by MacNN Staff
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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE
testudo 08/16, 03:16pm
Claimed to be two "primary" obstacles to Apple success are live TV and set-top boxes.
Bah! They just need to inform consumers why Live TV is overrated. And since the AppleTV is a set top box, it is kind of hard to call set-top boxes an 'obstacle'.
At June's D8 conference, CEO Steve Jobs complained that the Apple TV was hampered by free or low-cost boxes provided alongside channel subscriptions.
First, I'd like to know of what lame-a** company is offering free cable boxes. Any company doing that needs to be excommunicated from the Cable-TV alliance.
Second, how is this hampering the AppleTV, since the AppleTV does nothing with broadcast television, which is what all these boxes are. Again, Apple more needs to educate consumers why they should drop tv for the AppleTV.
The only way that might change, he suggested, is to "go back to square one, tear up the set-top box, redesign it from scratch with a consistent UI across all these different functions, and get it to consumers in a way that they're willing to pay for it."
That makes no sense. What are all these 'different functions' that need to be redesigned with a consistent UI? How about some better paragraph writing?
If Apple does have a workaround, says Munster, the company may launch an iTunes TV subscription, costing anywhere between $50 and $90 a month.
$50-$90 a month? And why would anyone pay that much when they could get cableTV for the same price?
As for the TV itself, the analyst suggests that it might cost between $1,800 and $2,000, less overall than a comparable 40-inch TV when paired with a DVR, Blu-ray drive, receiver, game console and cables.
I still have no clue why Apple would even want to get into the TV market. But I love how the analyst tries to put a smiley face on it by saying "Look, it would cost less than if you added all this other stuff to a comparable TV!". Since when is a TV, even an Apple TV, ever going to replace a 'receiver'? And if you're one to use a receiver, you're not using the one in an AppleTV.
As to replacing the 'DVR', that's good only if Apple's TV is actually going to include a DVR, and not just replacing it by letting you watch stuff 'on-demand' from the service. Half the goodness of the DVR is to pause and rewind live tv, not just off-load stuff until later.
As for the Game console, sorry, but the AppleTV and Apple themselves would need a huge power and investment boost before they got games that rivaled the consoles.
Finally, there's only a small minority of people who have a DVR, receiver, Blu-Ray DVD player and game console. (And did this guy actually add 'cables' to the list of costs? Seriously?).