Apple

Apple releases iTunes 12.2 with Apple Music and Beats 1 integration

In addition to releasing the latest iOS 8.4 software update for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and posting the new OS X Yosemite 10.10.4 update for the Mac, Apple has now issued a brand new version of iTunes for Mac and Windows PCs with built-in support for the new Apple Music on-demand subscription music service, Beats 1 global Internet radio and more.

You must install iOS 8.4 on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad to enjoy Apple Music. iTunes 12.2 is required to enjoy Apple Music and Beats 1 radio streaming on your Mac or Windows computer.

How to request a song for Apple’s new Beats 1 radio station

Apple's new 24/7 radio station, Beats 1, went live this morning and is now in full effect. Initial feedback on the experiment is mixed—some people really like it, others don't—but the consensus is that Apple has managed to capture the essence of radio.

Keeping with that theme, Apple has announced that it's going to start taking listener requests for songs during at least a small segment of its Beats 1 broadcast. From the service's official Twitter account: "in a few hours, we turn the show over to you."

Cooking app Green Kitchen goes free courtesy of Apple Store shopping app promotion

If you fire up Apple's official shopping app for the iPhone and iPad, called Apple Store, there's a new freebie waiting for you: a cooking app called Green Kitchen.

Created by Amazing Applications AB, Green Kitchen retails in the App Store for $4.99 a pop, but can be yours at no charge whatsoever provided you grab it through the Apple Store app (not to be confused with the App Store).

This premium app is very nicely done and is highly recommended for epicures and those who like to be creative in the kitchen.

Featuring crisp typography, great photography, stunning Retina graphics and easy to follow instructions, Green Kitchen is filled with inspiring vegetarian food with ingredients straight from nature and a bare minimum of gluten, sugar and dairy products.

Following its November 2013 debut, the app has never been free before. Here's what needs to be done to claim your free copy of Green Kitchen.

iBooks Author updated with support for iPhone, multi-touch ePub books

Apple is on a roll with software updates today. In addition to releasing iOS 8.4 and Mac OS X 10.10.4, it's also pushed out new versions of GarageBand and now iBooks Author. The software that allows you to publish iBooks moved up to version 2.3 today.

The update won't move the needle for folks who don't use the app, but it brings about some big changes for those who do. Perhaps the biggest new feature is that you can now create iBooks for both iPhone and iPad—instead of being limited to just the tablet.

GarageBand for Mac gains Force Touch and Apple Music Connect support, new content and more

Tuesday, Apple issued a substantial update to GarageBand for Mac, its own application that allows users to create music or podcasts. In GarageBand 10.1, users can take advantage of built-in Apple Music Connect support to share directly from GarageBand to Apple Music's Connect feature, basically a repository for artists to share content with music lovers like lyrics, behind-the-scenes videos, photos, concert recordings, studio sessions and more.

In addition, the application now takes advantage of a third dimension provided by pressure-sensing trackpads on the new twelve-inch MacBook and fifteen-inch MacBook Pro while providing several other enhancements.

SoundHound for iOS now plays nice with Apple Music and Beats 1

SoundHound, an audio recognition service, today announced a refresh for its iPhone and iPad application with Apple Music integration, a new Beats 1 Radio row within song pages and other enhancements.

With Apple Music and Beats 1 integration, users can stream music discovered through SoundHound on Apple Music and enjoy the ability to listen to the streaming radio broadcast provided by Beats 1.

These new features will go live in over a hundred Apple Music countries via a free update to Soundhound's iOS app, which will be rolling out later today.

Beats 1, Apple’s new global Internet radio, starts broadcasting with DJ Zane Lowe

Beats 1, Apple's 24/7 radio station, has just started broadcasting live in over a hundred countries around the world following the release of iOS 8.4 with a much improved and revamped Music app with Beats 1 and Apple Music integration.

Available on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad with iOS 8.4 (and soon on Mac and Windows PCs with an impending iTunes update), Beats 1 is hosted by former BBC Radio DJ Zane Lowe in Los Angeles, with additional actors Ebro Darden in New York and Julie Adenoma in London.

Apple loses final appeal in e-books price-fixing suit, will pay $450 million fine

A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a 2013 decision finding Apple guilty for conspiring with publishers to raise e-book prices, reports The Wall Street Journal. As a result, the company is expected to pay a $450 million settlement it agreed to with private plaintiffs, 30+ states and the DOJ last year.

“We conclude that the district court correctly decided that Apple orchestrated a conspiracy among the publishers to raise e-book prices,” wrote Second Circuit Judge Debra Ann Livingston. The conspiracy “unreasonably restrained trade” in violation of the Sherman Act, the federal antitrust law, she wrote.

Beats Music app receives an update with playlist migration to Apple Music

Shortly after releasing iOS 8.4 for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and OS X 10.10.4 for the Mac, Apple refreshed the mobile Beats Music application in the App Store so you can transfer your existing playlists and library over to Apple Music. Release notes accompanying the update make no mention of other changes beyond playlist migration.

The app is available at no charge in the App Store.

iOS 8.4 with Apple Music, Beats 1 and revamped Music app hits iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

As promised, Tuesday morning Apple released the free iOS 8.4 software update which introduces an all-new Music app with Apple Music and Beats 1 built-in. The over-the-air update is now available for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices. As these things take some time to propagate, the software update may not show up in your region yet.

“This update introduces Apple Music—a revolutionary music service, 24/7 global radio, and a way for fans to connect with their favorite artists—all included in the redesigned Music app,” release notes accompanying the update explain. “iOS 8.4 also includes improvements for iBooks and bug fixes,” Apple states.

To apply the update over-the-air, open the Settings app on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and choose Software Update in the General section. Alternatively, connect your device via USB cable to a Mac or Windows PC running the latest version of iTunes and an update prompt should pop up automatically.

If you enjoy jailbreaking as much as we do, you're wholeheartedly advised to read this first in order to prepare for iOS 8.4 properly.

Apple to reveal June quarter earnings on July 21

Apple is going to release earnings for its third fiscal 2015 quarter on Tuesday, July 21, according to an update published last evening on the company's Investor Relations webpage. A conference call to discuss third fiscal quarter earnings with Wall Street investors will be taking place on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern Time.