Amazon on Thursday announced that customers in the U.S. are now able to listen to streaming music for free via Alexa. The service is of course support by ads, and is extremely curated, but you won't need a membership with Amazon Prime or its Music Unlimited plan—just an Alexa-enabled device.
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Apple estimated to have paid up to $6 billion in Qualcomm settlement
Apple's recently-announced settlement with Qualcomm didn't come cheap, according to UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri. In a research note released Thursday, Arcuri said the iPhone-maker likely paid between $5 and $6 billion to put a stop to the bevy of legal battles between the two companies.
Reviewers report Galaxy Fold display issues within first 48 hours of use
Samsung handed out review units of its new $2,000 folding smartphone to journalists this week, and it doesn't seem to be going very well. Multiple reviewers hit social media on Wednesday to say that their Galaxy Fold handsets are suffering from a debilitating display issue after just a few days of use.
Intel announces exit from 5G smartphone modem business
Hot on the heels of the settlement news between Apple and Qualcomm, Intel has announced that it is exiting the 5G smartphone modem business. In a press release late Tuesday afternoon, the company said it sees "no clear path to profitability" in the space.
Apple and Qualcomm reach deal to drop all litigation
Apple and Qualcomm have reached a settlement in their ongoing royalty dispute. The two companies issued a press release Tuesday afternoon, stating that they will drop all litigation and enter a six-year licensing agreement, effective as of the beginning of this month.
YouTube TV raising price to $55/month for Apple-billed customers
Following Hulu, Directv NOW and other streaming services, YouTube TV announced today that it will be increasing its price to $50 per month, and $55 per month for customers billed through Apple. That's a significant hike, considering the original YouTube TV plan cost just $35 per month.
Apple officially cancels AirPower, citing inability to meet its high standards
Apple on Friday confirmed that it has officially canceled AirPower. In a statement to TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino, SVP of Hardware Engineering Dan Riccio said that after much effort, the company has decided to cancel the project.
Evidence of rumored wire-free Powerbeats spotted in iOS 12.2
Evidence has been discovered in the just-released iOS 12.2 software update that seems to confirm rumors of an impending launch of new wire-free Powerbeats. 9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo spotted images and animations hidden within the update that appear to be wire-free Powerbeats headphones, sitting in a charging case.
Apple acquires machine learning startup Laserlike
Apple has acquired Laserlike, a small machine learning startup based in Silicon Valley. The Information reports that the buyout happened late last year, and the team has joined Apple's new artificial intelligence group.
Apple sends out ‘It’s show time’ invites for March 25 event
It's official! Apple has sent out invites for a media event to take place on Monday, March 25th. The event will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino and carries the tagline 'It's show time.'
Apple confirms it’s laying off 190 employees from self-driving car project
Apple will lay off 190 employees from its self-driving car division located in Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, California. The company acknowledged the move in a letter to the California Employment Development Department this month, and a spokesman confirmed it today with the San Francisco Chronicle.
New report says next-gen AirPods coming in the spring
A new report from Taiwanese publication Economic Daily News claims that the oft-rumored, next-gen AirPods will be ready to launch in the spring, with an all-new black colorway and wireless charging.