Apple

Apple takes 15% cut on Apple TV video sign-ups

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 13, 2015

Apple's customary 30 percent cut on content sold through iTunes has been both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because participators get to enjoy a frictionless payment system without having to host content themselves or cover bandwidth fees.

A curse because some high-profile sstudios wouldn't bend to Apple's rules of doing business. But the Cupertino firm may have softened its stance, at least when it comes to the Apple TV, as Re/code revealed Monday that Apple is actually taking a fifteen percent cut for premium Apple TV video networks.

About that hidden Apple Watch port…

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 13, 2015

Both review versions of the Watch Apple sent to journalists and demo units available in retail stores sport a hidden, undocumented port that Apple chose not to talk about publicly.

Resembling the Lightning connector on iPhones and iPads, it's reportedly used for diagnostics and direct access to the Watch's operating system, TechCrunch said in March. Slipping off the bottom strap connector slot of the Watch reveals the hidden port.

Based on social media postings and images Daring Fireball's John Gruber shared last weekend, it's basically a 6-dot brass contact array.

In this post, I'm going to lay down a few possible uses for the mysterious port and explain why I think it's crucial that Watches that'll be shipping into customers' hands on April 24 come outfitted with it.

Apple refreshes Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor with new features

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Monday, Apple announced a major update to its pro-grade video editing and processing programs for the Mac — Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor — with a bevy of new features for motion graphics and key enhancements available to accelerate video editing, packaging and delivery.

“From Hollywood blockbuster directors to first time movie makers, Final Cut Pro X is changing the way we edit movies today,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing. “The updated Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor make it even easier to edit, title and package everything from short videos to feature-length films.”

Final Cut Pro 10.2 introduces new easy to use 3D titles, improved masking for color grading and effects, and native support for more camera formats, as well as GPU-accelerated RED RAW processing.

iOS 8.3 stops transfer utilities from accessing app folders, restricts them to iTunes File Sharing

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 13, 2015

If you use desktop file managers such as PhoneView, iFunBox, iTools, iExplorer and others to browse app folders on your non-jailbroken iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, you have another reason to stay away from the latest iOS 8.3 update as it prevents those programs from functioning properly.

As first reported by Joe Rossignol of MacRumors, developers of these apps have confirmed that iOS 8.3 imposes additional restrictions on sandbox access.

In iFunbox, trying to access an app folder on an iOS device running iOS 8.3 produces a message saying “App Sandbox access is restricted by Apple to ones with iTunes File Sharing enabled since iOS 8.3”. This change does not affect jailbroken devices which can access app sandboxes as usual via OpenSSH for complete filesystem privileges and command line access.

Switzerland is indeed in trouble…

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 13, 2015

When Apple's design chief Jonathan Ive opined ahead of the Apple Watch unveiling last year that Switzerland was in trouble, many commentators waved off the comment as pure marketing talk.

But surveys cited in today's note by Key Banc researches clearly show that a much stronger-than-anticipated reception to the device may indeed give fashionable watch brands a pause.

The truth is, sales of traditional watches have already slowed as would-be buyers were holding off purchases in the wake of the Apple Watch's arrival.

Survey: 1M Watches sold on Friday in US, Sport models most popular

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 1, 2017

The “disappointing” Apple Watch has seen an estimated 957,000 sales on its first day of pre-orders in the United States alone, filing as better-than-expected initial success than its first iPhone or the iPod. By comparison, Apple sold a millionth iPhone after 74 days. It took 28 days to get to that milestone with the iPad and two years with the iPod.

According to a poll of 9,080 online shoppers by Slice Intelligence, which measures digital commerce by tracking consumer e-receipts, an average of 1.3 Watches were purchased per customer, with $503.83 spent per item, indicating some fans bought more than one device.

Sprint will send someone to your house to set up your iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 22, 2017

Monday, U.S. wireless carrier Sprint announced Direct 2 You, an industry-first new service that sends a retail-trained Sprint expert to your home or other location who will deliver and set up your iPhone or other device, promising to change how customers buy or upgrade their phones, tablets and other mobile devices.

In addition to bringing a mobile device to your own home, office or other location of your choice, Sprint's experts will set it up on your behalf and transfer all the content, including contacts, pictures, videos and apps, from an old device to a new one, simplifying switching from one platform to another.

Beats launches new iPhone colorways for its Solo2 wireless headphones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Apple's Beats Electronics announced new colorways for its popular Solo2 wireless headphone line on Friday. The 3 new colors are Gold, Silver, and Space Gray— the same offered on iPhones, iPads and the just-launched ultra slim MacBook.

While Solo2s already came in a variety of colors, these new options will allow customers to buy headphones to match their favorite Apple devices. Other than that, however, these new headphones are identical to other Solo2 wireless models.

Apple approaching Taylor Swift and other artists for deals to promote Beats Music

Cody Lee ∙ April 10, 2015

Apple has asked Taylor Swift and more than a dozen other artists for exclusive deals to promote its incoming revamped Beats Music service, reports Bloomberg. The company hopes that such deals, particularly with Swift—who has pulled her music from other services—will help attract new users in the increasingly crowded streaming music space.

The move is similar to that of Tidal, the Jay-Z-owned cloud music service that launched earlier this month, and could be the start of a new trend in the space. Artists have long been fed-up with tech firms like Spotify, Pandora and others who pay them the minimum royalty rate, and seem to finally be ready to take matters into their own hands.

New MacBook limited to online purchases, shipping times slip to 4-6 weeks across many markets

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 10, 2015

It's not just the Apple Watch, Apple's one-port $1,299 twelve-inch MacBook with a Retina screen is seeing limited availability across online and brick-and-mortar Apple Stores, with shipping times for gold models in both 256 and 512GB flavors now having slipped to 3-4 weeks. And across many international markets at availability of the new machine has already slipped to 4-6 weeks.

Worse, the sexy new notebook appears to be limited to online purchases in many locations around the world at launch. Indeed, as some users have reported on Twitter, customizing your MacBook may prompt the Online Apple Store to put up a “This customized Mac takes a bit longer to build” message.

AppleCare+ pricing for Watches revealed: $1,500 for extended Edition coverage + $1,000 per-incident fee

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 10, 2015

The full AppleCare+ extended warranty pricing for the Apple Watch is now live on the Online Apple Store. All Watch models include Apple's standard 1-year warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary support, but now these extended warranty plans are optionally available.

For the entry-level aluminum Apple Watch Sport, the AppleCare+ coverage costs $49. The mid-tier stainless steel Apple Watch models command a cost of $69 for the extended AppleCare+ coverage, while owners of the gold Edition models will need to fork out a whopping $1,500.

But that's not all.

Apple Watch selling out fast, shipping times slipping into June

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 10, 2015

At 12:01am PT Apple started taking pre-orders for the Apple Watch models through its online store and the Apple Store iOS shopping app. If you've managed to reserve your device for in-store pickup or home delivery on April 24, consider yourself lucky.

As MacRumors points out, pre-order shipping estimates for many Watch models have slipped to 4-6 weeks or later in less than six hours, with some models such as the 42mm Black Link Bracelet now set to ship in July. This means folks who just woke up and pre-ordered the device won't get it until late next month or June.