Apple Pay predicted to become Apple’s next regulatory battleground
Apple’s frictionless, contactless mobile payments system looks like it’s going to become a battleground for regulators in the not-so-distant future.
Financial Times
FT: Apple is building its own search technology as ties to Google come under antitrust scrutiny
iOS and iPadOS 14 include expanded search tools from Apple, but the company could build a more general search engine.
Oracle has reportedly expressed serious interest in acquiring TikTok
Enterprise software giant Oracle has reportedly entered the race to buy TikTok’s US operations and is working with investors to outbid Microsoft.
Shareholders may force Apple to clarify how it responds to government demands that limit free speech
Apple faces a showdown with activist shareholders over its human rights policies after failing to block the non-binding resolution, with activists criticizing its response to Hong Kong protests.
FT: record labels are opposing Apple’s plans to create a super-bundle of media content
Apple’s approached major labels to discuss bundling together subscriptions such as Apple Music and Apple TV+, something analysts have been calling for for quite some time now.
Beats 1 radio reportedly hasn’t attracted “the huge audiences” Apple had anticipated
Industry executives say Apple’s Beats 1 Internet radio station hasn’t attracted the kinds of audiences Apple had been hoping for, but that’s OK and here’s why.
Apple hires BBC TV executive Jay Hunt in its push for original video content
The highly regarded broadcasting executive marks Apple Video’s first high-profile hire in Europe.
Apple wants to move its original video content division to the iconic Culver Studios
For tis Hollywood production push, the iPhone maker is reportedly eyeing Culver Studios, the legendary colonial-style mansion in Los Angeles, as its homebase.
FT: Apple stepping up efforts in augmented reality eyewear
The Financial Times ran a paywall’d story Monday, in which it reported that Apple is “stepping up” its augmented reality efforts across the company, especially in augmented reality eyewear, with the ultimate goal of releasing a consumer-facing accessory. Augmented reality is now reportedly the most important development project within Apple, after iPhone.
The report notes that both Apple with its yet-to-be-announced product and Facebook with its tethered Oculus headset are gearing up to challenge the secretive Florida-based startup Magic Leap and Microsoft, which more than two years ago debuted its praised augmented reality accessory, called HoloLens.
Spotify may reportedly restrict biggest new music releases to paid users
The Financial Times is reporting that the leading music-streaming service, Spotify, which recently passed 50 million subscribers, may restrict biggest new music releases to paid users as it renegotiates contracts with record labels.
The Swedish company is looking to potentially decrease the amount of royalties paid to content holders as it readies a long-rumored initial public offering, said people familiar with the situation.
European Commission to reportedly rule against Apple’s sweetheart tax deal with Ireland
According to a 130-page judgment seen by The Financial Times, the European Commission (EC) is set to rule Tuesday against Apple’s sweetheart tax deal it struck with the government of Ireland back in 1999.
The Commission is reportedly set to demand that Ireland recoup over 1 billion euros in back taxes from the iPhone maker, or circa $1.12 billion.
“Apple will on Tuesday be hit with Europe’s largest tax penalty after Brussels ruled that the company received illegal state aid from Ireland,” warns the financial newspaper.
Amazon to take aim at Apple with $9.99 a month music service, due in September
Amazon already has a music store, but its catalog of songs is limited and streaming is only available to those subscribed to the company’s $99 per year Prime service. As Re/code said, the online retail giant has also considered a bargain-priced music service that would only work on Echo hardware and be priced at $4 to $5 per month.
Monday, The Financial Times newspaper reported that Amazon has a third offering in the works, a $9.99 per month music-streaming service that would offer the full catalogue of songs that Spotify and Apple offer.
