Apple

Apple looking to change 70/30 iTunes revenue split for media services

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple is planning a departure from the long-standing 70/30 iTunes pricing arrangement it has with digital media companies, reports the Financial Times. According to sources familiar with the matter, Apple is discussing new commercial terms with a number of players in the video, music and news subscription space.

The split, which doles out 70% of app and media sales to content owners/creators and 30% to Apple for hosting and distribution, has been around since the iTunes Store first launched in 2003. Apple hopes the change can improve its relationships with media firms, and reassure regulators that it's not abusing its power.

SoundHound has created a voice search app that will knock your socks off

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2015

Apple's introduction of Siri back in 2011 was a watershed moment for voice-activated personal digital assistants. Today, a myriad of Siri-like services exist such as Google Now on Android devices and Microsoft's cross-platform Cortana, which will be hitting iOS soon following Windows 10 debut on July 29.

But many if not all of the existing services, Siri included, could be put to shame by Hound.

Hound is a forthcoming digital assistant which promises a groundbreaking smartphone experience, created by SoundHound, the maker of namesake mobile music and audio recognition service.

Apple says half of top 100 U.S. merchants will accept Apple Pay this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2015

By the end of this year, about half of the top 100 merchants in the United States should roll out Apple Pay to their stores, Apple hopes.

A spokesperson told Reuters today that the firm is constantly in contact with these merchants, half of whom have expressed their intent to support Apple Pay for their customers, with “many more” merchants expected to adopt the wireless payment service the following year.

Apple now inviting customers to “just walk in to try Apple Watch on”

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2015

Since its April debut, the Apple Watch has been exclusively available through the convoluted process where you favorited your preferred model on the webstore or in the Apple Store app before visiting an Apple Store for your try-on appointment.

But as availability of both the device itself and the bands has been improving lately, the company is now inviting prospective buyers for walk-in try-ons at their local Apple Store, as indicated by MacRumors.

Apple stops selling iPhones on 2-year AT&T contract, moves exclusively to Next financing plans

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2015

As reported earlier this week, Apple has stopped selling new iPhones to customers on a two-year contract with AT&T as of today.

As first noted by MacRumors, subsidized $199/$299 prices for new iPhones on a two-year AT&T contract have been removed overnight and replaced with the carrier's financing program called AT&T Next.

Apple still negotiating terms with record labels for music streaming service

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2015

Apple is reportedly still negotiating terms with record labels for its rumored music-streaming service, just days before its annual Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off with a keynote next Monday, Bloomberg said today.

People familiar with the negotiations told the news organization that the labels are pushing to get a larger chunk of revenue than they receive under their current deals with Spotify.

Many Apple Watch bands now shipping in 24 hours, Apple clarifies Space Black watch availability

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 4, 2015

Apple said today its watch will be hitting seven new markets later this month, with the sole exception of the 42mm Space Black Stainless Steel model with Space Black Link Bracelet.

In an email sent to customers who ordered that device, a copy of which was obtained by 9to5Mac, Apple has clarified that the 42mm Space Black Stainless Steel model with Space Black Link Bracelet won't be arriving in retail stores until all online orders have been fulfilled.

Additionally, availability of many Apple Watch bands has improved substantially as many are now shipping in one business day, WatchAware noted Thursday.

Minecraft: Pocket Edition introduces skinning feature, adds fishing, chicken jockeys and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 4, 2015

Originally announced back in March, a substantial update to Minecraft: Pocket Edition 0.11.1 has finally landed on the App Store today bringing loads of new features such as skins, chicken jockeys, fishing and much more.

Yes, you can now stuff wolves in boats and go fishing in Minecraft, isn't that wonderful? All joking aside, you can now customize the appearance of your Minecraft characters with skins.

Skins are sold through the In-App Purchase mechanism, and some don't cost a dime. In addition, players can easily upload custom skins to the game and even create their own ones using the Minecraft: Skin Studio app or any image editing software for that matter.

Samsung takes jabs at iPhone 6 in latest ad salvo

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 4, 2015

In a pair of new television commercials, Samsung is back at what it does best: bashing Apple's iPhone. Promoted under the tagline “six is greater than six,” the 30-second videos highlight three features of Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge: wireless charging, a wider-angle lens on the selfie camera out the front and a curved screen which displays tidbits of information across the edges of Samsung phones.

I've included both ads for your viewing pleasure.

Sunrise Calendar hits Apple Watch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

Sunrise Calendar, a cross-platform calendar application that Microsoft bought four months ago, just announced immediate availability of its Apple Watch app. With Sunrise for Apple Watch, you can see all of your upcoming events, get custom notifications and check all the details for your next meeting at a glance.

In addition to supporting Microsoft Exchange and iCloud, Sunrise is the only iOS calendar alternative that does push for Google Calendar.

And yes, that feature is now available on your wrist, too!

Designer Marc Newson responds to Apple Watch criticism, talks fashion and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 4, 2015

Marc Newson, a reputable industrial designer whom Apple hired last September to help shape future products, recently sat down with the London Evening Standard newspaper in his first print interview since formally starting his new role at Apple.

In the article that the paper published Thursday, Newson offers his view of the design world, comments on Apple's newly found focus on fashion and touches briefly on the subject of a rumored Apple car project.

The Sydney-born designer, 51, whose part-time role at Apple is taking up 60 percent of his time, also responds to the criticism coming from the fashion industry regarding the Apple Watch being too mass market for it to be a true luxury item and becoming outdated.

Hitman: Sniper now available in App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Building on the success of Hitman Go, a $4.99 turn-based stealth strategy game which made its App Store debut in April 2014, developer Square Enix Montréal on Thursday released another iOS game focused on Agent 47.

Called Hitman: Sniper, the assassination game puts you in the shoes of a contract killer. It's set in Montenegro, a country in Southeastern Europe with a coast on the Adriatic Sea and bordered by my home country: Croatia.

Hitman: Sniper challenges you with multiple scenario-driven contracts on a hugely varied map that contains many targets and assignments.