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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
bobolicious Mac Enthusiast Joined: Aug 15, 2002
lossless (cd) quality and a retro (a few words) legal agreement might tempt me more...
has anyone read the full itunes agreement for a $1 download...?
iphonerulez Dedicated MacNNer Joined: Nov 28, 2008
So much doom and gloom about Apple. Much of this could be the result of a weak economy. Or have people really stopped buying music for all time. It must go through some sort of cycle over a period of years. I have many ways of getting music and don't really need high-quality music as I grew up listening to old 45s and transistor radios. I'm only looking for relatively decent music content. I'm very pleased to listen to free Spotify for all the songs I'm interested in which are mainly oldies. I occasionally listen to iTunes Radio but Spotify mostly fulfills my needs. Aside from a collection of older Freestyle music I don't think I have much more of a need to increase my music collection.
It's strange why Apple is always some sort of trouble with one thing or another. Are there companies that really don't have some slowdowns every once in a while when it comes to their busines?
Mr. Strat Dedicated MacNNer Joined: Jan 23, 2002
iTunes Radio sucks. I type in Led Zeppelin because I want to hear Zeppelin and get a bunch of crap that has nothing to do with Zep. WTF?
DiabloConQueso Grizzled Veteran Joined: Jun 11, 2008
Mr. Strat, you may misunderstand what iTunes Radio is, then -- it's not for creating stations that play a single artist, it's for creating stations that give you a variety of music loosely (and sometimes tightly) related to the artist that is the subject of the radio station. If you create a Zeppelin station, you're going to get a lot of classic rock by a lot of different artists. If you create a Jay-Z station, you're going to get a lot of rap by a lot of different artists.
Your Led Zeppelin station probably plays some Zeppelin songs, along with a smattering of other British-invasion, classic, bluesy, rock, and a touch of modern music that has a small flavor of Zeppelin somewhere deep down (or on the surface).
I doubt your Zeppelin station plays Miley Cyrus, The Flaming Lips, or Pavarotti, right? Much like actual radio stations that are based loosely around some general genre of music, iTunes Radio is not a solution for streaming specific songs or artists -- it's a solution for listening to music that is related to artists you like in some way and discovering new music. Much as you have little control over what songs your actual radio plays, so goes the modus operandi of iTunes Radio.
Sometimes their algorithm is hit and miss (maybe you do hear a Miley song every once in a blue moon on a Zeppelin station) but for the most part, it's pretty good if you understand what iTunes Radio is, and what it is not.
Flying Meat Senior User Joined: Jan 25, 2007
Heck, I'd guess a lot of people don't know it's an option (tapping Buy in iTunes Radio) and probably need to get that functionality pushed at them through a lot of advertising targeting that very feature.
I was vaguely aware of it, but haven't really looked into it. I may do so now. :D
Stuke Forum Regular Joined: Feb 11, 2005
Gee, I wonder if that's because only 10% - 20% of the 1% - 2% are still on unlimited data plans, and don't suffer from obvious data throttling at the hands of their ISP. Really, streaming anything in today's cellular marketplace is more and more consciously avoided by people tired of all the b*LLsh*t of carrier data plans. If Apple would come up with a flat fee unlimited carrier plan and network across which to offer it, I'm willing to bet a 10 fold increase in radio streaming would be immediate measurable.
pairof9s Senior User Joined: Jan 03, 2008
I'm more inclined not to use the "Buy" button because nearly all the songs are $1.29 these days and THAT makes a difference in my desire to purchase versus listening. The magic of .99 is not to be underestimated...even by greedy music moguls 10 years after their last fall.
Charles Martin Mac Elite Joined: Aug 04, 2001
IME, only the fairly recent "hot" songs are $1.29, oldies and less well-known tunes tend to be 99 cents still ... sometimes even less!
pairof9s Senior User Joined: Jan 03, 2008
chas_m: Have you been on iTunes recently? As I'm typing this, I'm watching Soundgarden play their "Superuknown" album live on iTunes Festival in celebration of its 20th anniversary debut...just checked & every one of those album songs (radio hit or not) is $1.29...not really fairly recent hot music would you say?
I'm just saying, if they wanna charge $1.29 for the first 6 months music is out then revert them to .99, ok. But making the large part of the catalog a $1.29 has turned me (others) off to buying.
Spheric Harlot Clinically Insane Joined: Nov 07, 1999
Give me lossless downloads, and I will buy.