemingly never-ending quest for thinness. Each new iPhone, iPad, and Mac is almost always thinner and lighter than its predecessor, as millimeters and grams are shaved off with most every hardware iteration.

Some users have voiced their willingness to deal with a slightly thicker, heavier device for the sake of better battery life, feeling that Apple's form-over-function attitude should be put on hold in favor of more screen-on time between charges.

Apple developing new long-range wireless charging tech for iPhone and iPad

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple is exploring new wireless charging technology for future iOS devices, Bloomberg reported late Thursday. Citing sources familiar with the plans, the outlet says the company is working with partners in the US and Asia to develop wireless charging tech that works over longer distances than current solutions offer.

Apple acquires education startup LearnSprout

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple has acquired education-technology startup LearnSprout, reports Bloomberg. The outlet has received confirmation of the buyout with the boilerplate statement, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

Terms of the deal are not known at this time, but we do know that the San Francisco-based LearnSprout has raised more than $4 million from investors. The company specializes in education tracking and analytical software, which it has rolled out to more than 2,500 US schools.

This app lets you type notes with a keypad on your Apple Watch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Yesterday, I reviewed a cool little Apple Watch app for creating notes on the fly with dictation which can then be shown as a complication on your watch.

In continuing with the same theme, today I take a look at Note Tapper by Mark Cotterill, which adds an interesting twist to taking notes on the Apple Watch—rather than rely on (at times unreliable) dictation feature, you can type out your thoughts using a rather effective built-in keyboard.

Whimsical jetpack-flying game Piloteer selected as Apple’s Free App of the Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 28, 2016

Apple's editors have cherry-picked the Piloteer game as its new Free App of the Week on the App Store, meaning you can now download this $1.99 title at no charge until next Thursday. Created by Fixpoint Productions and released on the App Store in June of 2015, Piloteer has an average rating of four stars based on more than 155 reviews.

In this physics-based game, a renowned inventor is determined to overcome the stigma associated with flying a jetpack and convince the world that jetpacks should be revered by all. It sounds easier said than done, however.

Apple issues a recall of AC wall plug adapters in some countries, announces exchange program

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 28, 2016

Apple on Thursday announced a voluntary recall of AC wall plug adapters designed for use in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand and South Korea that shipped with Mac and certain iOS devices between 2003 and 2015 and were also included in the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit.

“In very rare cases, affected Apple two-prong wall plug adapters may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched,” notes the company.

New in iOS 9.3 beta 2: accessory firmware updates via iPad Pro’s Smart Connector

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 10, 2023

Aside from headline features such as Night Shift mode, new 3D Touch shortcuts, Notes improvements and more, the most recent beta of iOS 9.3 has been found to allow the iPad Pro to update accessories' firmware through its Smart Connector.

As noted by German developer Stefan Wolfrum and relayed by Oliver Haslam over at Cult of Mac, Wolfrum was greeted with an “Accessory Update Available” prompt after plugging a Logitech Connect keyboard case into his iPad Pro.

iPad Air 3 rumored to have 4K screen, 4GB of RAM and improved battery

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 28, 2016

Apple is widely expected to announce a third-generation iPad Air at a March event in a few weeks time and the latest supply chain chatter has it that the device will come outfitted with an ultra sharp display boasting a 4K resolution, or nearly four times the pixels of Apple's current-generation 9.7-inch 2,048-by-1,536 pixel Retina display.

According to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, it'll also have an improved battery life and feature four gigabytes of RAM versus the iPad Air 2's two gigs of RAM.

Apple planning to unveil iPad Air 3 at March event, report says

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple is planning to unveil a third generation model of its 9.7-inch iPad Air in March, reports 9to5Mac. The site's well-sourced Mark Gurman says that the tablet will likely make its debut at an event during the week of March 14, alongside the rumored 4-inch iPhone and new Apple Watch bands.

Gurman doesn't offer much in terms of what the new tablet will look like, though the consensus is the design will resemble the previous Air, or what kind of internals it will have. He does however say that Apple has been testing 9.7-inch panels that support the Pencil, which for now is iPad Pro-only.

76 percent of devices are now using iOS 9

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 4, 2017

As measured by the App Store on January 25, 2016, and published on Apple's App Store dashboard for developers, iOS 9 is now powering 76 percent of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, a one-percentage point gain versus the 75 percent mark that was recorded two weeks ago.

At the same time, the adoption rate for iOS 8 has dropped from nineteen percent as of January 13, 2016, to seventeen percent, a two-point loss.