MoviePass vs. Sinemia vs. AMC A-List vs. Cinemark: Which movie subscription service should you get?

There are so many movie theater subscription choices out there now, but how do you know which one to pick?

So it’s peak summer season, which means prime time for going to the movies. But with ticket prices the way they are, along with the cost of concessions, moviegoing gets fairly pricey.

So what are you supposed to do without spending an arm and a leg to enjoy the latest summer blockbusters? Fortunately, movie theater subscriptions have become a rising trend lately, and it seems there’s a new option popping up every few months now.

But with so many choices now, which movie subscription service is the best for you? Let’s dive into some of the more popular choices and find out!

• MoviePass
• Sinemia
• AMC Stubs A-List
• Cinemark Movie Club

MoviePass

Let’s start with the one that everyone’s probably heard of by now due to making plenty of headlines recently: MoviePass.

Pricing

There are two levels of membership: MoviePass and MoviePass Unlimited.

The regular MoviePass subscription starts at $7.95 a month and gives members three movies a month. If you go with MoviePass Unlimited at $9.95 a month, you get one movie a day for the month, although there are some caveats that we’ll discuss in a bit.

Membership cards

With MoviePass, unfortunately, you can’t use the service until you receive the physical card in the mail. This process can take up to two weeks after you sign up for a plan.

The physical MoviePass card works like a debit card, and it’s even branded as a MasterCard. Once you check-in to a movie, just use your MoviePass card to pay for the ticket at the box office or kiosk, just like you would with any other credit card for payment. This works because after you check in, your card gets about $15 of credit loaded onto it to “pay” for the ticket.

It’s important to keep track of your MoviePass card at all times, though, because if you lose it, getting in touch with their customer service department for a replacement can be a doozy.

Features and Limitations

The most enticing thing about MoviePass is the fact that you can go to any participating movie theater once a day to watch any movie that’s playing. So if you go by that, you can potentially see 30 movies each month for just $10! This was the case when the company first started, and through their jaw-dropping price drop announcement back in 2017.

However, there have been plenty of major changes since then that make MoviePass less appealing.

First off, MoviePass limits you to standard 2D viewings only. That means no IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Digital 3D, or anything fancy, just plain old 2D film. If you prefer premium movie experiences, you’re going to have to pay for those separately. It’s also limited only to participating theaters, so you have to check to make sure your local theater even takes MoviePass.

While MoviePass does have some e-ticketing options for reserving your tickets, the theaters that utilize this feature in MoviePass are far and wide. For most people, you need to use the standard “check-in” method with MoviePass to get your tickets. This means being within 100 yards of the theater, finding the movie and showtime you want to check into, and then going to the box office or kiosk to get your tickets.

This proves to be rather troublesome when you want to get good seats for big releases, or even seats next to each other on busy days. With this system, you’ll need to plan ahead and get to the theater early.

Previously, MoviePass allowed for multiple viewings of a single movie. So if you really liked a film, you could go back and watch it again, no problem. However, recent changes limit subscribers to one viewing for each movie, so no double-dipping!

Users also have to submit a photo of their ticket stub after each check-in, and failure to do so could result in suspended accounts. It’s just another annoying little thing to remember when using MoviePass.

Lastly, there’s now “peak pricing” for popular blockbuster movies if you want to watch them during opening week. This means more money on top of your monthly charge.

All those changes don’t even take into account service outages, which are apparently a thing.

Who’s it for?

MoviePass is best for the person who wants good value. If you don’t mind only seeing standard 2D movies, don’t do repeat viewings, don’t care about having another physical card to track, or having to check-in manually every time you want to see something, then MoviePass gets you a lot of bang for your buck.

MoviePass – Free – Download Now

Sinemia

Sinemia is another subscription just like MoviePass, but it seems to be lesser known because of lack of marketing. However, it works similarly.

Pricing

Sinemia has several membership tiers, and there are even family plans as well.

The cheapest option, Classic, starts at $4.99 a month and gets you one standard 2D movie a month at any theater with no blackout days and advance ticketing options. A second level Classic tier is available for $7.99 a month and nets you two movies a month.

Then there are the Elite plans, which start at $9.99 and $14.99 for two or three movies per month, respectively. The Elite plans include everything that comes in Classic, but with the addition of 3D and premium movie formats (Dolby Cinema, IMAX, 4DX, and more).

Sinemia also offers family plans. These include one membership owner, and you can bring up to six additional people when getting your tickets. Only the owner of the account can purchase the tickets though.

It seems that the price of Sinemia Elite pays for itself within one visit to the theater if you go with one of the premium format viewings. However, you need to keep in mind that Sinemia only charges annually, so your first payment starts at $60 and you’re locked in for a year.

There’s currently a summer sale going on, which reduces every plan’s cost by $1 across-the-board. If you want to take advantage of this super-low pricing, then you should sign up now.

Membership cards

Similar to MoviePass, Sinemia issues out a physical card to all members. This takes about a week or two, but it’s how you’ll be “purchasing” your movie tickets as a Sinemia member.

Unlike MoviePass, there are no geofencing limitations when it comes to the process of obtaining your ticket. In fact, you’re able to obtain your tickets the day-of by just purchasing them online through the website or mobile app.

There’s even the ability to select and purchase a ticket within 30 days, rather than same-day only as with MoviePass. If you do it this way, you have a window of two hours to buy the ticket with your Sinemia card. MoviePass only has a window of 30 minutes since checking in to get your ticket.

And once again, it’s recommended to always keep track of your Sinemia card. If it’s lost, it can be hard to get a hold of a representative to get it replaced.

Features and Limitations

Though Sinemia doesn’t have an unlimited option like MoviePass, there’s still a lot to like about it.

For one, you’re able to reserve tickets up to 30 days in advance, and there’s a two-hour window to do so, meaning it’s much more relaxed. All of your tickets can be purchased online, so there’s no silly geolocation restriction.

If you opt for the Classic plans, you’ll only get the option for standard 2D showings, but at a cheaper price than MoviePass. This makes sense if you don’t go to the movies that much anyways, as it still saves you some money from buying a normal ticket.

But Elite plans offer you the most bang for your buck. With 3D and premium offerings available in these plans, it practically pays for itself with one movie (IMAX and Dolby Cinema tickets are about $20 in my area).

Really, the only flaws of Sinemia are the fact that you’ll need to wait to receive the physical card before you can use it, and you can only see up to three movies max each month. You also need to pay for your membership annually, which isn’t as appealing.

Who’s it for?

Sinemia’s designed for the person who doesn’t go to the movies every week, but wants to get the most bang for their buck when they do go. And if you want to be able to watch premium formats at any theater with no blockout dates, then Sinemia is the way to go.

Sinemia – Free – Download Now

AMC Stubs A-List

AMC recently rolled out their own subscription service, which is a new level of their Stubz membership. It’s made to compete with MoviePass after the little dispute between the companies.

Pricing

AMC A-List is a bit more expensive than the competition. It costs $19.95 a month and you must commit to at least three full months before you’re able to cancel. However, the $19.95 cost is locked in for at least 12 months, so you don’t need to worry about any changes during that time.

The pricing for A-List only includes one ticket for each of the three movies per week that you’re entitled to. If you need more tickets for someone without A-List, those must be purchased separately.

Membership cards

There’s no physical card to use for A-List, so you can start using it as soon as you sign up. Everything can be done online through the app or website as long as you’re signed in to your AMC Stubs A-List account.

However, if you were a previous AMC Stubs Premiere member and have your physical membership card, you can continue to use it.

Features and limitations

Even though A-List is one of the pricier options, it has a lot of perks.

Though it’s not unlimited, A-List members can see up to three movies each week, with new weeks resetting Friday morning. You can spread these out over the week or see three movies in one day, with at least two hours in-between each viewing.

A-List also doesn’t limit you to standard 2D films. With membership, you can see 3D, IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and other premium formats. So even if you just see one premium format screening, the membership already pays for itself.

All ticketing and seat reservations are done online, through the app or website. You don’t need to be near the theater to get your tickets, as it’s all digital and can even be saved to Apple Wallet. To top it all off, you can reserve tickets and seats in advance.

The final benefit of A-List is that it comes with all perks of AMC Stubs Premiere, which is normally $15 a year. That means you get a free fountain drink and popcorn size upgrades, waived online fees (if you purchase separate tickets), 10 percent back on all concessions, and Priority Lane access.

The only restriction with AMC A-List is the fact that you need to go to AMC theaters only.

Who’s it for?

If you love watching your movies on the best screens possible and have AMCs nearby or go there frequently, then A-List is totally worth it. Plus, being able to reserve your tickets days in advance is great.

AMC Theaters – Free – Download Now

Cinemark Movie Club

If Cinemark theaters are where you prefer to go for movie watching, then you may be pleased to know they also have their own subscription plan.

Pricing

CInemark’s Movie Club is a bit more expensive than the other three that we’ve covered so far, since it costs $8.99 a month for one movie only. However, unused tickets roll over into the next month, so if you don’t go to the theaters often, you can accumulate rollover tickets after a while.

But it’s important to keep in mind that the $8.99 per month cost only accounts for standard 2D movies. If you want to catch a premium viewing, then additional upcharges will apply. Extra tickets can also be bought at a discounted price of $8.99, rather than the standard normal ticket cost.

Membership cards

Like AMC Stubs A-List, Cinemark’s Movie Club has no physical membership card, so you’re able to use your perks right away after signing up.

All ticket reservations are done online or through the Cinemark app. If you prefer to still go up to the box office to get tickets, that’s fine too! Just pull up your Cinemark ID on your phone and have them scan your unique QR code to redeem your Movie Club credit.

Features and Limitations

As already mentioned, Movie Club only gets you one standard 2D movie credit per month. But unused credits roll over into the next month, and these unused credits can continue to roll over until you redeem them — there’s no expiration on them. If you cancel your Movie Club account, you’ll have six months to redeem any unused credits.

If you go over your credits, you can purchase up to two additional tickets per transaction at the rate of $8.99 each. This is great if you’re bringing a buddy along. Movie Club also gives members 20 percent off concessions, which can add up over time if you always have a case of the munchies while watching movies. And all purchases net you Connections points, which you can use for movie swag, digital downloads, and sweepstakes entries.

Since this is Cinemark, your Movie Club membership is valid at all Cinemark, Century, CinéArts, Tinseltown, and Rave theaters.

Unfortunately, if you don’t frequent these theaters often, then Movie Club may not be your best option. It’s also rather limiting with just one movie per month, and you’ll have to pay extra for premium format viewings.

Who’s it for?

Cinemark’s Movie Club is great for those who only seldom go to the movies, get food and drink often, and want the option of purchasing discounted tickets when needed. And if you don’t mind a small upcharge, being able to view a premium movie every so often is a nice option to have.

Cinemark Theaters – Free – Download Now

What’s your movie subscription service of choice?

Movie subscription services are a rising trend as of late, and it seems that everyone’s using some sort of program these days. But with all of these different options, it’s definitely hard to pick the one that’s right for you. Personally, I was a MoviePass customer but switched to AMC A-List when it came out because I was tired of the constant changes to how MoviePass works.

We’ve listed out all of the pros and cons of each one, and hope that it helps you narrow down your choices. Happy movie-going!

MoviePass – Free – Download Now

Sinemia – Free – Download Now

AMC Theaters – Free – Download Now

Cinemark Theaters – Free – Download Now

Apple Expected to Report Its Best Third Quarter Ever Today

Apple is set to report its earnings results for the third quarter of its 2018 fiscal year at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time today.

The quarter began April 1, 2018 and ran through June 30, 2018, according to Apple’s fiscal year accounting calendar.

Apple provided the following guidance for the quarter back on May 1:

• revenue of $51.5 billion to $53.5 billion
• gross margin between 38 and 38.5 percent
• op. ex. of $7.7 billion to $7.8 billion
• other income/expense of $400 million
• tax rate of approximately 14.5 percent

Apple’s guidance suggests it will report its best third quarter results ever, by revenue, comfortably topping its 2015 record of $49.6 billion:

• 2014: $37.4 billion
• 2015: $49.6 billion
• 2016: $42.4 billion
• 2017: $45.4 billion
• 2018: $51.5+ billion

Wall Street analysts forecast that Apple will report $52.3 billion revenue, meeting roughly the midpoint of its guidance, and earnings per share of $2.18, according to 29 estimates averaged by Yahoo Finance.

Key Takeaways and What to Look For

• iPhone unit sales of around 41.7 million, according to a FactSet estimate.
• Apple doesn’t break out iPhone sales on a model-by-model basis, but the iPhone’s average selling price should reveal whether the iPhone X remains Apple’s best selling iPhone model since it launched, or if sales have slowed. iPhone ASP was $728 last quarter. $606 in year-ago quarter.
• iPad unit sales should be boosted by the new sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad, released March 27, just four days before the third quarter.
• Apple’s guidance for its fourth quarter, which runs from July 1 through September 29, as new iPhones will likely be available to order during the final two weeks of the quarter. Analysts expect revenue of $59.5 billion, based on 29 estimates averaged by Yahoo Finance.
• Apple’s comments on the trade war between the United States and China, and what impact it could have on Apple products, if any.
• Continued growth of Apple’s Services category, including the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, iTunes, Apple Pay, and AppleCare. Loup Ventures expects Services growth of 19 percent on a year-over-year basis.
• Continued growth of Apple’s Other Products category, including the Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, AirPods, Beats, iPod touch, and accessories, as Apple diversifies revenue beyond the iPhone.

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will discuss the company’s earnings results on a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. MacRumors will loosely transcribe the one-hour call as it occurs live.

Tags: earnings, AAPL
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Apple’s Upcoming 6.5-Inch OLED ‘iPhone X Plus’ to Support iPad-Style Landscape Mode

Rumors have suggested Apple’s upcoming 6.5-inch OLED iPhone, which can be thought of as an “iPhone X Plus” device, will feature a screen resolution of 2688 x 1242 with somewhere around 450 pixels per inch. Comparatively, the current 5.8-inch iPhone X features a screen resolution of 2436 x 1125, and the second-generation device is expected to use the same display.

As with Apple’s plus-sized iPhones, the extra screen real estate of the larger 6.5-inch device will enable an iPad-style landscape mode that offers up more available information in apps like Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Stocks when viewed in landscape orientation.

This has been confirmed in data gathered by Brazilian site iHelpBR from the most recent beta versions of iOS 12 and Xcode. The site forced the iOS Simulator tool to run at a resolution of 2688 x 1242 with a PPI of 458 and found that many native apps have been adapted with landscape mode features appropriate for a larger device.

In screenshots, the Contacts and Calendar apps, for example, both feature iPad-style layouts that are currently used in plus-sized devices like the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 8 Plus.

This suggests that Apple plans to treat the “iPhone X Plus” as it does the other larger-screened Plus devices, taking full advantage of the extra display area, and it also confirms that the upcoming device is likely to use the rumored 2688 x 1242 resolution.

Apple first introduced the new landscape mode features in iOS 8 alongside the release of the iPhone 6 Plus, the first larger-screened Plus sized device that Apple launched. Since then, the feature has been limited to the larger iPhone models.

Though the iPhone X’s 5.8-inch display is bigger diagonally than the 5.5-inch display of the iPhone 8 Plus and prior plus-sized iPhones, it did not adopt the iPad-like landscape mode features.

Related Roundups: 2018 iPhones, iOS 12
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Apple Reports 3Q 2018 Results: $11.5B Profit on $53.3B Revenue and 41.3M iPhones

Apple today announced financial results for the third fiscal quarter of 2018, which corresponds to the second calendar quarter of the year. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $53.3 billion and net quarterly profit of $11.5 billion, or $2.34 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $45.4 billion and net quarterly profit of $8.7 billion, or $1.67 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

Gross margin for the quarter was 38.3 percent compared to 38.5 percent in the year-ago quarter, with international sales accounting for 60 percent of revenue. Apple also declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.73 per share, payable on August 16 to shareholders of record as of August 13.

Apple sold 41.3 million iPhones during the quarter, up slightly from 41.0 million a year earlier, while Mac sales fell to 3.72 million units from 4.29 million units in the year-ago quarter. iPad sales rose slightly to 11.55 million from 11.42 million.

“We’re thrilled to report Apple’s best June quarter ever, and our fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Our Q3 results were driven by continued strong sales of iPhone, Services and Wearables, and we are very excited about the products and services in our pipeline.”

Apple’s guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 includes expected revenue of $60–62 billion and gross margin between 38 and 38.5 percent.

Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q3 2018 financial results conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.

Conference call starts at 2:00 PM Pacific – No need to refresh

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Tag: earnings
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This simple Chrome extension makes new tabs gorgeous

Google’s backdrops are great, but Apple’s Aerials are awesome.

We’ve talked about how easy it is to bring Apple TV’s excellent Aerial screensavers to Android TV. It’s also possible to use them as your Mac background. And for everyone else — especially those of the chromeOS variety — it’s also possible to use them as what you see when you fire up a new tab in the world’s best browser.

Here’s how to do it:

Install this Chrome extension.
Open a new tab. (I’m a fan of the Ctrl-T method, you might be a mouse clicker. To each his own.)

And that’s in. Inside that new tab you’ll see the gorgeous aerial screensavers Apple’s left open for folks to do with as they please.

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Chromebooks in education: Everything you need to know
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Chromebook Buyers Guide
• Google Pixelbook review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Thanks, Lenovo, for including a camera cover on your Smart Display

For me, the most important feature is something most people aren’t talking about.

I ordered the Lenovo Smart Display on day one because a digital assistant with its own display is a thing I’m really interested in. Ever since the first crafty DIY’er built the first smart mirror people have thought of ways visual feedback can be integrated with something that gives you some extra information, and a small(ish) screen that can tap into the power of a virtual assistant would make for the ultimate bedside clock. At least until we see a full-size smart mirror for your dresser or chest of drawers, that is.

I thought I’d be able to have what I wanted when Amazon dropped the Echo Show with its 7-inch display and the power of Alexa to tell me the weather, play me a song, or wake me up when I just want to stay in bed. When we got the information and specs I knew I wasn’t going to buy one because of one simple reason — you can’t turn off the camera.

There is actually a serach engine for hacked webcam feeds and no I am not linking it for you.

Some of us might be OK with a camera on their bedside table. Some might even want a camera beside the bed for one reason or another. I am neither of those persons, and I’m also not going to spend all that money then slap a piece of duct tape over a lens hole or resort to some other less simple plans and call it a day. Ideally, I wanted a model without a camera, but at least I’d need a way to properly shut it down and block it off. Like most of us, I have a phone and a tablet or laptop if I want to make video calls and don’t need some Orwellian eyeball watching me while I sleep.

That’s why the thing about the Lenovo Smart Display that made me order one is the thing most people don’t care about — you can cover the camera and it shunts it out of the system like it was never there.

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It’s a simple addition that probably costs more than I want to know to include. But it’s also a smart decision, and not just for people like me who are thinking about their nightstand. It seems odd (to me at least) that people are more than happy to share every detail about their personal life with their cell phone carrier or Google or Facebook but freak out over Google Assistant or Alexa and all the details each gleams from our digital data. I chalk it up to the fact that something like Google Home or an Amazon Echo can talk to you so you can’t escape seeing how much it knows about you, even though Google and Amazon already had the data to begin with.

Adding a camera to the mix might sound cool when you think about calling someone up and chatting Star Trek style, but soon talk turns to having a camera attached to a company that feeds on your data right in the middle of your living room or kitchen. Or bedroom. Even if you know and understand how these things work, you’ll never be able to be 100% sure the camera isn’t on and watching. There will be plenty of times you don’t want the camera on and watching you when it’s inside your home.

So consider this a shout-out to Lenovo for thinking ahead and spending the money to include a feature a lot of folks will appreciate. We’re soon going to see plenty more smart display products and I’m hoping this sets a precedent for others — including Amazon for the Echo Show v2 — to follow.

Lenovo Smart Display 10″

Price: $249.99

Bottom line: Lenovo’s Smart Display elegantly transitions the Google Assistant onto screens, but it’s the elegant design and great sound that make it a clear recommendation.

The Good

• Lovely, elegant design
• High-quality 10-inch display
• Great sound overall
• Assistant + screen can be very useful
• Camera privacy slider should be everywhere

The Bad

• Android Things isn’t fully baked just yet
• Lacks Netflix and other big-name Cast target support
• Better optimized for voice than touch
• Speaker lacks bass impact

See at Lenovo

Apple Releases Fourth Beta of macOS Mojave to Public Beta Testers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming macOS Mojave update to its public beta testing group, two weeks seeding the third macOS Mojave public beta. Today’s fourth public beta is the same as the fifth developer beta released earlier this week.

Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program can download the macOS Mojave beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store. Subsequent betas are installed in a different way, using the Software Update icon in System Preferences.

Those who want to be a part of Apple’s beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas. Potential beta testers should make a full Time Machine backup before installing macOS Mojave, and it should not be installed on a primary machine because betas are unstable and often have serious bugs.

Today’s macOS Mojave update introduces several new wallpapers appropriate for use with Dark Mode. There are several wallpapers that feature images of the Mojave desert, along with new abstract oil slick-style wallpapers, new dark flower wallpapers, images that have been used to promote recent Mac refreshes, and more.

macOS Mojave’s main new feature is a systemwide Dark Mode, which gives Mac users a new way to view the operating system. A revamped Mac App Store makes it easier than ever to discover great apps, while Dynamic Desktops give you wallpapers that subtly change throughout the day.

An improved Finder window with Gallery View, Sidebar, Quick Look, and Quick Actions makes it easier to manipulate, edit, and organize your files, while Desktop Stacks organizes all of the files on your desktop.

The Apple News, Stocks, Home, and Voice Memos apps have made their way to the Mac in Mojave, and for the first time, you can use Siri on Mac to control HomeKit products. Group FaceTime, an iOS 12 feature, is also available in Mojave and lets you chat with up to 32 people at one time.

Apple is keeping your data safer than ever with new security and privacy improvements, and Safari in macOS Mojave makes it much harder to track you through share/like buttons and via your system configuration.

macOS Mojave is compatible with 2015 and newer MacBooks, 2012 and newer MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac models, the 2017 iMac Pro, and Mac Pro models from late 2013 and mid-2010 and mid-2012 models with Metal-capable GPUs.

Mojave will be available in a beta capacity for the next several months so Apple can work out bugs ahead of a fall release.

Related Roundup: macOS Mojave
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Deals: AirPods for $144.99, 4K iTunes Movies Sale, and Latest Anker Discount Codes

Apple’s AirPods are seeing a rare and notable discount today at two retailers, with the wireless earphone accessory marked down to $144.99 at both Amazon and Adorama.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Straight discounts on AirPods don’t come around very often and these are all-time-low prices for the accessory at both retailers, although they have been slightly cheaper for those using sitewide discount codes at places like eBay. So if you have been waiting for a price drop on AirPods, head over to Amazon or Adorama and place your order soon.

We’ve also got a new collection of Anker discounts to highlight today:

• True-Wireless Earphones Soundcore Liberty Lite – $64.99 with code SDCLBT66, down from $79.99 (exp. 8/5)

• PowerWave 7.5 Pad, 7.5W Fast Wireless Charger – $31.99 with code POWERAAA, down from $39.99 (exp. 8/5)

• SoundBuds Slim+ Wireless Headphones – $21.99 with code SDBUDS01, down from $29.99 (exp. 8/7)

• PowerLine+ Lightning Cable (6ft, Red) with Pouch – $12.74 with code ANKER229, down from $16.99 (exp. 8/14)

• Roav Bluetooth Receiver – $15.99 with code ROAVB288, down from $22.99 (exp. 8/14)

As it does every Tuesday, Apple today updated the iTunes Movies store with a new crop of film releases and discounts to help boost your iTunes Movies library. There are a few notable discounts on recent 4K releases, as well as many Disney films marked down by $5-$10, which you can check out below:

• Ready Player One (4K) – $12.99, down from $19.99

• Blockers (4K) – $9.99, down from $14.99

• Early Man (4K) – $7.99, down from $14.99

• Isle of Dogs (4K) – $9.99, down from $19.99

• Maze Runner: The Death Cure (4K) – $9.99, down from $14.99

• Bolt – $9.99, down from $19.99

• Frozen – $14.99, down from $19.99

• The Princess and the Frog – $14.99, down from $19.99

• Tangled – $14.99, down from $19.99

• Mulan – $14.99, down from $19.99

Costco members, also remember that if you’re looking to buy some of these movies on sale, you can stock up on iTunes credit at a discount this week with $100 iTunes gift cards for $84.49 and $25 gift cards for $21.49. Head over to our full Deals Roundup for more information on the latest sales going on as we enter August.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Workplaces Increasingly Seeking Freelancers With Xcode and UIKit Expertise

Upwork, the largest global freelancing website, today shared a list of the top 20 fastest growing skills in the U.S. freelance job market, providing a closer look at trends in the industry.

Apple’s design framework for iOS and tvOS apps, UIKit, and its development tool, Xcode, both made the list in the second quarter of 2018:Blockchain
Google Cloud Platform
Volusion
Risk management
Product photography
Rapid prototyping
Google App Engine API
SCORM
GitLab
Go development
Apple UIKit
Enterprise architecture
Tensorflow
Atlassian Confluence
Apple Xcode
eLearning
Customer retention
Articulate storyline
Node.js
Scala developmentUpwork says more companies are seeking freelance developers with Xcode knowledge to build their apps, causing an “increase in demand” for experience with the tool. UIKit also saw “high growth” last quarter, making its first appearance on the list.

Upwork shared a list of relevant online courses for each skill listed, including UIKit and Xcode, for those interested in getting started.

Tags: Xcode, UIKit
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Twelve South Launches ‘AirSnap’ Leather Carrying Case for AirPods

Twelve South today revealed its latest Apple accessory called the “AirSnap,” which is a case made for AirPods and aimed at making the wireless headphones easier to keep handy thanks to an attached metal clip.

AirSnap is made from full-grain leather and helps to protect both the AirPods and AirPods case while on-the-go. The bottom of the case has a cutout so that you don’t have to remove the AirPods from the AirSnap to charge them.

Twelve South says one of the main features of AirSnap is the carabiner style metal clip:

AirSnap features a carabiner style clip allowing you to attach this little case to a backpack, purse, keychain or anything else that goes wherever your AirPods need to go. By connecting AirSnap to your bag, you’ll know both your AirPods and Charging Case will be with you. The black carabiner also swivels, making it easy to grab or put your AirPods away.

Those interested can purchase AirSnap from TwelveSouth’s website for $29.99 in Deep Teal and Black, and a Cognac version is available to pre-order and should ship the week of August 6.

The AirSnap follows the launch of Twelve South’s last product, which was also designed for AirPods, called “AirFly.” That accessory acts as an adapter so that you can use AirPods (or any Bluetooth headphones) where only wired headphone jacks are available, like on a plane, at the gym, or with the Nintendo Switch.

Tag: Twelve South
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