Report Insists Apple Will Eliminate iTunes Store Music Downloads in Future

New sources have come forth claiming that Apple is in fact aiming to phase out digital music downloads on iTunes, despite the fact that Apple rep Tom Neumayr specifically stated such rumors were “not true” in May.

Speaking with Digital Music News, the insiders said that Apple is simply “keeping their options open” while moving forward, intending to keep a watch on how Apple Music performs in comparison to the digital sales numbers in iTunes.

According to the sources, Apple might be gearing up for an iTunes revamp that would introduce software architecture with the ability for the company to “more easily drop iTunes music downloads” down the road. This would allow Apple to subtly shift the service towards the streaming and radio side of things in the event that paid music downloads drop off precipitously.

The same sources suggest such a refresh could be discussed at WWDC next week, bringing “harmony” between Apple Music and iTunes while preparing for the potential closure of paid downloads down the line.

Sources couldn’t share screenshots or any sensitive information about the upcoming iTunes launch, though a key aspect of the overhaul includes ‘making more sense’ of iTunes music downloads and Apple Music streams. That has been a huge source of confusion for fans, even those that clearly understand the difference between downloading and streaming.

But one source noted that Apple is “definitely not getting rid of [music] downloads” at the WWDC event next week, or any time in the short-term future, while another mentioned that possibility that top executives may “double down” their expressed commitment to the format during WWDC presentations to cool rumors.

The early rumors in May suggested that Apple was looking at a three-to-four year timeline on ending iTunes music downloads, with a staggered termination plan based on regional popularity of paid downloads. Projected gross from downloads in 2019 are around $600 million, down from the $3.9 billion users paid for downloads in 2012.

With many artists refraining from streaming services — and fan support of owning their music remaining relatively strong — DMN’s sources admit that, for the time being, “downloads are here to stay.”

Read DMN’s full report on the iTunes download situation here.

Tag: Apple Music
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Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro With USB-C May Still Be Unveiled in June

Apple plans to announce new MacBook Air models within the month of June, and begin shipping the notebooks to retailers in August, according to Japanese website Mac Otakara. The conflicting report also claims that Apple will announce a refresh to its entire MacBook Pro series this month, although it did not specify when shipments of those models would begin.

The report, citing “a reliable Chinese supplier,” mentions earlier rumors that Apple will discontinue the smaller 11-inch MacBook Air to focus on 13-inch and all-new 15-inch models, although it is unclear if Mac Otakara’s source is independently corroborating them. All of the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are expected to be equipped with Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, while USB-A, MagSafe 2, and Thunderbolt 2 ports found on existing models will allegedly be removed.

Mac Otakara said it is unclear whether Apple plans to announce the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models at WWDC 2016, but multiple reliable sources have indicated that it will effectively be a no-hardware event. Apple could still make a non-WWDC announcement in June by way of press release, as was the case with the new 12-inch MacBook in April, possibly indicating only minor updates.

Today’s report is mostly in line with Taiwan’s hit-or-miss Economic Daily News, which reported that Apple will announce slimmer 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with “fully redesigned” internal components at WWDC 2016, followed by a launch in the July-September quarter. That report is from November 2015, however, so Apple’s exact product roadmap may have changed over the past eight months.

Taiwanese website DigiTimes also reported that Apple will begin shipping new “ultra-thin” 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks at the end of the June quarter. The report said the new MacBooks will “share a design similar to the existing 12-inch MacBook” and be “thinner than [the] existing MacBook Air,” which makes it difficult to infer whether the report is referring to the MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro lineup.

In a recent research note, however, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple will not introduce new MacBook models until the second half of 2016, including a thin and light 13-inch MacBook in the third quarter, and two thinner and lighter 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models in the fourth quarter. Other reliable sources have also suggested new Macs will be released later in the year.

In terms of the new MacBook Pro, Kuo said the 2016 model will feature a thinner and lighter form factor, Touch ID, and a new OLED touch bar positioned above the keyboard. Leaked photos of what appears to be the notebook’s unibody revealed space for the OLED touch panel and four USB-C ports. The new MacBook Pro is also expected to adopt metal injection mold-made hinges, which are reportedly already shipping.

Other improvements to the 2016 MacBook Pro should include faster Skylake processors across the lineup, while the top-of-the-line models may sport AMD’s new 400-series Polaris graphics chips. Apple last refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro in March 2015, followed by the 15-inch model in May 2015, with Force Touch trackpads, faster flash storage, longer battery life, and improved graphics.

Meanwhile, Apple has not fully refreshed the MacBook Air since March 2015, when both the 11- and 13-inch models were upgraded with faster Broadwell processors, Thunderbolt 2, and Intel HD Graphics 6000. The 13-inch MacBook Air also received up to two times faster flash storage. The only minor update to the lineup since then was in April, when Apple bumped the stock 13-inch MacBook Air to 8GB of RAM, up from 4GB.

Apple not updating the 11-inch MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM as well lends credence to rumors claiming the ultra-portable model will be discontinued.

While it is widely believed that Apple may eventually discontinue the entire MacBook Air, which currently sits awkwardly between the Retina MacBook and MacBook Pro, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said the notebook will remain part of Apple’s lineup for now, repositioned as its lower-priced offering.

We expect new MacBook Pro models to be thinner and lighter with better hardware specifications. As such, it will retain its high-end position in the line. MacBook will replace MacBook Air to become the medium-/ high-end model. As both MacBook Pro and MacBook have a thin and light form factor, there is no need to keep MacBook Air. For this reason, we predict no significant upgrade for MacBook Air going forward. Rather, it will serve as an entry-level model sold at low prices.

Apple’s WWDC 2016 keynote will occur on Monday, June 13 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Related Roundups: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, WWDC 2016
Tag: macotakara.jp
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Air (Don’t Buy), Retina MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Announces Major App Store Changes Including New Subscription Terms and Search Ads

Apple’s Phil Schiller recently sat down with several publications including The Loop and The Verge to detail some of the changes that are going to be made to the App Store under his reign, including major improvements to search, subscription access for all developers, App Store ads when searching for content, and some other smaller tweaks that should go a long way towards improving app discoverability.

Apple is opening up app subscriptions to all product categories, giving developers more options for selling their apps and additional ways to earn revenue. An app like Workflow or Fantastical, for example, could be sold on a subscription basis, with customers able to obtain it for a $5/year subscription fee.

With that change, developers will be able to charge $5 per year rather than just a flat $5 fee, for an ongoing revenue stream, and they’ll also be able to offer a subscription that encompasses multiple apps. Apple also plans to introduce up to 200 new tiered pricing options across different currencies and territories for app subscriptions.

Subscription fee changes are also being implemented. Currently, Apple takes a 30 percent cut of subscription fees on the App Store, but now, if a customer stays subscribed to a service for multiple years, Apple will only take a 15 percent cut, leaving 85 percent of profits for developers. That works on a per customer basis, so for customers who subscribe to Netflix through Apple, Netflix will pay Apple 30 percent during the first year and 15 percent the second year.

Apple is adding ads to App Store search results, something that was hinted at earlier this year. Ads will be displayed when a search is conducted and developers will have opportunities to purchase those ads for better app exposure. There will be one ad on the search results page, which Apple will clearly denote as an ad. Ad content will be the same content available on the App Store, and ads will only be accepted from developers. Apple plans to distribute ads through an auction system.

“We’ve thought about how to carefully do it in a way that, first and foremost, customers will be happy with,” Schiller says, adding that he believes the ad auction system in App Store search will be “fair to developers, and fair for indie developers, too.”

Recently, the Apple TV Top Charts stopped displaying apps that a user has installed, and that’s a change that’s rolling out more widely. The “Featured” section in the App Store will change dynamically for each user, no longer displaying apps that are already installed and Apple plans to bring the Categories tab back to the App Store.

A Share sheet will be added as a new 3D Touch Quick Action for all apps, allowing app recommendations to be more easily shared without needing to access the App Store directly. Search is also seeing some significant improvements to make it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for and it is one of the areas Apple is focusing on.

Schiller took over the App Store from Eddy Cue late last year, amid developer complaints about discoverability, the review process, poor communication, search results, and myriad other complaints. Schiller promised improvements and has been delivering on that promise. In an interview with The Verge, Schiller said there’s a “renewed focus and energy” around the App Store.

Under Schiller’s leadership, the App Store has been steadily improving across 2016, not even counting today’s changes. The app review process takes as little as two days, featured app sections like Best New Apps are updated on a more regular basis, and Schiller has a secret team working on exploring changes that could be made to the App Store to introduce further improvement.

Apple plans to begin rolling out these changes over the next couple of months. Ads will be made available as part of a beta program next Monday. Subscriptions will be accessible to developers starting in the fall, while existing subscription apps will see changes to the revenue split on June 13.

Tags: App Store, Phil Schiller
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Motorola Moto Z Style vs Moto Z Play: What’s the rumoured difference?

Lenovo is lining up the launch of a new flagship Moto handset family. With the new Moto G recently announced, the Moto Z is expected to replace the Moto X family.

Pulling in the full force of Moto retro love, the announcement was teased with a throwback video starring the Motorola RAZR and confirmation of the 9 June launch date. 

There have been leaks from all sides, pointing to two Moto Z handsets, likely known as the Moto Z Style and Moto Z Play. So how do these handsets compare? We’ve crunched the rumours to draw out exactly what we think the difference will be. 

Moto Z Style vs Moto Z Play: Design

With the Moto G occupying the lower end of the range, the Moto Z is expected to push the premium end, offering a metal design, with a slim waistline. That might lead to the camera protruding, with a distinctive roundel encompassing the lens and flash array.

There’s no firm measurements for the new Moto Z Style of the Moto Z Play and it’s thought they will be similar sizes, although one may be thinner than the other, with the Style said to be 5.2mm thick and the Play thought to be 7mm thick.

They are reported to offer modular accessories with connection pins on the bottom of the rear to allow MotoMods, to enhance the camera or speakers for example.

Lenovo is likely to offer Moto Maker on both devices to let you customise various aspects, and there has been a range of rear covers already shown off. These will likely clip into place and reduce that naked camera bump to a flatter design. We’ve seen leather, cork, and various other materials leak. 

Currently, it looks as though the design of these handsets is going to be mostly the same aside from thickness. That will, at least, allow the MotoMods to be used across either handset, if that’s the intention.

Moto Z Style vs Moto Z Play: Display

The previous Moto X devices were different on the display, with the X Play sporting a 5.7-inch Quad HD display and the Moto X Play with a 5.5-inch Full HD display.

For the new Moto Z, it looks like they will offer the same size 5.5-inch display. This is also the same size as the Moto G4, although, like the previous X models, it’s likely that the differentiator will lie in resolution, with the Moto Z Style offering 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution and the Moto Z Play with 1920 x 1080 pixels.

That positions these handsets quite differently.

Moto Z Style vs Moto Z Play: Hardware

As with the display, we expect the difference between these two handsets to be played out in the hardware department. Following the example of the Moto X, we’d expect the Moto Z Style to again be the premium power handset. 

It’s likely to carry a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset, a popular choice for leading smartphones in 2016. This is likely to have 3/4GB of RAM. Storage is likely to be 32GB, with microSD expansion, although Moto Maker may offer different configuration options. 

The Moto Z Play, as the lower-tier device, might come along with a newer generation mid-range chipset, like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625. This is likely to offer 2/3GB of RAM and probably the same storage options, although could step down to 16GB.

With different thicknesses, it’s likely that Moto will repeat the performance from the Moto X Style and Play battery, which had 3000mAh and 3650mAh capacities respectively. In the slimmer Z Style handset you’ll likely get a smaller capacity while the Play could walk away with better overall endurance.

Moto Z Style vs Moto Z Play: Cameras

The Moto X offered a 21-megapixel camera across its devices, with a 5-megapixel camera on the front. The Moto G Plus has a 16-megapixel camera with laser autofocus and a 13-megapixel camera in the regular Moto G. We suspect that laser autofocus will appear on the Moto Z models.

To differentiate from the Moto G, the Moto Z Style and Play might offer the 21-megapixel camera still, although with the trend moving towards fewer pixels in many cases, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a 16-megapixel camera on both, or the same divide as the Moto G. The thicker Moto Play might also get optical image stabilisation, as the increased size will allow for it.

Currently, it’s a little too soon to draw out which it likely to be the most appealing, although with a Hasselblad MotoMod accessory, it could all become a moot point.

Moto Z Style vs Moto Z Play: Conclusions

The Style and Play previously pitched to a different price point. The Style was larger and more powerful and the Play was cheaper and slightly lower spec. The Moto Z Style and Play are likely to aim to repeat that performance, but with MotoMods offering a range of modular accessories for the Moto Z, offering a similar design becomes more important.

However, we suspect that the Moto Z Style will be a flagship competitor with a packed and competitive spec sheet, while the Moto Z Play will offer much the same feel, but in a cheaper and less powerful package. Repeating the performance of the Moto X handsets from 2015, it could be the Style lacks substance and the Play ends up with some impressive specs for the price, as well as a battery advantage.

The new Moto Z is expected to be launched on 9 June 2016 at Lenovo World. We will of course update when we have full details of what the handsets will offer.

READ: Motorola Moto Z: What’s the story so far?

1-Up! Official Nintendo Vans sneakers in pictures: Mario Bros meets ‘boarder cool

We don’t make a habit out of shooting product boxes. But when there’s one as cool as the NES-styled one that the new official Nintendo Vans sneakers come in, well, it’s hard to resist. Look at it!

What is within is where the real magic happens, though. The Mario Bros. version we selected – which, at £52, cost as much if not more than an old skool gaming cartridge – feature 8-bit print, with all your favourite classic characters on show.

Yep, from goombas and mushrooms, to stars and flowers. It sounds like psychedelic madness, doesn’t it? Which, really, is just how these Nintendo Vans look given the mash-up of predominant sky blue, met with greens, reds and yellows – as you can see from our picture gallery, it’s just like the Mushroom Kingdom.

But it’s the details that really got our inner 5-year-old self giddy. Flip these shoes over and it reads “Game” on the right and “Over!” on the left. Even the ends of the laces are capped with mini NES-style controllers.

Pocket-lint

This is the new Nintendo; a company looking for new collaborations, new ways to reach its audience. Who would have thought that would come in the form of a company best known for its ‘boarder footwear?

Still, that means the Vans quality. We’ve bashed our way through various useless shoes in the past, but paying out the extra for proper stitching and materials means you get longevity. Not that we’re likely to ever wear these guys, of course.

Also joining the line are Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Legend of Zelda, Duck Hunt and Classic Nintendo in footwear, t-shirts, caps and backpack forms. 1-Up!

Genetically engineered mice could fight Lyme disease

Kevin Esvelt, an evolutionary biologist at MIT, has conjured up an interesting way to combat Lyme disease. Instead of dealing with ticks that carry the pathogen, his method involves genetically engineering mice (using CRISPR) to become immune to the illness. See, deer ticks originally get the pathogen from small mammals such as white-footed mice. By creating rodents that are immune to the disease, scientists can prevent it from spreading to deer and to humans. According to The New York Times, Esvelt has recently presented his solution to the residents of Nantucket, Massachusetts, which has a Lyme disease problem.

Malcolm MacNab, Nantucket’s Board of Health chairman, told NYT that nearly 40 percent of the island’s residents had contracted the illness. Authorities originally wanted to cull the island’s deer population, but they were met with opposition. The Nantucket locals who attended the presentation seem to have found his solution quite interesting. “I’m the first person to say if you go tinker with Mother Nature, we’re going to break it,” an herbalist said during the forum. “But you know what? Even I want to see where you go with this.”

Before Nantucket gets Lyme-immune mice, Esvelt has to unleash thousands of genetically modified rodents on an uninhabited island to test things out. If the number of infected ticks shows a drastic decline after two years, then Nantucket could be next on the list. That won’t happen anytime soon, though: Esvelt believes the project could take up to 10 years to complete, since it requires a huge sum of money and various permissions from regulators.

Source: The New York Times

Investigatory Powers Bill gets vote of approval from MPs

The Investigatory Powers Bill passed its latest milestone yesterday, as the proposed surveillance legislation passed through the House of Commons. MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill, with 444 ayes to only 69 noes. In the run-up to the vote, Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham voiced several concerns, saying the draft law needed “significant improvement” before his support was guaranteed. The Home Office did manage to secure the Labour Party vote, however, thanks to several concessions on its part, including submitting to an independent review of untargeted, bulk surveillance powers.

The government also accepted several amendments to please the Labour Party. A clause which puts “puts privacy at the heart of the bill” among them, for whatever that’s worth, and snooping protection for trade union activities. Assurances were also made that independent judicial commissioners required to approve an interception warrant after a government minister has already done so — known as a “double-lock” procedure — will look at the necessity of the request rather than checking all the relevant boxes have been ticked.

MPs have voted for and against several other, relatively minor amendments during the House of Commons debate. But, in short, the Investigatory Powers Bill hasn’t left the House looking much different than it did going in, which is to say the Home Office hasn’t sacrificed any of the major powers granted within. This hasn’t sat well with the Scottish National Party (SNP), which feels certain powers are “unacceptably intrusive,” such as the collection of Internet Connection Records (ICRs) and bulk surveillance. The SNP voted against the bill, as did the Green Party.

This is not the end of the debate, though. The bill will now progress to the House of Lords, where non-elected officials will go through the same process of reviewing and suggesting amendments before casting their own votes.

Via: Ars Technica

Source: House of Commons