Apple Secretly Pursuing Deep Push Into Original Television Programming

In a longer piece covering the streaming television and video ambitions of Apple, Alibaba, Facebook, and Google, Fast Company suggests Apple is covertly pursuing original television programming deals that would establish it as a major player in the entertainment industry.

Apple is said to be seeking deals with “triple A-list” talent to create a full roster of shows to put it on par with Netflix and Amazon, both of which have successfully launched popular original television shows like House of Cards, Jessica Jones, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Sources that spoke to Fast Company say Apple is aiming to run several major shows at once, perhaps as part of a major launch.

At last year’s Sundance Film Festival, Apple created an iTunes Lounge where it hosted private invitation-only events for film makers, producers, and other talent. At the event, described as sleek and understated, attendees said Apple was “definitely talking to the talent.” As has been previously rumored, Apple execs also traveled to Los Angeles to hear ideas for original television shows, with Apple’s original programming efforts being led by Robert Kondrk, vice president of iTunes Content.

The iTunes Lounge was in fact part of a stealth effort by Apple to establish a new, more active role in delivering entertainment. In the weeks that followed, Apple execs were in Los Angeles hearing pitches for original TV series that it plans to launch on an “exclusives” app on Apple TV and within iTunes. Apple wants to work with “triple A-list” talent, according to a source, and build up a roster of must-see shows available only on its platform. Naturally, the talks have been veiled in the utmost secrecy. Producers who have met with Apple will refer to it only as the United Fruit Company.

Given Apple’s positive reputation among creators, Apple has the draw to attract quality talent and the cash reserves to fund high ticket shows. Content creators are said to be “so excited” about the possibility of working with Apple that people are “throwing [ideas] against the wall with them, to every extent possible.”

According to five sources who spoke to Fast Company, however, Apple is “disorganized” and “hasn’t presented a coherent strategy” for its television plans. The company is reportedly taking a “two-lane” approach to original television programming, producing a series of short films, documentaries, and music videos to promote Apple music while simultaneously developing full Netflix-style original programming.

Apple already has two known television projects in the works. The first, which has not yet been officially announced, is said to be an Apple Music-related project called Vital Signs, which is a dark semi-autobiographical drama starring Beats co-founder and Apple executive Dr. Dre. The second, which was announced in March, is a non-scripted television show that will “spotlight the app economy.” Apple is working with Will.i.am, Ben Silverman, and Howard T. Owens on the series.

Alongside the announcement of the the App Store television series, iTunes chief Eddy Cue cautioned the show is not a signal Apple is delving deeper into original television and streaming video, despite rumors to the contrary.

“This doesn’t mean that we are going into a huge amount of movie production or TV production or anything like that,” Cue said at the time, but he did say Apple would explore similar exclusive projects. Hollywood sources told Fast Company that Apple is approaching its television ambitions with caution and that Cue’s statement is “merely tamping down expectations.”

Related Roundup: Apple TV
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Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Apple’s Average iPhone Users Unlock Their Devices 80 Times Per Day

During a Friday call with reporters where Apple discussed the security of iOS devices, Apple shared some interesting statistic on iPhone unlocking that were highlighted this morning in a report from Ben Bajarin (via The Verge).

According to Apple, the average iPhone user unlocks his or her iPhone 80 times per day, and 89 percent of iPhone users who have access to Touch ID have set it up and use it to unlock their devices, saving valuable time over entering a PIN.

During a 12 hour day, that equates to checking one’s iPhone 6 to 7 times per hour or approximately every 10 minutes. Over the course of a full day, using Touch ID instead of a PIN code can save several minutes of time, and as it doesn’t disrupt the iPhone entry experience, it’s something most people don’t hesitate to enable.

As Bajarin points out, implementing security on a device that needs to be unlocked close to a hundred times a day is no small feat, with Touch ID serving as an example of Apple’s efforts to balance security with user experience.

Apple is attempting something that seems unprecedented at an industry level. To bring industry leading security but do so by actually enhancing the user experience. Prior to Touch ID for example, many organizations required eight, and sometimes longer, PIN numbers. Imagine entering that many numbers every time you pick up your smartphone. […]

Regardless, the simple act of logging into our phone via a secure form of login like passcodes or fingerprints is now taken for granted in much of Apple’s ecosystem when, just a few years ago, anyone could have stolen my phone and have access to my personal information.

Available since 2013, Touch ID now comes standard on all of Apple’s iOS devices from the iPhone 5s and later, the iPad Air 2 and later, and the iPad mini 3 and later. In addition to allowing Apple to replace the passcode with a faster iPhone entry method, Touch ID enables password replacement in third-party apps, is used to verify iTunes purchases, and is a key part of Apple Pay, Apple’s payment service where each purchase is verified with a user’s fingerprint.

Tag: Touch ID
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Apple Launches WWDC 2016 Ticket Lottery

Apple today confirmed its annual Worldwide Developers Conference for 2016 will take place on June 13 to 17 at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, California, the same venue where WWDC has been held for the last 10 years. A keynote set to be held on Monday, June 13 will also take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The dates of Apple’s conference were first leaked by Siri earlier today.

Apple’s 2016 conference will give developers the opportunity to meet with more than 1,000 Apple engineers and attend hands-on labs, over 100 technical sessions, and more. The event will also be used to unveil new versions of iOS and OS X, likely iOS 10 and OS X 10.12, with developers able to learn about the updated operating systems at the conference to get a head start on app development.

“With four innovative operating systems and a new, intuitive programming language powering over 1 billion devices worldwide, there has never been a more exciting time to bring our developer community together,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “WWDC 2016 is going to be a landmark event for developers who are coding in Swift, and building apps and products for iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS. We can’t wait for everyone to join us — in San Francisco or through the live stream.”

The Worldwide Developers Conference has become so popular that Apple provides tickets to developers through a lottery system, with attendees chosen randomly from a pool of registered applicants. Developers can apply for a ticket starting today, with registration through Friday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Those who win a ticket to attend WWDC will be notified by Monday, April 25 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.

WWDC tickets for 2016 are priced at $1,599. Developers wishing to purchase tickets must have been registered members of Apple’s Developer Program prior to today’s event announcement to prevent last minute signups. Up to 350 WWDC Scholarships will be provided to students and members of participating STEM organizations around the world. Apple will also be providing 125 scholarships to aspiring developers with financial limitations, a program that is new this year.

As has been the case in previous years, developers between the ages of 13 and 17 must have their tickets purchased by a parent or guardian who is also an eligible member. All tickets sold are limited to the applicant and cannot be sold, resold, or transferred.

Apple has provided a full rundown of what developers can expect at WWDC for the ticket price:

– over 1,000 Apple engineers supporting more than 150 hands-on labs and events to provide developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS technologies in their apps;

– access to the latest innovations, features and capabilities of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS, and best practices for enhancing an app’s functionality, performance, quality and design;

– the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS developers from around the world — last year, 80 percent of developers attended for their first time, and in total, more than 70 countries were represented;

– a series of get-togethers for attendees focused on particular topics with special guest speakers and activities;

– engaging and inspirational lunchtime sessions with trailblazers and influencers from the worlds of technology, science and entertainment; and

– the Apple Design Awards which recognize iPhone®, iPad®, Apple Watch®, Apple TV® and Mac® apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.

For developers who are unable to attend, Apple plans to stream WWDC sessions live, both through its website and through the WWDC app. For non-developers, the highlight of the event will be the keynote kicking off the conference, which is often used to show off new products and services along with new versions of iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
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Apple’s Developer Site Gains Revamped Section Dedicated to App Store Success

Apple today updated its web portal designed for developers with a new section entitled “Making Great Apps for the App Store,” aimed at helping developers grow their businesses and reach more users with their apps.

Included are resources for planning apps, App Store guidelines, tools for submitting apps, and a section on developer insights featuring stories from developers who have created successful titles.

The App Store makes it simple for users around the world to discover, download and enjoy your apps. Grow your business with resources designed to help you create great apps and reach more users.

Several sections of the App Store portal have previously existed, including the sections for Guidelines and submitting an app to the App Store, but the revamped site makes these tools easier to find and combines them together in a more logical way.

Apple’s App Store “Planning” feature, which aggregates some previously available information and offers new tidbits, covers the best methods for choosing effective categories for apps and getting apps discovered, including the qualities Apple seeks when planning to feature an app. It also includes ideal business models, tips for offering subscriptions and freemium apps, using analytics for marketing, and engaging users with app updates.

The Developer Insights section includes success stories from developers like Seriously, Grailr, Evernote, and Smule, covering everything from bringing an app to Apple Watch to building a brand on social media.

Apple’s revamped App Store developer section comes just as the company has announced its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference, set to take place from June 13 to June 17 in San Francisco, California.
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Horror game ‘The Park’ reaches consoles May 3rd

Funcom’s The Park has become a bit of a sleeper hit among PC gamers thanks to its combination of parenthood-themed horror and its Let’s Play-friendly game mechanics, and now it’s ready to come to consoles. The studio has revealed that The Park will be available on May 3rd for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The exploration title isn’t expected to change much in the conversion, but that’s fine — really, it’s all about the short-but-scary experience of losing your child in a theme park gone horribly wrong.

Source: Funcom

We’re giving away 50 codes for PLAY icon pack

Some icon packs are timeless. Some icon packs are oozing with class. But not all icon packs have this much fun with their design. When many saw the new Google Play icons, they were torn. Tha PHLASH, however jumped in head first, bringing that iconic design to not only the Google Play suite of apps but to every app on our devices. He’s generously given us 50 codes for this new icon pack PLAY. Here’s how to get them!

To enter our contest, simply reply to the contest thread in the AC forum. One entry per user (subsequent comments will not be counted in the drawing). We’ll be drawing for these code tomorrow morning at 11 AM CDT, and codes will then be PM’d to the winners.

Good luck to you all, and remember to PLAY sometime today!

PLAY icon pack

YouTube gets even more immersive with 360-degree live streams, spatial audio

While YouTube can already bring you the experience of attending a live event from afar, it’s looking to make that experience much more immersive with the launch of 360-degree live streaming. This means live streams can be even more engaging, allowing streamers and viewers to interact in new ways.

From Google:

We first launched support for 360-degree videos back in March 2015. From musicians to athletes to brands, creators have done some incredible things with this technology. Now, they’ll be able to do even more to bring fans directly into their world, with 360-degree live streaming.

To kick things off, Google says it will be showing off 360-degree live streaming with select artist performances from the Coachella music festival this week. Google also notes that it will outfit all YouTube Space around the world with 360-degree live streaming tech so YouTube creators everywhere can try it out.

Finally, to go along with the theme of immersion, YouTube is also launching spatial audio for on-demand videos today. Essentially, spatial audio will let viewers experience sound the way they do in real life. Distance, intensity and position of the sound source will change how you hear things as you look around, which means VR experiences can be even more engaging. If you’d like to try out spatial audio for yourself, Google has put together a playlist that you can check out on your Android device.

HTC 10 pre-orders kick off at Verizon on April 29

Verizon Wireless will begin taking pre-orders for the upcoming HTC 10 on Friday, April 29. It will also show off the smartphone in its retail stores on that same date for hands-on previews.

Verizon has not yet announced a price point for their version of the HTC 10, nor has it revealed a specific date for when shipments will start and in-store sales will begin for the phone. However, the carrier does claim that it will be the first wireless carrier to offer the HTC 10.

HTC 10

• HTC 10 preview
• HTC 10 hands-on: a Canadian perspective
• HTC 10 specs
• These are the HTC 10 colors
• Our first photo and video samples
• Meet the Ice View case
• Join our HTC 10 forums

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Snag an unlocked AT&T BlackBerry Priv for just $450

If you’ve been on the lookout for a good deal on the BlackBerry Priv, DailySteals is currently offering the handset for just $450. For those keeping score, that’s a $200 drop from the Priv’s current price of $650 elsewhere.

DailySteals says that the model on offer is AT&T-branded. However, it is unlocked, so it should work with other GSM carriers like T-Mobile. If you’re interested, you can take advantage of the deal for the next five days at DailySteals from the link below.

See at DailySteals

BlackBerry Priv

• Complete BlackBerry Priv review
• BlackBerry Priv specs
• The latest Priv news
• Interview: BlackBerry’s President of Devices
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Getting started with the Samsung Galaxy S7

Some important settings to consider when you’re setting up your Samsung Galaxy S7.

Once you’ve gone through the initial set up for your brand new Samsung Galaxy S7, there are a few settings you’ll want to set up right out of the gate. For starters, you might have data to transfer over from an old phone. You’ll want to use the Samsung Smart Switch app to migrate your data over, whether it’s coming from another Android phone, or even a Blackberry or iOS device. Then you’ll want to make sure your phone’s software is up-to-date, and stays updated by automatically check for software updates.

Then there’s other settings that might be important for you getting started, such as changing the language, the keyboard, manually setting the time and date, and managing the different accounts you regularly use. Lets get to it.

• How to transfer data with Smart Switch
• How to manage the language and input settings
• How to check for updates
• How to change date and time settings

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
• Learn about the Galaxy S7’s SD card slot
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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