Upcoming ‘Apple Music’ Streaming Service to Include Three-Month Free Trial
Ahead of the introduction of Apple’s new streaming music platform, Financial Times has shared some key details about the service, confirming it will be called simply “Apple Music.” With the launch of the service, Apple will be largely abandoning its iTunes branding, using the name only for the online store.
As has been previously shared, Apple will not be offering a freemium ad-supported listening tier like Spotify, and will charge $9.99 per month for the service. Apple plans to draw customers in by offering a three-month free trial, much longer than the 30 days competing services offer.
Apple’s new music service is built upon Beats Music, its existing subscription service that it acquired last year. Apple executives heavily lauded Beats Music’s emphasis on human curation and customization, with many of the features in Beats Music remaining in the new streaming service. For example, the new music service will continue to ask users to select favorite musical genres and styles, and paired with recommendations from artists, Apple hopes to help listeners discover songs.
Apple’s iTunes Radio is also being revamped and potentially renamed, as it is being positioned as a free companion service to Apple’s streaming music offering. We have previously heard that Apple’s new version of iTunes Radio will be aimed primarily at users who are not in the United States, serving as a gateway service to entice people to pay for music.
Apple plans to use well-known DJs and celebrities to present music on its new radio service, and has hired several BBC Radio DJs like Zane Lowe to market the service in Europe.
Some of the celebrities who were photographed wearing Apple Watches ahead of its launch earlier this year, such as rapper Drake, will soon be acting as DJs on Apple’s new radio service, which will emphasise the personal tastes of artists over using algorithms to curate music, as Pandora does.
Apple plans to unveil its new music service at its WWDC keynote, taking place on Monday. The new streaming service and the new radio service will both be built into the revamped Music app introduced in iOS 8.4.
Apple Planning to Change 30/70 Pricing Formula for In-App Media Subscriptions
Apple is planning to alter its pricing formula for subscriptions in a major change that will benefit subscription-based apps and services like Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, and more, reports Financial Times. Apple is said to be considering changing the 30 percent fee that it currently charges and is discussing new commercial terms with media companies.
At the current point in time, all apps and in-app subscriptions work on a 30/70 split. Apple gets 30 percent of what’s paid for an app or service, while the company or developer offering the app gets a 70 percent cut. That means when someone purchases Netflix through the Netflix iOS app, Apple gets over $2 of the fee paid. At the same time, Apple has disallowed direct links to outside subscription sign up services within apps, ensuring it gets its fee.
Apple’s 30 percent subscription cut has been a sticking point for many companies, especially those with tight margins like music services, and it’s gotten Apple into hot water in the past, most notably during the e-book price fixing case levied against it by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to the Financial Times, changing the App Store subscription terms could make Apple devices more appealing to content creators while also lessening potential pressure from regulators.
Changing the App Store’s terms of trade could improve the economics of online content businesses and reassure regulators that the company is not abusing its position as gatekeeper to one of the world’s most lucrative digital marketplaces.
On the Apple TV, Apple is already offering a more generous split, taking just 15 percent of revenue generated from subscription services like the recently released HBO Now.
There are no specifics on the terms that Apple is potentially considering for companies that offer subscription services, but it appears that the price cuts at this time will not extend to standalone apps.
What to expect from Apple at WWDC 2015
Didn’t we just wrap up a developer conference? Never mind that — Apple’s WWDC kicks off in earnest on Monday, June 8th, and we’ll be there to liveblog the finer points of the morning’s keynote (and bring you some sweet hands-on coverage too, if we get the chance). With just three days left on the calendar before Tim Cook and company take the stage at Moscone West in San Francisco, let’s take a nice, leisurely run through what we expect Apple to show off once the weekend draws to a close.
Our first peek at iOS 9
Apple’s next big iOS release won’t start hitting phones and tablets until later this year, but we’re expecting to get our first proper glimpse of it this Monday. Just don’t expect any dramatic design leaps like we got with iOS 7. Typeface nerds might appreciate (or loathe) the Apple Watch’s San Francisco font, which will reportedly become the standard for iOS, and that’s probably about as big as the visual changes get. Speaking of the Watch, iOS 9 will also reportedly come with deep-seated hooks for Force Touch, so the next-generation of Apple’s phones and tablets will probably crib some interaction tricks from Apple’s wearable.
Beyond that, it looks like one new feature — currently known as “Proactive” — could steal the show. 9to5Mac reports that it’ll basically replace the Spotlight search menu and live in a separate home screen panel to the left of all your apps (you know, the same place where Google Now lives on stock Android devices). From its perch over there, Proactive will draw on information from “apps, contacts and maps” and try to surface the right data at the right time. Got a dinner reservation on the books? Proactive might remind you when to leave and bring up driving directions in the nick of time. Speaking of travel, iOS 9 should also finally sport transit directions so you won’t have to bother figuring out the differences between the L, N, Q and 6 trains.
With the first HomeKit-friendly gadgets now on store shelves, it shouldn’t shock you to hear that Apple might show off a “Home” app as part of iOS 9. It’ll act as a control center for various Internet of Things devices, which you’ll also be able to fiddle with while you’re at the office or running around the park. To top it all off, Apple’s apparently been working to iron out bugs and inconsistencies and to make sure that iOS 9 will work fine on older devices like the iPhone 4s. With new iPhones and iPads expected to arrive this September, there’s a pretty strong argument for ditching your old Apple hardware anyway, but it’s nice to see that hangers-on won’t get the shaft.
What about Macs?
So we’re definitely going to get a peek at the new version of OS X — that’s 10.11 for those keeping count — but the rumored changelog isn’t a super-long one. As with iOS 9, Apple has focused on refining its desktop software instead of making flashy leaps forward. That’s not to say the update will be completely bereft of new doodads, though: You’ll apparently be able to bring up an iOS-like Control Center with quick access to settings by swiping left on your Mac’s trackpad. Throw in a security system called “Rootless” that will keep even administrators from futzing around with highly sensitive system files, and you’ve got a version of OS X that puts a big emphasis on security and stability.
Oh, and we wouldn’t bank on seeing much in the way of new Mac hardware either. Apple just refreshed its 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro and cut prices on its 27-inch 5K iMac in late May; factor in the launch of the MacBook and changes we’ve already seen to the existing Pro and Air lines, and there’s just not much left to touch. Sure, it’s possible we’ll see updates to the Mac Pro, but we’re not convinced just yet. (A note to Cupertino: Please prove us wrong!)
The beat goes on
If the incessant whirring of the rumor mill is any hint, Apple will finally pull back the curtain on its Apple Music service onstage during the show. Think of the experience as a mash-up between Beats Music (which Apple shelled out $3 billion for) and the existing Music app on your iDevice — tunes from both sources are said to live in seamless harmony, so you’ll be able to search for and play whatever you need when the mood strikes. You can expect to pay about $10 a month for the privilege, just like you would for Spotify, but you might be able to score a free trial of up to three months.
The thing is, recent reports suggest a debut at WWDC might be less guaranteed than we’d initially thought. Bloomberg claims that while Apple indeed aims to launch its streaming-music service on Monday, it still hasn’t completely locked down all the necessary deals with record labels. We can’t imagine Apple not pulling out whatever big guns are needed to sew this whole thing up, though.
Sadly, Apple’s secretive TV project doesn’t seem to be doing so hot either. Reports suggested that we’d see both new Apple TV hardware (with Siri) and a new subscription TV service that would bundle about 25 channels into a package for which you’d pay about $30 or $40. Now it looks like neither will show up in San Francisco, and it all comes down to those pesky licensing deals again. While it’s likely that an updated Apple TV will make an appearance this September next to some new iPhones, the worst-case scenario for that streaming service is a launch delay until 2016. Yeowch.
And finally, the Watch
Love it or hate it, the Apple Watch is the next big frontier for Apple’s legions of app creators. Right now, the Watch can’t do much unless it’s wirelessly tethered to an iPhone, but Apple’s going to unveil the developer tools needed to start creating apps for the Watch itself. That means we’ll soon get a load of apps that take direct advantage of the Watch’s horsepower, rather than run on an iPhone and transfer information to the Watch via Bluetooth. Of course, who knows what sort of toll that will take on the Watch’s battery life — hopefully some forthcoming software updates free up a little more juice for those apps to play with.
Scientists beam power to a fitness tracker via WiFi
Wireless electricity transmission sounds… dangerous, but the ability to do it could transform the internet of things. Researchers from the University of Washington have charged a JawBone UP24 fitness tracker with nothing but ordinary WiFi. They noticed that regular, ambient WiFi was strong enough to power a variety of tiny devices, but only in micro-bursts. So, they inserted “noise” into the signals to keep the power levels steady without disrupting data transmission. Using the technique, which they dubbed “PoWi-Fi” (we vote for just “Pow-Fi”) they ran a low-power surveillance camera and temperature sensor from up to 6 meters (20 feet) away from the WiFi antenna.
Not content with that, the team ratcheted up the experiments. They found that by adding a rechargeable battery, the same camera could be powered from up to 7 meters (23 feet) away, even through a brick wall. They then tested the setup in six homes and found that the modified routers had no impact on data rates in the real world. Finally, they charged a Jawbone UP24 sports tracker via PoWi-Fi to 41 percent in just two-and-a-half hours.
It’s still early days, and more tests need to be done. But if you’ve ever changed the battery in a wireless remote camera or climate sensor, you might be able to smell the potential. If you could power those devices from a regular WiFi router instead, it could transform the internet of things into much cheaper and more usable idea.
Filed under: Wireless, Science
Via: BBC
Source: Cornell University Library
The one-cable future of gadgets: simpler, but still confusing
For such a quiet tech show, this week’s Computex in Taiwan may have been a watermark moment that will affect nearly every PC, phone and tablet you’ll see in the next few years, if not decade. The new USB Type-C port may have debuted on flagship devices like Apple’s single-port new Macbook and Google’s Chromebook Pixel, but the new, smaller, reversible kind of USB is shaping up to be the connector of the future. This week ASUS joined the USB-C party, and in a reassuring vote of confidence, Intel announced that its newest iteration of Thunderbolt will take the same shape. Thunderbolt 3.0 will, at a minimum, double the data speed found on USB-C cables. It might not work wirelessly just yet, but the single-cable future is coming. However, change isn’t always easy.
Other than a standard headphone jack, the new MacBook has just one USB-C port.
Sure, tech companies adopting yet another kind of port doesn’t send shivers down your spine. But what USB-C can do is worth getting at least a little excited about: a single wire that delivers data, power and display signal all at the same time. It’s all done through a connector that’s roughly a third of the size of the decades-old USB port you’re used to. It’s also reversible, and because power can flow both ways, the host device (say a laptop) can both charge other gadgets or be charged by them.
In short, connecting and charging nearly any gadget is about to get real simple. Like the mid-’90s introduction of USB, which effectively removed serial and parallel ports from the back of PCs and laptops, USB-C could do the same for all things in mobile computing, but to an even larger extent, replacing cables for power, data and video.
Thunderbolt 3: looks like USB-C, but better in a few ways.
But nothing’s ever that simple and not all USB-C is created equal. In fact, USB-C is really only the physical shape of the port and connector. The extent to what the cable can do depends on the hardware you’re connecting it to, and what version of USB it’s using. There are already USB-C devices (like Nokia’s N1 tablet) with “only” USB 2.0 capabilities. Then there’s Apple’s new MacBook and the latest Chromebook Pixel, which use USB 3.1 Gen 1 spec, with data speeds up to 5 Gbps. This part alone is confusing because the first-generation USB 3.1 specification is pretty much exactly the same as USB 3.0. (Ars Technica sums up the confusion well here.) Finally, there’s the full 10 Gbps data-slinging power of second-gen USB 3.1, which will arrive on next-generation machines. Just because it has the tiny USB-C port on the end, it doesn’t mean it’ll be able to charge the device you’re plugging it into, or offer the highest data speeds. There’s a danger that manufacturers could very easily mislead buyers.
When Intel set out to design Thunderbolt 3, it wanted both double the data rate of Thunderbolt 2, while also settling on a smaller form factor. USB-C fit the bill. Better still, it already housed space for “alternate mode.” This is where companies are able to transmit other things besides data and power, making it ideal for the additional tricks Thunderbolt could bring. In short, Intel already had a winner in USB-C; there was no need attempt to create another type of cable.
If you’re doing a lot of data-based heavy lifting, Thunderbolt has usually made sense.
But while Intel’s new Thunderbolt 3 will have a USB-C connector, those accessories and cables won’t work on the existing 12-inch MacBook or the Chromebook Pixel. The chipmaker also has two different types of Thunderbolt 3 cables incoming: a passive one that’ll be cheaper than Thunderbolt cables of past, yet will still offer double the maximum speed of USB 3.1, and an “active” cable that includes signal-boosting chips to double (again) data rates. Even checking to see if a cable does or doesn’t have a lightning bolt emblazoned on it won’t make everything clear.
Isn’t Intel adding to the confusion? “We also think there needs to be identification across these (different kinds of USB-C cables) in general,” explained Intel’s head of Thunderbolt marketing, Jason Ziller. ‘We’re also considering a secondary identifier for our active cables.”
USB-C sockets may not replace everything, however. The original USB port can deliver everything included in the USB 3.1 specification. In TVs, desktops and other devices, where size and reversibility are less of an issue, there’s arguably less impetus to change to USB-C. Also, sometimes smaller isn’t better. MHL President Rob Tobias explained to me that the newer USB-C ports simply aren’t as easy to plug in — when reaching around the back of a TV, an HDMI or older USB port is far easier to find by feel than a less-than-thumbnail-sized USB-C socket.
“The port could be everything to everybody.”
It makes good business sense for Intel to unite around a common standard, if only because of production scale. Apple may have a history of proprietary cables and ports, yet it’s also fallen in love with the slender USB-C form factor. Intel’s Kirk Skaugen mentioned in his Computex keynote that there are around 30 PC designs incoming with Thunderbolt 3 — and that’s not counting devices that merely feature standard USB-C ports. Then there are the smartphones already packing the new USB port in China — expect to see plenty more of those as well. As Intel’s Ziller noted: “The port could be everything to everybody. It has the superset.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Displays, Gaming, Laptops, Tablets, HD, Mobile, Intel
Samsung Galaxy J7 specifications confirmed
A few months back, there were rumors about Samsung making additions in its mid-range portfolio. Samsung is now all set to bring two new additions to its Galaxy J series family. We had already seen the Galaxy J1, now it’s the brand new Galaxy J7. The specifications of the Galaxy J7 has been confirmed by a pre-order listed on a Russian retailer’s website.
The J7 supports a 5.5 inch 720p HD screen resulting in a screen density of 267ppi. The phone is said to be running on an octa-core Marvel PXA1936 SoC, a 1.5GB of RAM and a total of 16GB onboard storage which can be further expanded by a micro-SD card. The phone is slated to have the latest version of Android i.e Android Lollipop with the same version of TouchWiz as Galaxy S6. The phone is also said to have a 3000 mAh battery and Dual-Sim support.
The specifications of the phone itself paint quite a picture that it’s going to be a mid-range phone and going to compete with the Moto g and other mid-ranged phones. There is still no word on official announcement and pricing. But we all know Samsung and how the company prices its smartphone during its initial days.
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Kabam announces Star Wars: Uprising for this fall
New game will take place in aftermath of Return of the Jedi
Ever wondered what happened in the Star Wars universe after the events of 1983’s Return of the Jedi. Well, for some of us, we read books like The Courtship of Princess Leia or the Timothy Zahn series. But, given that’s not considered official canon now, we all have unanswered questions.
Kabam, in collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm, has announced a new game for release later this fall which addresses the time after the Empire was defeated. In fact, this game will be a companion piece that fills in the blanks between ROTJ and the forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“Star Wars: Uprising will allow players to create their own unique character, go on missions, and build their gear and skills, while amassing a powerful crew and cartel to join in large-scale sector-wide battles that dictate the future of the game universe.“
According to the press release we received, SW: Uprising be a role playing game with unique and individually created characters.
With familiar locations such as Cloud City and Hoth, you’ll be tasked with collecting “iconic” gear and learning hundreds of abilities. What will you be? A Rebel Geurilla? Bounty Hunter? Something else?
If you are interested in checking things out, or signing up for more details, there’s already a page set up for you. We understand there will be a beta release made available in the next few weeks, too.
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RAWtronics 7-Port USB Hub, $29
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HTC shaves $50 off Re Camera; save 50% on accessories with limited time offer
Limited time deal sees the camera discounted for dads and grads. Also, buy three accessories and save huge
HTC, for a limited time, is taking $50 off its Re Camera as part of a promotion for Father’s Day and graduation gifts. As part of its Hot Deals, the HTC Re Camera can be picked up for $150 instead of the normal $200. That’s quite a percentage off to be sure. But it gets better.
If you purchase three accessories at one time through HTC you can grab them for half price. Indeed, that’s 50% off the entire purchase. With plenty of options to choose from you’ll find something for your HTC smartphone or tablet. Examples include a Dot View case, Battery Bar, and Dual Port Car Charger. Mix and match and save!
Also worth noting, HTCis offering 50% off HTC Print Studio card packs. Simply add promo code DAD at checkout and you’ll save 50% on your order.
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Cyanogen’s email client Boxer gains material design in new update
There seems to be a never-ending quest to solve mobile email problems. The Boxer team a popular alternative to Android’s’ Gmail app believes they have “A Better Inbox”
The integration of Google’s Material Design UI into the email client is the biggest update since its launch back in September. The redesign and app enhancements aim to provide an enriched mobile experience.
Boxer is noteworthy for being the default email client for CyanogenOs. Cyanogen has gone on record and has been extremely vocal about their intent to take Android from Google. The war has started it will be interesting to say the least. I am eager to see what unfolds and what Boxer and Cyanogen’s partnership can really bring to the email client space.
The previous version of Boxer was well designed and looked professional. Although Boxer v2.2 has been rebuilt from the ground up and immersed nicely and genuinely feels as if it’s part of the Android ecosystem instead of just being dropped onto it.
Not to dwell on just the beauty enhancements there has been more changes than meets the eye. Going under the hood this update features improvements to the overall app speed, faster mail searching on Gmail accounts, the addition to be able to create new folders/labels and improvements made to battery usage.
Also a new floating action button, full height navigation drawer, color and style updates in the toolbar and status bar, circular avatars, and a new set of icons. It looks as if taking its time to update allowed Boxer to create a beautiful sleek application.
Cyanogen users will be affected by this update as well. With the partnership, Boxer will be capable of pushing out faster features, designs, and updates more often. In the coming weeks, this update will be shipping out Over The Air (OTA) to Cyanogen devices.
With the overwhelming amount of email clients available in the Google Play Store, the Material Design allows Boxer to be fluid yet familiar. Navigating from inbox account to inbox account is pleasurable. Although after switching to Boxer fully on my Samsung Galaxy Tab pro and Note 4 I couldn’t wait to switch back to Gmail and Inbox.
After using Boxer, I was reminded of a pretty toy that looks great but you should never play with. As a business or productivity tool, I didn’t feel very productive using the application. I closed the application multiple times to see if that would change it didn’t. Boxers interface was just very slow and sluggish. I began to get confused when looking at the combined tab or regular email tab. Creating a folder/label needs to be simplified tremendously. You have to first click on an email then this retro boxy menu appears you click label then another menu appears. Once you get the option to create a label it gets confusing again next to it you have a check mark and an ok option. New folder/label creation was not cohesive at all. Can I get an easily accessible add new label button here, please? Needing to check emails and reply quickly to time sensitive content Boxer is inadequate as my daily email client.
For those of you who like choices and enjoy customizing your app experience not wanting to settle for what comes preinstalled with your device give Boxer a try. Business professionals and individuals who have multiple email accounts that have images, documents, and other content heavy emails. Boxers inability to quickly handle the content will mostly like be more of a hindrance than a productive tool for you.
Material Design gave Boxer a new polished look and feel and with version 2.2 it’s more of a legitimate contender. Gmail the big dogs looking down for now are still safe as the leader of the pack. Although if Boxer keeps its core identity giving the user cool customization features and can find a way to speed up the clunky interface we could soon see a changing of the guard.
If you’re interested in the full Change-log for Boxer you hit the jackpot below:
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