Apple Hasn’t Approached NBC Over Content Deal for Upcoming Streaming TV Service
Over the past couple of weeks, rumors have leaked pointing towards an Apple-branded streaming television service that could include 25 channels for $30 to $40 per month with partners like CBS, ABC, and Fox. NBC and parent company Comcast are not part of the negotiations, and according to a new report from Re/code, that’s because Apple has not approached Comcast about a partnership.
Earlier rumors about the streaming television service suggested NBC’s absence from the upcoming package was due to a falling out between Apple and Comcast, but on Thursday, Comcast said that wasn’t true in a letter that it sent to the Federal Communications Commission. Comcast’s letter was a response to a filing from Stop Mega Comcast, a group that’s opposed to a Comcast-Time Warner merging, and in it, Comcast said Apple had not even approached NBC for a content deal.
Stop Mega Comcast’s note, filed on Wednesday, said, “Comcast may be withholding affiliated NBCUniversal (“NBCU”) content in an effort to thwart the entry of potential new video competitors.” The note cited a recent Wall Street Journal report that said Apple wasn’t talking to NBCUniversal because of a “falling-out between Apple and NBCUniversal parent company Comcast.”
That’s a bit right but mostly wrong, Comcast attorney Francis Buono wrote to the FCC: “Not only has NBCUniversal not ‘withheld’ programming from Apple’s new venture, Apple has not even approached NBCUniversal with such a request.” I’ve asked Apple for comment.
It is not clear why Apple has not approached NBC about a possible content deal for its most recent streaming television efforts, but Apple and Comcast have attempted to negotiate a deal in the past, which didn’t pan out. The Wall Street Journal has suggested that earlier talks failed to establish a deal due to Comcast’s focus on its own X1 web streaming platform.
As noted by Re/code, Apple could initiate talks with NBC in the future or potentially take advantage of a clause in the contract that was established when Comcast and NBC merged several years back, which would force NBC to license its content to Apple if Apple were able to establish deals with the company’s competitors.
Apple may be planning to debut its streaming television service at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Many of the details about the service remain unknown, including the channel lineup Apple is aiming for, but the company is said to be in talks with ABC, CBS, Fox, Disney, ESPN, Discovery, and Viacom, which would give Apple access to channels like Animal Planet, TLC, MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon.
The streaming television service may be accompanied by a revamped set-top box, rumored to include an A8 processor, expanded storage, an App Store, and Siri support.
Apple CEO Tim Cook Speaks Out Against Indiana’s ‘Religious Freedom’ Law
Apple CEO Tim Cook today sent out a series of Tweets condemning Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s decision to sign a controversial “religious freedom” bill into law, saying Apple is “deeply disappointed” in the move and “open for everyone.”
Apple is open for everyone. We are deeply disappointed in Indiana’s new law and calling on Arkansas Gov. to veto the similar #HB1228.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015
The religious freedom legislation that was approved by Pence on Thursday could let businesses turn away gay and lesbian customers by citing “religious freedom.” The approval of the bill has earned Indiana national attention, and much of it has been negative, with organizations and companies throughout the United States vowing to stop supporting the state.
Senate Bill 101 prohibits state or local governments from substantially burdening a person’s ability to exercise their religion — unless the government can show that it has a compelling interest and that the action is the least-restrictive means of achieving it. It takes effect July 1.
Along with Apple’s condemnation, the NCAA has questioned the impact the legislation will have on future sporting events, Salesforce has vowed to halt expansion plans in the state, several conventions typically held in Indiana have said they will find other venues, and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee spoke out against the decision and barred all non-essential publicly funded City employee travel to the state.
In his tweets, Cook also called for Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson to veto H.B.1228, a similar bill that was recently passed by the Arkansas state senate, and he reiterated Apple’s own commitment to equality and its efforts to treat every customer the same, regardless of “how they worship or who they love.”
Around the world, we strive to treat every customer the same — regardless of where they come from, how they worship or who they love.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2015
Cook came out as gay last October, but even before then, he’s had a long history of supporting equality and speaking out against discrimination. In 2013, he lectured on equality at his alma mater Auburn University, and during that same year, both he and Apple publicly supported the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.
Under his direction, Apple released a statement in support of Supreme Court gay marriage rulings, and Cook also led Apple to march in support of the LGBT community during the 44th annual Pride parade in San Francisco.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Android Central 229: Living on the Edge
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If you’ve got questions about the latest major Android releases — that’d be the Galaxy S6 and GS6 edge, and the HTC One M9 — we’re going to have answers for you on this show. Plus, Aaron Kasten joins us to talk about the Big Android Meat and Greet. And we’ll be answering more of your questions live!
Thanks to this week’s sponsor
- Verus Cases: Get free shipping and 50 percent off at checkout. Enter code ANDROIDC (yes, in all caps) at checkout.
Deal: Pick up Limbo for only $.99 in the Google Play Store (normally $4.99)
Limbo, Playdead’s creepy 2D side-scroller, finally made its way to the Google Play Store last month after launching on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC a few years ago. The game originally came to Android carrying its normal $4.99 price tag, but today you can grab it for only $.99.
For those who are unfamiliar with the game, you play as a young boy searching for his lost sister in the creepy, monochrome world of Limbo. Your job is to dodge as many obstacles that come your way while trying to solve brain-teasing puzzles. You’ll run into giant spiders, bugs, hunters, and much more along your journey.
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The controls are pretty easy to master: swipe in the direction you’d like to move. Swiping up makes the boy jump, swiping right makes him move right, etc. And though it’s only a 2D-scrolling game, the graphics are still one-of-a-kind.
Limbo recently made our list as one of the 70 best Android games available today, and for good reason. It’s addicting, frightening and beautiful, and is worth every penny – especially when it’s only $.99. Head to the Play Store link to start your download before the price goes back up!
YouTube now supports 4K video at 60fps
A few months ago, YouTube enabled its publishers to upload 4K videos to its platform and as if that wasn’t enough, Google has today announced the launch of a new streaming version, called 4K Ultra HD, which essentially combines the 4K resolution (3840×2160) with 60 frames-per-second video playback to create the smoothest possible viewing experience.
Obviously, in order to watch a video in this configuration, you’ll need a setup which supports 4K. That doesn’t just include a 4K monitor, but also a computer that’s powerful enough to stream it, and a broadband connection fast enough to buffer without pausing during playback or which will automatically downgrade the quality.
If you’re lucky enough to have a system capable of streaming in 4K Ultra HD, be sure to check out the playlist below which includes six clips shot in 4K at 60fps, then come back and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: YouTube now supports 4K video at 60fps
Buyer’s Guide: Deals on iPad Air 2, iMac, MacBook Air, and Apple Accessories [Mac Blog]
Deals continue to be good this week, with Best Buy offering deep discounts on a few iPad Air 2 models and iPad mini 2 models. B&H Photo is discounting some of the new MacBook Air models by $50, and there continue to be steep discounts on older MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
We’ve got quite a few Mac-oriented Apple accessories available at a discount this week, including a backup battery pack and SD card storage. We’ve even got deals on Apple Watch accessories — Casetify is offering discounts on its custom Apple Watch band pre-orders.
iPad Air 2
Best Buy is still offering the lowest prices we’ve seen on a few select iPad Air 2 models. The 16GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is available for $499.99, $130 off its regular price. The 64GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is available for $599.99, $130 off. The 128GB Cellular iPad Air 2 in silver is priced at $699.99, also a $130 discount.
B&H Photo is offering a discount on all of its iPad Air 2 models, dropping prices by $30 to $50. With the discount, the 16GB WiFi only iPad Air 2 is priced at $459 and the 64GB model is priced at $569.
iPad Air
Best Buy is also discounting cellular versions of its iPad Air stock, dropping the price on the 16GB Verizon Space Gray model to $379.99 and the price of the 32GB Verizon Space Gray model to $429.99, two of the lowest prices we’ve seen on those tablets.
Both Best Buy and B&H Photo have deep discounts on their remaining stock of now-discontinued higher-capacity iPad Air models, as listed below.
– iPad Air Wi-Fi Silver 64GB – $449
– iPad Air Wi-Fi Silver 128GB – $529
– iPad Air Wi-Fi Space Gray 128GB – $529
– iPad Air Cellular Silver 128GB (AT&T) – $549.99
– iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 128GB (AT&T) – $549.99
– iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 64GB (AT&T) – $499
– iPad Air Cellular Silver 64GB (Verizon) – $566.99
– iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 64GB (Verizon) – $629
– iPad Air Cellular Silver 128GB (Verizon) – $599
– iPad Air Cellular Space Gray 128GB (Verizon) – $599
iPad mini
Best Buy has a sale on its original iPad mini stock, discounting the 16GB tablet by $50, which drops the price to $199.99. It’s available in Silver and Space Gray.
iPad mini 2
Amazon has a few iPad mini 2 models available at discounted prices. The 16GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Silver is available for $329. The 16GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Space Gray is available for $335. The 32GB Cellular Verizon iPad mini 2 in Space Gray is available for $399.99.
Best Buy and Amazon also have remaining stock of now-discontinued higher-capacity iPad mini 2 models, which are a good deal if you’re looking for an iPad mini. Compared to the iPad mini 3, the iPad mini 2 only lacks Touch ID.
– iPad mini Cellular Silver 128GB (AT&T) – $449
– iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 128GB (AT&T) – $435
– iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 64GB (AT&T) – $399.99
– iPad mini Cellular Silver 128GB (Verizon) – $449
– iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 128GB (Verizon) – $534.99
– iPad mini Cellular Silver 64GB (Verizon) – $396.99
– iPad mini Cellular Space Gray 64GB (Verizon) – $414.99
iPad mini 3
Best Buy has discounts on a single iPad mini 3, the 128GB Cellular iPad model in gold. The price is $579.99, a discount of $150.
iMac
– 21.5-inch 1.4GHz/8GB/500GB (Best Buy) – $999.99, $100 off
– 21.5-inch 2.7GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $1,189, $110 off
– 21.5-inch 2.9GHz/8GB/1TB (B&H Photo) – $1,369, $130 off
– 27-inch 3.2GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $1,689, $110 off
– 27-inch 3.4GHz/8GB/1TB (Adorama) – $1,794, $205 off
– 27-inch 3.5Ghz/8GB/1TB Retina iMac (B&H Photo) (MacMall) – $2,349, $150 off
Mac mini
– 1.4GHz/4GB/500GB (Amazon) (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $464.99, $34 off
– 2.6GHz/8GB/1TB (Best Buy) – $649.99, $49 off
– 2.8GHz/8GB/1TB (MacMall) – $934.99, $64 off
MacBook Air
– 2015 11-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB – (B&H Photo) $849.99, $50 off
– 2015 13-inch 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (B&H Photo)- $949.99, $50 off
– 2014 11-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/128GB – (Amazon) (Adorama) (B&H Photo) (MacMall)$789, $109 off
– 2014 11-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) – $919, $180 off
– 2014 13-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/128GB (Amazon) (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $819, $180 off
– 2014 13-inch 1.4GHz/4GB/256GB (Amazon) (B&H Photo) – $1029, $179 off
Retina MacBook Pro
– 2014 15-inch 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB (Best Buy) (B&H Photo) (MacMall) – $1,799, $200 off
– 2014 15-inch 2.5GHz/16GB/512GB (B&H Photo) –$2,249, $250 off
– 2014 13-inch 2.6GHz/8GB/128GB (B&H Photo) (MacMall) – $1,098, $201 off
– 2014 13-inch 2.6GHz/8GB/256GB (B&H Photo) – $1,249, $239 off
– 2014 13-inch 2.8GHz/8GB/512GB (Adorama) (B&H Photo) – $1,588.99, $210 off
Apps
There are quite a few apps that are on sale at discounted prices or available for free for a limited time. We’ll highlight a few here, but make sure to check out our sister site AppShopper for a complete list.
Puzzle game MUJO is available for free, down from $1.99. Call of Duty: Strike Team is available for $1.99, down from $6.99. Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath is available for $2.99, down from $4.99. Fantastical 2 for iPad is available for $6.99, down from $9.99. Fantastical 2 for iPhone is available for $2.99, down from $4.99.
XCOM: Enemy Within is available for $4.99, down from $12.99. BioShock is available for $2.99, down from $10.99. Civilization Revolution 2 is available for $4.99, down from $14.99.
Tangent was named Apple’s app of the week this week, and it will be available to download for free for the next six days.
Apple Accessories
Groupon is selling the Otterbox Defender case for the iPhone 6 for $37.99, down from its regular price of $49.95. Groupon has the Incase Hard-Shell Case for the 11 or 13-inch MacBook Air for $9.99, down from $49.95. The site is also selling the Griffin Survivor Case and Stand for the iPad mini for $29.99, down from $59.99. LivingSocial has Apple EarPods for $13.99, down from $29.99.
Groupon has the Beats by Dre Pill speaker for $159.99, down from $199.95. The Lifeproof nuud Case for iPad 2/3/4 is available from Groupon for $34.99, down from $129.99. Groupon is also selling the 3.3ft Apple Lightning to USB cable for $10.99, $9 off its regular price, or $18.99 for a pack of 2.
StackSocial has the Nifty MiniDrive for MacBook Air or MacBook Pro at a slight discount of $32.99, down from $39.99. StackSocial also has the ChugPlug Portable MacBook Power Pack for $84.99, down from $129.99. The Timbuk2 Slide Laptop Backpack for the 15-inch MacBook Pro is available for $24.99 from Newegg with coupon code EMCAPNV56.
The DC Superhero Clip Case for the iPhone 5/5s is available for $7.99 from Groupon, down from $29.99. There’s also a Nintendo version for $8.99. The Bobine flexible iPhone cable/dock is available from StackSocial for $24.99, down from $35. Just Mobile’s AluPen Twist stylus is available from DailySteals for $19, down from $40. Speck is offering 25% off select iPhone 5/5s/5c cases for a limited time.
Casetify is offering a 15 percent discount plus free shipping on its custom Apple Watch bands with the code WATCH15. The deal will last until 3/30.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
‘The Legend of Zelda’ Wii U version pushed out of 2015
Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda game in development for Wii U is no longer due out in 2015, producer Eiji Aonuma announced in a video (embedded after the break) today. “I must apologize to you all that were expecting the game by year’s end, but we are no longer making a 2015 release our number one priority,” Aonuma says. “Instead, our priority is to make it the most complete and ultimate Zelda game. I hope to use the added time to make The Legend of Zelda for Wii U into a game that will reward you for your patience, so thank you for your continued support.”
Since reiterating the 2015 launch window at The Game Awards in December, the Zelda Wii U development team has discovered more possibilities to add to the game’s open world, Aonuma says. He continues:
As we have worked to turn these possibilities into reality, new ideas have continued to spring forth, and it now feels like we have the potential to create something that exceeds even my own expectations. As I have watched our development team progress, I have come to think that rather than work with meeting a specific schedule as our main objective, and releasing a game that reflects only what we can create within that scheduled time, I feel strongly that our focus should be to bring all these ideas to life in a way that will make The Legend of Zelda on Wii U the best game it can possibly be.
Nintendo revealed the Wii U version of The Legend of Zelda in June 2014, during E3.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Nintendo
Source: Nintendo (YouTube)
Download the wallpapers from the upcoming HTC One M9+
Looking to score some new wallpapers for your Android? Why not start with something from the upcoming HTC One M9+? No, the device isn’t out yet or officially announced; yes, the wallpapers have been leaked online. With that said, here’s 16 images that look great on just about smartphone, regardless of icons, launchers, or brand. Enjoy!
NOTE: We will update this gallery as more wallpapers become available.
The post Download the wallpapers from the upcoming HTC One M9+ appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC One M9 and Galaxy S6 pre-orders kick off: which are you buying?
The time has come for many smartphone fans around the world to choose which device they’ll pick up next – the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the HTC One M9. Both devices are now up for pre-order on most U.S. carriers, so tell us, which one will you choose?
Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are arguably two of the most beautiful devices the company has ever produced. Both handsets feature a dual-sided glass build with metal trim and a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED Quad HD display. The S6 has a 2550mAh non-removable battery, while the S6 Edge will give you a little more juice with its 2600mAh cell. They’re both powered by a Samsung Exynos 7420 processor, 3GB of RAM, and either 32, 64 or 128GB of on-board storage. Although Samsung has opted to give us higher storage options this time around, the omission of a microSD card slot and removable batteries may stray Samsung fans away from the company’s newest devices. To learn more about the Galaxy S6, check out our full review.
Where to buy:
Since there are multiple different storage options available on each carrier, to save some room, we’ll give you availability info for the 32GB variant of each device.
Galaxy S6
- AT&T – $199.99 with a two-year agreement/$22.84 per month with the Next 24 program
- T-Mobile – $679.91 outright/$27.50 per month over 24 months
- Sprint – $199.99 with a two-year agreement (after $50 mail-in rebate)/$20 per month over 24 months
- U.S. Cellular – $199.99 with a two-year agreement/$34 per month for 20 months
- Verizon has yet to open up pre-orders, but you can sign up on this page to get updates on the device
Galaxy S6 Edge
- AT&T – $299.99 with a two-year agreement/$27.17 per month with the Next 24 program
- T-Mobile – $779.76 outright/$32.49 per month over 24 months
- Sprint – $299.99 with a two-year agreement/$25 per month over 24 months
- U.S. Cellular – $299.99 with a two-year agreement/$39.50 per month over 20 months
- Verizon hasn’t opened up pre-orders for the S6 Edge either, but you can sign up on this page to get updates on the device
Read more:
- Samsung Galaxy S6 hands-on and first impressions
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge hands-on and first impressions
- Samsung Galaxy S6 officially announced: here’s what you need to know
- Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Apple iPhone 6
HTC One M9
While Samsung changed just about everything with the S6 and S6 Edge, HTC went for a more iterative approach this time around. Even so, it’s hard denying that the HTC One M9 is one beautiful smartphone. The handset features HTC’s iconic aluminum unibody design language and a 5.0-inch LCD full HD display. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM and comes with 32GB of on-board storage with microSD expansion up to 128GB. It also has a non-removable 2840mAh battery. HTC decided to move the UltraPixel camera around to the front of the M9, but the device’s 20.7MP rear-facing shooter just doesn’t compare to the Galaxy S6’s 16MP camera. Many HTC fans have been concerned that the One M9 isn’t a worthy upgrade from the One M8, though many would argue the company didn’t need to make drastic changes this time around. For more information on the One M9, check out our full review.
Where to buy:
- AT&T – $199.99 with a two-year agreement/$23.64 per month with the Next 24 program
- T-Mobile – $649.92 outright/$27.08 per month over 24 months
- Sprint – $199.99 with a two-year agreement/$20 per month over 24 months
- Verizon’s pre-orders begin April 1st, and you can sign up here if you’d like updates on the device
- HTC – $649 outright for the unlocked/developer editions
Read more:
- HTC One M9 hands-on and first impressions
- HTC One M9 officially announced: here’s what you need to know
- HTC One M9 vs HTC One M8 quick look
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BlackBerry is cash flow positive and growing the software business
Earlier this morning BlackBerry reported Q4 results for fiscal 2015. Revenue dropped from $793 million in Q3 to only $660 million in Q4, but that’s mostly hardware related. On most other metrics things are looking up for the company, which explains the stock market’s mildly positive reaction to the results. The stock is up about 20 cents as I write this, to US $9.52 per share.
AIVAnet 