News tagged ‘iTunes’
App Store for Apple Watch Goes Live [Images]
Last year, during the official media event devoted to Apple's first-ever wearable gadget called the Apple Watch, Apple CEO Tim Cook and other company executives promised that the smartwatch will not only run its own special modification of iOS, but also will boast its own App Store with applications designed for this new device. Looks like they kept their word as the new repository began to work on Friday.
Apple Releases First iOS 8.4 Beta with All-New Music App
Apple on Tuesday seeded the first iOS 8.4 beta to developers for testing. The release took place just five days after the official release of iOS 8.3 to users worldwide. The most-recent version of Apple’s mobile operating system can boast of several minor improvements and one easily-noticeable feature, which is a revamped Music app, which is not only working faster, but also has a completely new design.
Below you may take a look at the short video created by MacRumors reporters showing the redesigned Music app as well as at the list of its improvements.
Top 10 Stories of the Week
It is Sunday today, which means it is high time I told you about the most interesting posts of the past seven days. Let’s take a look at them right now.
New Rumors About Apple's Beats-Based Streaming Music Service Appear Online
As you probably know, Apple is currently working on its new streaming music service, which is based on the Beats Music functionality and which is expected to be embedded either to iOS 8.4 or iOS 9. According to the latest report released by The New York Times reporters, Trent Reznor and Jimmy Iovine are playing major roles in the development of the service. The reporters believe that in terms of functionality and usability this Apple’s creation will be quite similar to Beats Music and that it will be priced $9.99 per month, just like the rival services.
iOS 8.3 Features New iTunes and App Store Password Settings
Apart from Siri’s ability to make calls using iPhone’s speakerphone added to the latest iOS 8.3 beta, one beta-tester has recently noticed one more feature included to the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system. This feature is a new Setting tab called Password Settings. It allows user to configure the frequency of password entries in the iTunes and App Store as well as to let him download free apps without using the password. If you take a look at the screenshot below, you will see what exactly has changed in iOS 8.3.
New Beats Music Based Online Radio to Be Announced at WWDC
Earlier this year I told you that the guys from Cupertino were planning to launch a revamped music streaming service based on both Beats Music and iTunes Radio functionality. According to the latest report from people familiar with the matter, the debut of the service won’t take place at the “Spring Forward” media event, scheduled for March 9th. Instead, insiders claim Apple will unveil its new creation at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. The service will use the technologies Apple obtained after acquiring Beats Music and will have a monthly fee of $7.99.
Apple to Invest €1.7 Billion in New Data Centers in Europe
Apple has once again proved that it is doing its best to change this world. This time not only in terms of inventing new computers, tablets and smartphones, but in terms of saving nature. According to what Tim Cook has announced today, the guys from Cupertino are currently planning to invest €1.7 Billion (or about $1.93 billion) in the development of new data centers, which will be powered fully by the electricity produced using renewable sources. These data centers will be reportedly located in County Galway, Ireland and central Jutland in Denmark. This data centers are expected to power Apple services used by European customers.
Apple Hires Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe
As you probably know, the guys from Cupertino are currently working on a new subscription-based streaming music service. Although it will be based on Beats Music, it will also boast of a number of unique features, for example, deep integration with iOS. To make the would-be service even better, Apple has recently hired Zane Lowe, former BBC Radio 1 DJ, who was born in New Zealand and who is currently 41.
Apple Releases New Music-Themed iPad Air Ad [Video]
The guys from Cupertino have recently released a new music-themed iPad ad devoted to the 57th annual Grammy Awards. The short commercial is entitled "Change" and it shows us three creative personalities using Apple’s tablets for their work. These personalities are Gaslamp Killer, a producer from Los Angeles, DJ Riton from England and Swedish singer Elliphant. The one-minute ad, in which we can see the entire process of creation of a remix, is available below. Take a look and tell me what you think about it below this short post.
Apple Releases iTunes 12.1 Featuring New Widget for Notification Center
Several days after the release of OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 and iOS 8.1.3 to users worldwide, the guys from Cupertino updated iTunes. iTunes 12.1 can boast of minor stability and performance improvements as well as one easily noticeable feature. This feature is a new iTunes widget for Notification Center. The problem is that if you use iTunes on PC or Mac with OS X version lower that Yosemite, you won’t be able to launch and utilize this widget.
Digital Music Sales Fell 9%, Streaming Services Saw 54% Growth
While streaming music services are gaining popularity, digital music sales continue to fall. According to the latest statistics published by a research firm Nielsen SoundScan, streaming services, which offer music and music-related video content saw a 54% growth in 2014. As to the amount of digital albums sold through world’s largest online stores, it fell 9% last year.
'Lucky Bag' Promotion Takes Place in Japan, Customers Are Happy
The stores are closed, which means that one more “Lucky Bag” promotion in Japan is over. Most of the customers, who decided to risk and spend about $300 on sealed Fukubukuro packages, managed to obtain such goods as Apple TV set-top boxes, external battery packs, backpacks, iPods, Beats headphones and iTunes gift cards. Moreover, some of the Japanese shoppers were lucky enough to get Apple’s iMac, MacBook Air or iPad Air.
Apple Now Offers 14-Day Return Policy for iTunes Users in Europe
Apple has recently updated its iTunes terms and conditions in a number of European countries and allowed users to return songs, apps, books etc. within 14 days after paying for them. The new 14-day return policy covers the purchases made in the iOS App Store, Mac App Store, iBooks Store and iTunes Store.
Apple Accused of Violating Rights of Carriers in Canada
According to the latest report from Reuters, Apple has been recently accused of anticompetitive behavior in Canada. The country's Competitive Bureau has already begun the evaluation of Apple's contracts with local cellular carriers signed in the recent years, which are believed to "contain anticompetitive language".
Company Wanted to Block All iTunes Rivals - Former Apple Engineer
According to what former iTunes engineer named Rod Schultz says, Apple's policy is aimed at blocking third-party music services, which are iTunes rivals, and making the company's virtual music store a largest online music repository.