Apple’s New Ad Explores the Redesigned Apple Music
Apple today debuted a new ad aimed at exploring some of the new features in the redesigned Apple Music. The full ad functions as a basic overview of the service, letting potential users know what they can expect from it.
The ad is built around the five tabs on the bottom of the app. It starts out showing off that users can build a library of their own music, segueing into Apple Music’s “For You” section. The ad showcases how the service will recommend music users currently love while also introducing them to music they will love.
From there, the ad quickly shows users that they can share playlists and easily add music to their libraries before mentioning that Apple Music receives the newest music from major artists. Finally, the ad moves toward the radio component of Apple Music, letting users know that they can listen to live or on-demand radio shows. It also shows highlights from some of the Beats 1 programming available on Apple Music, including content from Zane Lowe, other DJs and artists.
The new ad is a part of Apple’s campaign to push iOS 10’s redesigned Apple Music. Last month, the company debuted an ad starring “Late Late Show” host and “Carpool Karaoke” producer James Corden pitching commercial ideas for the service.
Tags: Ads, Apple Music
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Apple’s Tim Cook Meets Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto During Japan Visit
While on a visit to Japan, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Nintendo’s legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Earlier this morning, Cook posted a good morning greeting from the county alongside a picture of him walking through torii, traditional Japanese gates that are often posted outside of shrines.
Photo via Tim Cook
Cook tweeted that he was learning how to play the upcoming Super Mario Run as he met with Miyamoto and his team at Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters. Miyamoto appeared at Apple’s September special event and announced that the new game would appear on iOS by the end of the year.
Nintendo had consistently refused to license its intellectual property to other platforms, fearing that it would threaten its console and handheld-based business model. However, in early 2015 it changed its mind, announcing that it would partner with Japanese mobile game make DeNA to release 5 mobile games by March 2017.
Miyamoto says the Japanese game maker had realized that most children’s first interaction with technology is more likely to be a parent’s smartphone than one of its game consoles. By putting simple games based on its biggest characters, like Mario, on mobile devices the company hopes that it can convince players to migrate over to its first-party hardware for more complex experiences.
In addition to Super Mario Run, Nintendo and DeNA plan to release Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem this fall, though details for the latter two games have been scarce thus far.
Cook’s Japan trip comes shortly after the CEO made a stop in Shenzhen, China, announcing that Apple would be opening a new research and development center in the city. It’s unclear what else Cook has planned during his Japan trip.
Tags: Tim Cook, Nintendo
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How to set up the Inteset 4-in-1 Universal Remote – CNET
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Taylor Martin/CNET
If your entertainment system is becoming crowded with multiple devices, like a television, sound bar, gaming console and streamer box, your remote situation is likely growing out of control.
The age-old solution of adding a universal remote to the mix might be your best bet. The Inteset 4-in-1 Universal Remote is an affordable remote that works with over 100,000 devices, comes with support for some of the most popular streamer set-top boxes and can be custom-programmed.
It’s an affordable remote and a breeze to set up. Here’s how it’s done.
Apple TV
You might be inclined to set up the Inteset remote with your television first, but if you’ve got an Apple TV, you might want to start with that. Out of the box, the Inteset 4-in-1 Universal Remote is programmed to control the Apple TV on the A device channel.
If for any reason the preprogrammed key mapping is not working, you can manually add the Inteset remote to your Apple TV by going to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Learn Remote. Select Start to begin. The onscreen instructions will walk you through the mapping process.
You’re free to map the remote how you want, but if you need a guide, you can find the default mapping by going to remotecontrol.inteset.com and hovering your cursor over the Apple TV picture.
Alternatively, you can add the Apple TV programming to the Inteset remote by pressing and holding the SET button until the LED indicator flashes twice, then press 02615. This will automatically add the default Apple TV key mapping to your Inteset remote.
Television
Taylor Martin/CNET
To pair the Inteset remote with your television, you will first need the setup codes, which differ by make and model of television. Fortunately, Inteset has a large database of setup codes, and you can search for your TV brand here. There will likely be multiple codes for your television’s manufacturer. You will have to use trial and error to determine which is the correct code.
Once you’ve located the codes, power the television off, then manually turn it back on (without a remote). Next, choose which one of the four channels you want to use — A, B, C or D — and press the corresponding button near the top of the remote. Press and hold the SET button until the LED indicator at the top of the remote flashes twice, then enter one of the five-digit codes. The LED indicator will flash twice once more.
To test if the code worked, press the Power button. If the television doesn’t power off, hold the SET button once more and try the next five-digit code. Repeat until you find the correct code.
Manually add a remote
If you cannot find the setup codes for your television or none of the codes work, you will need to manually program the remote using your existing remote. which must be an IR remote.
To put the Inteset remote into its learning mode:
- Press one of the device channel buttons (A, B, C or D) and hold the SET button until the LED flashes twice.
- Enter 975. The LED will blink twice.
- While pointing the two remotes at one another, only a few inches apart, press the button that you want to learn on the Inteset remote. The LED indicator will be solidly lit for several seconds.
- On the original remote, press the corresponding button quickly.
- Next, on the Inteset remote, press the next button you want it to learn, followed by the corresponding button on the original remote. Repeat this process until the Inteset has learned all the compatible functions of the original remote.
You can program up to 75 buttons, but the capacity varies based on the IR codes from the original remote.
Other devices
If you want to use the Inteset remote to control any other supported device, you just need to use the Device Setup Code Lookup tool on Inteset’s website to locate the setup codes. After you have all the codes you need, it’s a simple as selecting a device channel on the remote, holding the SET button until the LED flashes twice and entering a code.
Here are the five-digit codes for some of the more popular gaming consoles and set top boxes:
- Android TV: 03666
- Apple TV: 02615
- Roku: 03061
- Xbox One: 04000
- Xbox 360: 02049
- Nvidia Shield: 03918
Factory resetting the remote
Taylor Martin/CNET
You can add and control up to four total devices with the Inteset remote. If you need to replace a device with a new one, simply program the new device over the old one.
However, if you need to factory-reset the remote, press and hold the SET button until the LED flashes twice, then enter 977. The LED will flash twice again, indicating that the remote has been restored to default settings and all programming has been removed.
Ricoh Theta SC Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Ricoh’s Theta SC is a 360-degree camera for everyone.
Ricoh
Ricoh, despite already making one of the easiest to use 360-degree cameras, the $350 Theta S, has decided to simplify it more with the new Ricoh Theta SC.
The SC has much in common with the top-of-the-line Theta S. So much so, it’s easier for me to tell you what’s missing and then you can go check out CNET’s full review of the Theta S. According to a company representative I spoke with, Ricoh basically dropped two features for the SC, based on consumer research. First, the SC has a continuous recording time of 5 minutes, compared to 25 minutes with the Theta S.
Second, Ricoh removed the Micro-HDMI port for the SC, and with it the camera’s ability to live stream. Frankly, though nice to have, using the Theta S for live streaming is sort of a pain. It’s understandable that feature got the ax in exchange for a lower price.
One more minor difference: Instead of the soft-touch exterior of the Theta S, the SC is resin. It still comes in multiple colors, though: white, beige, blue and pink.
Ricoh updated its Theta S iOS and Android apps for controlling the camera, too, mainly making the interface more intuitive for less tech-savvy users. (I mean, look how happy those people in the picture are to be using it!)
The Ricoh Theta SC is available in the US now for $300. UK and Australian details weren’t available, but that’s approximately AU$400 or £250.
Oculus Rift Earphones Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
What you hear is almost as important as what you see. Without audio, the illusion can’t hold.
That’s why every Oculus Rift virtual reality headset comes with a pair of cushy, built-in headphones that you can adjust to fit practically every skull. They’re good but not great, which is why Facebook’s new Oculus Rift Earphones, shipping this December, might get you excited.
When the company introduced the $49 (£49 or roughly AU$80 in Australia) buds last week at the Oculus Connect developer conference, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe claimed they sound as good or better than $900 earphones. “These sound as good as some of the highest-end earphones in the world,” he said.
Unfortunately, that just isn’t true. I’ve spent a few hours in VR with the Oculus Rift Earphones, and I honestly like my Oculus much better without them.
The Oculus Rift Earphones, attached to an Oculus Rift headset.
Sean Hollister/CNET
Clear but shrill
The first time you try a great pair of earbuds (here are some of our favorites) the clarity can blow you away. You hear things in your favorite songs you’ve never heard before — the edge of a whisper, individual background instruments, quiet notes you’ve always missed — because the extra isolation means they don’t need to compete (as much) with the sounds of the world around you.
That’s the main reason the Oculus Rift Earphones might feel like a step up from the ones that came with the headset. Even compared to my typical go-to headphones, the beloved Bose QC25 noise-canceling on-ear cans, the earbuds sounded clearer. They definitely kept me better insulated from the world than the stock earcups.
Installation is easy; just twist (with a coin, thumbnail, or the included tool) to remove the old earpieces and attach the new ones.
Sean Hollister/CNET
The Earphones have a decent amount of bass, too, enough for me to feel the sheer sound pressure in Dido’s “Here With Me,” as just one example. (Don’t judge.)
(Plus, they’re easy to install. Just a few twists with the included tool to remove each earpiece — you can also use a coin, or even a thumbnail — and a few more twists to put the new ones in place.)
But none of that mattered to me when it came to the highs, which were so shrill. I could barely stand electronic-heavy music, like Chvrches, when the edge of every note is like a little knife, one that got sharper the higher I raised the volume. I found a selection of pop that worked just fine, but even singer-songwriter fare like Vienna Teng was tough to listen to.
Playing Damaged Core, a game filled with screeching laser fire and robotic dialogue, I wanted to rip out the earbuds and play something else.
And the next time I picked up the headset, I noticed one of the freely dangling earbuds had decided to stick to the eyepieces of my Oculus Rift. (Apparently, the cables are just long enough.) Yuck.
That was it — I removed the earbuds for good. It was just as easy as putting them on.
Hopefully, the next time Facebook decides to create a new set of earpieces, they’ll be better in every way than the ones that come free in the box.
Full disclosure: My wife works for Facebook, owner of Oculus, as a business-to-business video coordinator.
Terahertz radiation could speed up computer memory by 1000 times
One area limiting speed in personal computing speed is memory — specifically, how quickly individual memory cells can be switched, which is currently done using an external magnetic field. European and Russian scientists have proposed a new method using much more rapid terahertz radiation, aka “T-rays,” the same things used in airport body scanners. According to their research, published in the journal Nature, swapping out magnetic fields for T-rays could crank up the rate of the cell-resetting process by a factor of 1000, which could be used to create ultrafast memory.
The radiation is actually a series of short electromagnetic pulses pinging the cells at terahertz frequencies (which have wavelengths of about 0.1 millimeter, lying between microwaves and infrared light, according to the scientists’ press release). Most of the recent T-ray experiments have dealt with quick, precise inspections of organic and mechanical material. Aside from quickly scanning you for contraband and awkward bulges at airports, other proposals have involved using terahertz radiation to look into broken microchip innards, peer into fragile texts and even comb airport luggage for bombs.
But similar to those hypothetical applications, you won’t see T-rays in your PCs any time soon. The scientists have successfully demonstrated the concept on a weak ferromagnet, thulium orthoferrite (TmFeO₃), and even found that the terahertz radiation’s effect was ten times greater than a traditional external magnetic field, meaning the new method is both far faster and more efficient. But the scientists have yet to publish tests on actual computer memory cells, so it’s unknown when, or if, T-rays will buzz around inside your machine.
Source: Nature
What is Amazon Music Unlimited and how does it work?
Amazon has launched its long-rumored on-demand music streaming service.
It’s called Amazon Music Unlimited, and it is meant to take on Spotify and Apple Music and other similar streaming services. Here’s everything you need to know about it, including how much it costs, where it’s available, whether it’s ad-free, how it works, and more.
Amazon
What is Amazon Music Unlimited?
There are two different types of music streaming services: internet radio-like ones that randomly play music for you based on your preferences (example: Pandora), and on-demand ones that let you find and play specific tunes (examples: Spotify and Apple Music). Amazon Music Unlimited is the latter type, but it comes with a number of different things, including a low-cost price, that make it stand out from rivals.
Who can use Amazon Music Unlimited?
Amazon Music Unlimited is available everyone, including Amazon Prime members – but it costs extra on top of the Prime membership fee, which is $99 per year (students can get a price discount). The first 30 days of Prime are free, and you can cancel at any time. As a Prime member, you get free two-day shipping on eligible purchases, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Video, and more.
- Go here to sign up for Amazon Prime
How much does Amazon Music Unlimited cost?
Amazon Music Unlimited is available to Amazon Prime members for $79 per year (or $7.99 per month). That’s cheaper than the $9.99-per-month Apple Music and the $9.99 premium option for Spotify. If you own an Amazon Echo device, you can get the service for just $3.99 per month. Amazon currently offers three different Amazon Echo models (you can read about there differences via Pocket-lint’s comparison guide).
If you’re not a Prime member and don’t own an Echo, you can use Amazon Music Unlimited for $9.99 a month. Amazon also said it will soon offer a $14.99-per-month family plan for up to six family members. That’s the same price as Apple Music’s family plan option.
How do you sign up for Amazon Music Unlimited?
Go to the Amazon Music Unlimited website to get started with the free trial. You will have to sign up using your Amazon login credentials and authorise Amazon to charge your default card or another card on file after your trial ends. Your subscription renews monthly, but you can cancel the renewal at any time by visiting Your Amazon Music Settings. If you use Echo, simply ask Alexa to start your trial to Amazon Music Unlimited.
Amazon
Where is Amazon Music Unlimited available?
Amazon Music Unlimited is now available in the US. It will be available for customers in the UK, Germany, and Austria later this year.
Which devices work with Amazon Music Unlimited?
Amazon Music Unlimited is accessible through the Amazon Music app for Fire devices, iOS devices, and Android devices, as well as Mac and PC. You can also access it through a web player in your browser and through the company’s Echo devices. You can play music through a Sonos Multi-Room system or Roku media streamer, as well. Amazon said select BMW, Ford, and Mini cars are even Amazon Music-enabled.
- Go here to access the Amazon Music Unlimited web player
- Go here to access the Amazon Music Unlimited mobile apps
Amazon
How does Amazon Music Unlimited work?
Ad-free listening
Amazon Music Unlimited is similar to Apple Music and Spotify in that it offers “tens of millions” of songs you can listen to on-demand, ad-free. It also serves up recommendations engine through algorithms and hand-picked playlists, and you can access it via mobile apps and the web. Amazon even redesigned its existing Amazon Music app with support the streaming service and an all-new user interface that focuses on album art.
Ask Alexa
Amazon is pushing the service’s integration with Echo and the Alexa voice assistant. Not only do Echo owners have access to a cheaper version of the service (but it’s only available on one Echo device at a time), they can request songs using just their voices. They can stream a specific song, artist, album, or playlist, and Alexa can even pull up the “latest song” from an artist or play music based on mood, time, activity, etc.
Alexa can also find songs from snippets of lyrics. Although the discounted Echo plan is limited to only one device (you cannot use it on your phone, PC, tablet, or even more than one Echo device), it offers all the same features, including the full music catalogue and recommendations. If Echo owners don’t get Music Unlimited, Amazon’s existing Prime Music service will still be available to them with a library of two million songs.
- Go here to learn more about Amazon’s Prime Music service
Side-by-Side
Amazon Music Unlimited is offering a unique feature called Side-by-Side. It syncs artists’ commentary with racks from the their catalogues. This is how Amazon described the feature:
Amazon Music on Alexa also brings fans and artists closer together with behind-the-scenes artist commentary about their music, called Side-by-Sides. Customers can simply ask, “Alexa, play Side-by-Side with OneRepublic” and Ryan Tedder will play and comment on songs from OneRepublic’s latest album Oh My My. Side-by-Sides are available exclusively on Amazon Music from top artists such as The Chainsmokers, Jason Aldean, Lindsey Stirling, Norah Jones, OneRepublic and Kongos – with more being added all the time.
Want to know more?
Check out Amazon’s promo video above, or visit Pocket-lint’s Amazon hub for more related news.
Facebook triggered a spike in US voter registration
How well do those online voter registration campaigns work, really? Better than you might think. Both officials and the Center for Election Innovation & Research report that Facebook’s four-day voter registration campaign, which sent friendly 17-word reminders starting September 23rd, triggered spikes in registrations across the US. These weren’t just moderate bumps, either. Sign-ups in a given state grew anywhere from double to 23 times what they were on the 22nd, sometimes adding tens of thousands of voters.
Many of the registrants were on the younger side. The New York Times observes that 24 percent of California’s registrations during the period came from 17- to 25-year-olds, and almost 30 percent from 26- to 35-year-olds.
The figures aren’t completely surprising when this election marks the first for a generation of young adults that practically grew up using Facebook. Many of them are not only new to voting, but get a lot of their news from social sites. The real question is whether or not the Facebook campaign will have a meaningful impact on the outcome. That could be difficult to quantify, even in battleground states where a few thousand votes could make all the difference. Still, it’s apparent that Facebook’s get-out-the-vote effort is paying some dividends.
Source: CFEIR, New York Times
Buy a Galaxy Note 7 used? Samsung has your back for an exchange
If you bought a used Galaxy Note 7, Samsung will help you out.
We’ve detailed the process for returning your Galaxy Note 7 if you had purchased through a carrier or retailer, but the phone had been out long enough that there were plenty of used and second-hand phones floating around out there as well. Thankfully you won’t be left out in the cold if you bought a used Note 7: Samsung has a process for you to send in the phone and get a replacement.
Here’s the full statement from Samsung on the situation:
Any customer who bought a Note7 [used] should contact us directly at 1-844-365-6197 to exchange their device. We are working as quickly as possible to make the service experience for our customers as quick and smooth as possible and we are grateful to our Note7 customers for their patience during this time.
So rather than trying to track down the original seller, or go return the phone to a carrier that you didn’t buy it directly from, just go straight to Samsung by calling 1-844-365-6197. The policy stands now as it did from the first hints of a recall back in September: you can turn in your Note 7 to Samsung and get it replaced with a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge. Samsung will of course arrange for the return of your Note.
This is the right move from Samsung, for sure, and will help foster a little good will amongst those who bought secondhand phones with no warranty or receipt of sale.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
- Galaxy Note 7 fires, recall and cancellation: Everything you need to know
- Do not buy a Galaxy Note 7
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
- The latest Galaxy Note 7 news
- Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!
Daily brief: An Android Experiment in carrier satisfaction
What happened on October 12? You tell me, I was too busy napping.
There’s no question that Google’s decision to go with Verizon as its exclusive U.S. carrier for the Pixel has been divisive, but it’s looking increasingly like the provider understands how passionate people are about the feeling of openness that Google built around its Nexus brand. And we’re happy about that, since there’s nothing worse than a carrier ruining a phone.
And after reporting on another Android Experiment, Paper Planes, I’m glad to see Google maintain its release cadence for these unique and interesting apps. Android was built on quirky experimentation, and I hope the trend continues.
Now, today’s news.
BlackBerry DTEK60 comes up for air again at B&H Photo
According to CrackBerry (hi Bla1ze!), the DTEK60, BlackBerry’s next flagship Android phone sans keyboard, has come and gone from B&H Photo’s website as pre-orders are set to go live any day now. The phone is reportedly based on the TCL 950, which could eventually turn into the Alcatel Idol 4S Pro, but BlackBerry’s version is sure to be security-focused, and relatively affordable at $499. More
Google’s latest Android Experiment is a camera app for VR addicts
Google’s latest Android Experiment is an incredibly neat way to create VR-friendly “photos” that don’t look perfect. It’s weird; you should try it. Dubbed Sprayscape, the app “hacks” the Cardboard SDK by using the phone’s gyroscope to map a camera scene in realtime. It’s fun and easy to share with your friends when you’re done.
Verizon promises it won’t delay Pixel updates
Google and Verizon are going on the offensive in the name of timely Android updates, ensuring customers that they will arrive at the same time as their unlocked, Google-sold counterparts. While we still recommend you buy your phone from Google due to the presence of bloatware and and unlocked bootloader, this is good news for soon-to-be Pixel customers. More
Verizon’s VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling features will work on unlocked Pixels
On the other side of the coin, Google has confirmed that Pixels purchased unlocked from its online store will work with Verizon’s HD Voice services, which include VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling.
Huawei’s Mate 9 looks awfully familiar
Not sure I can put my finger on it, but the Huawei Mate 9 — if the leak is accurate — may bear a striking resemblance to a certain 2015 Samsung phone. Huawei’s upcoming flagship is expected to be unveiled in Munich on November 3, and it should usher in the era of not-terrible Huawei software. Can’t wait! More
If you bought a Note 7 used, Samsung has your back
Don’t try to go into a carrier store or contact anyone else — just call up Samsung directly, and it’ll handle an exchange of your Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge. More
Improvements coming to Google Photos
Google has added four new features to the Google Photos service that will help you manage your library and make sure your pictures are orientated correctly. Machine learning is harnessed to help you relive important moments and pick out photos that highlight them best, animations can now be made from videos you’ve taken, and when a picture appears to be sideways or upside-down you’ll have an easy way to correct it. These changes are all done server-side so we don’t have to change anything to see them appear in our Assistant tab. Phew!
HTC Canada knocks $200 off the Red HTC 10
It’s oh-so-red. Now it’s $200 off. The unlocked HTC 10 in red is compatible with Telus, Rogers, Bell, Koodo, Fido, Virgin Mobile, Wind Mobile, Videotron and Sasktel.
Take our survey and win an unlocked Galaxy S7!
Want to win a Galaxy S7? Take our survey about how you think Samsung handled the Note 7 survey!
Have a great evening!
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