The new Apple TV app is: TV
The rumored TV guide app for Apple TV is here, just unveiled at the company’s event. It brings TV and movies from the box’s various apps into one browsable location. As demonstrated on stage by designer Jen Folse, pressing play within the guide can immediately start a video stream in an app like HBO Now, without any intervening menus. The main “Watch Now” menu knows which apps you’ve signed into with its unified login feature, and will show options that you have access to. “TV” isn’t just for Apple TV either, as the app is also accessible from iPhone and iPad.
Another new wrinkle for Apple TV, is the ability for Siri to tune into live video streaming apps, and control third-party apps. The new features will arrive through a software update in December.
Developing…
Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple’s “Hello again” event.
‘Minecraft’ is coming to Apple TV
Today’s Apple event might all be about new Macs, but the folks at Cupertino are taking time to detail updates about its other products too. First up: Apple TV. On stage, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the box now offers access to over 8,000 apps, and will soon become home to one of the most popular games on both consoles and mobile: Minecraft. That’s right, Microsoft’s huge open-world sandbox game will be available on Apple TV “by the end of the year.”
Apple has provided no additional details about what is in store for Minecraft fans but it’s likely that you’ll want to invest in a third-party controller to get the most from the title. Sure, Apple’s new wireless remote sports a touchpad and more buttons than the minimalist silver remote that shipped with the company’s older streamers but we imagine it won’t be the best tool to help you (or the little ones) build that all-important End Portal. We’ve contacted Microsoft and Mojang for more details and will bring you more information as we get it.
Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple’s “Hello Again” event.
Italian Judge Agrees to $50K Settlement for Apple Exec in Irish Tax Probe
An Italian judge has accepted a nearly $50,000 settlement agreement with the head of Apple’s Irish-based unit as part of a probe into allegations that the company failed to pay taxes in Italy (via Reuters).
A six-month jail sentence for the Apple executive has been converted into the payment of a 45,000 euro ($49,126) fine as part of the settlement agreement, according to Reuters’ source.
The original investigations were completed in March 2015 and accused Apple of booking profits generated in Italy through an Irish subsidiary in an effort to lower its taxable income base and save nearly €900 million from 2008 through 2013.
At the time, Apple had called the allegations against its employees “completely without merit”. But in December 2015, it was reported Apple had agreed to pay 318 million euros to Italy – only a third of the amount it was said to have failed to pay in corporate taxes over the five year period. However, under Italian law, a settlement agreement does not imply an admission of guilt.
Milan prosecutors investigating the allegations have also asked for the case against two managers from the Italian subsidiary of Apple to be dropped, the source said.
Apple Italia is part of the company’s European operation headquartered in Ireland, where Apple pays a significantly lower corporate tax rate compared to other EU countries. Ireland has a corporate tax rate of 12.5% for normal business activities, compared to a standard rate of 27.5% in Italy.
Apple’s tax policies in Europe have come under intense scrutiny over the past three years, as the company is said to utilize multiple subsidiary companies located in the Irish city of Cork to move money around without significant tax penalties.
In August, the European Commission ruled that Apple received illegal state aid from Ireland, following a three-year inquiry into the company’s tax arrangements in the country. The investigation’s results showed that Apple allegedly paid between 0.005% and 1% in taxes in Ireland between 2003 and 2014, compared to the the country’s headline 12.5% corporate tax rate.
Apple CEO Tim Cook called the findings “total political crap” and described the lower end 0.005% tax rate as a “false number.” In an open letter, Cook said Apple is confident the decision “will be reversed,” but the appeal process could take several years in European courts. Apple has previously said it fully complies with international tax law and is the largest taxpayer in the world.
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Tags: Apple, Italy, corporate tax
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Apple TV’s ‘TV guide’ app expected to appear tomorrow
Add one more thing to our list of anticipated announcements during Apple’s launch event tomorrow: a new “guide” for Apple TV. First reported by Recode in August, now sources tell it and USA Today that an app built to help people discover TV shows from multiple services at once will be revealed.
USA Today sources indicate it has been described as “the Watch List,” while Recode says that Netflix won’t be a part of it, at least at launch. Tossing a recommendation-based layer of universal search on top of other video apps isn’t the Apple TV service rumored to have been in the works, but it’s what we’re apparently going to get. Check in tomorrow at 1PM ET for all the details.
Source: USA Today, Recode
Apple delays AirPod launch beyond October
We hope you weren’t dead set on getting a pair of AirPods in the immediate future. Apple tells our TechCrunch colleagues that it’s delaying the launch of its self-branded Bluetooth earbuds past their original late October launch window. The company needs a “little more time” to make them ready for your ears, according to a spokesperson. It’s not clear what prompted the last-minute move, but early reviewers have occasionally noticed bugs — it may just be a question of polish.
You don’t strictly need AirPods if you just want some of the benefits of Apple’s W1 chip. The company is already shipping Beats headphones that take advantage of the hardware’s fast pairing with iOS devices. However, you will miss out on the clever Siri integration, not to mention a charging box that gives you extra battery life without some of the usual hassles of external batteries. We’d rather that companies ship late than deliver buggy products, but that won’t make you feel any better if you were really hoping to give the AirPods a try.
Source: TechCrunch
Surface Studio vs. the competition: Beauty isn’t skin deep
Over the past few years we’ve seen Microsoft take on the world of tablets with the Surface and, for those who prefer something more on the laptop side, the Surface Pro and Surface Book. But it hasn’t truly tackled desktops until today’s announcement of the all-in-one Surface Studio. As cool as features like the zero-gravity hinge might be, the Studio will be facing off against established lines like the iMac. We’ve assembled the specs of some of the leading 27-inch machines on the market and matched them up against the 28-inch Studio to see which is worthy of sitting on your desk.
Microsoft Surface Studio
Apple iMac
HP Envy 27
Dell XPS 27
Price
$2,999 / $3,499 / $4,199
$1,799 / $1,999 / $2,299
$1,300 / $1,500 / $1,700
$1,550 / $1,650 / $1,850 / $2,300
Dimensions
25.09 x 17.27 x 1.26 inches (63.73 x 43.89 x 3.22 cm)
25.6 x 20.3 x 8 inches (65 x 51.6 x 20.3 cm)
25.7 x 19.3 x 7.95 inches (65.28 x 49.02 x 20.19 cm)
26.14 x 19.32 x 9.44 inches (66.4 x 49.22 x 24 cm)
Weight
21.07 pounds (9.56 kg)
21 pounds (9.54 kg)
24.25 pounds (11 kg)
35.3 pounds (16 kg)
OS
Windows 10
OS X Sierra
Windows 10
Windows 10
Display
28-inch PixelSense touch
27-inch Retina 5K
27-inch LED touch or non-touch
27-inch IPS LED touch
Resolution
4,500 x 3,000 (192 ppi)
5,120 x 2,880 (218 ppi)
2,560 x 1,440 (109 ppi)
2,560 x 1,440 (109 ppi)
Processor
Intel Core i5 / Core i7
Intel Core i5 (3.2 / 3.3 GHz)
Intel Core i5 (2.2 Ghz) / Core i7 (2.8 Ghz)
Intel Core i5 (3.4 GHz) / Intel Core i7 (4 GHz)
Memory
8 / 16 / 32GB
8GB
8 / 12 / 16GB
8GB
Graphics
NVIDIA GTX 965M / 980M
AMD Radeon R9 M380 / M390 / M395
Integrated / GeForce GTX 950
Intel HD Graphics / NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M
Storage
1 / 2TB hybrid drive
1TB HDD (7200 rpm) / 1TB Fusion Drive / 2TB Fusion Drive
1TB (5400 / 7200 rpm)
1TB (7200 rpm)
Ports
USB 3.0 (x3), Mini Displayport, SD card reader
USB 3.0 (x4), Thunderbolt 2 (x2), gigabit ethernet, SDXC card reader
USB 3.0 (x4), gigabit ethernet, 3-in-1 card reader
USB 3.0 (x6), HDMI, gigabit ethernet, 8-in-1 card reader
Wireless
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0
* Specs listed are standard configurations and don’t include upgrade options available at checkout. Width dimensions include the base.
Click here to catch all the latest news from Microsoft’s big Surface event.
The Morning After: Wednesday October 26th 2016
While you weren’t checking email, or sleeping and all that, Apple said its services are making bank despite decreased hardware sales this quarter. Then, the company’s new Macbook leaked ahead of the big Apple event later today. Oh, and Silicon Valley held a ridiculous fashion show, as seen above. Today, Microsoft’s big Surface event starts 10 AM Eastern time, while Apple’s show starts at 1 PM ET. Best bookmark those links: it’s going to be a busy day.
So that’s the new MacBook.Apple announces slower profits, then its new device leaks early
The headline might sound disastrous, but Apple’s recent financial result follows years and years of tremendous growth and profit. CEO Tim Cook pointed to its services arm (iCloud, iTunes Music, etc.) to demonstrate recent successes, but the company sold fewer iPhones, iPads and Macs again this quarter. Then its new MacBook model appeared to leak ahead of its grand event tomorrow, replete with port swap-arounds, an OLED task strip and (gasp!) no escape button. There is no escape.
Making shooting things sound like it shouldMicrosoft’s research arm helped make Gears of War 4 sound incredible
For ‘Gears of War 4’, Microsoft-owned game makers the Coalition created a sound production tool called Triton … with some help from Microsoft Research. Triton creates realistic reverb sounds based on objects inside the game. In fact, the system takes in an entire video game level (spatially and material-wise) and calculates the reverb properties of every material. From there, it applies realistic echo/reflection effects to explosions, bullets and (hopefully) dying alien scum. It sounds pretty good. Literally.
Heads up.Upgrade your car’s dash with Navdy’s HUD
Heads-up displays are usually the domain of new cars. But after finding crowdfunding success, Navdy lets you add a HUD to any darn car you’d like. The $800 device pairs with Android and iOS devices to offer a floating substitute for your smartphone: turn-by-turn navigation, music controls and notifications for messages and calls are all available, but the peripheral’s behaviour with mapping apps still needs a bit of work. Roberto took one for a drive and explains more.
Engage.The occasionally dull sensation of helming a ‘Star Trek’ starship in VR
While Trekkies can’t wait for ‘Star Trek Bridge Crew’ to land on VR headsets, some may realize they weren’t cut out to be the captain of a starship. Devout fan (and Senior Editor) Dan Cooper led a crew of Engadget writers on the virtual rescue mission.
A $15 million ad campaign only does so much.Amazon’s fashion fight
Clothing is one of the online retailer’s fastest-growing categories, but the haute couture old guard aren’t cutting Amazon any slack. Many luxury brands say having full control of the retail experience is paramount. And then there’s those counterfeit concerns.
So hot right now.When Silicon Valley does a Fashion Week…
.. of course there’s drones.
But wait, there’s more…
- Ubisoft’s next ‘The Division’ update tries to keep players past the endgame
- AT&T’s online-only TV service will cost $35 a month for 100 channels
- Netflix CEO hammers final nail into the “Netflix and chill” coffin.
Apple Pay transactions surge by 500 percent
Mobile payments are all the rage among tech companies, but how successful have they been, really? Quite successful, if you ask Apple. While discussing its latest earnings, the Cupertino firm revealed that Apple Pay purchases were up 500 percent year-over-year in the third quarter. In fact, there were more transactions this September than in all of Apple’s fiscal 2015 — not bad for a tap-to-pay service that’s still unavailable in many parts of the world, not to mention many stores. Apple didn’t say what prompted the spike, but there are a handful of factors beyond any increases in popularity.
One major component: regional expansion. The launch of Apple Pay in China may have played the biggest role, but there was also a steady stream of expansions to key markets like Australia, Canada and swaths of Asia and Europe. Also, there were simply more people with Apple Pay-capable devices. You had to buy one of two high-end iPhones (the 6 and 6 Plus) to use Apple Pay throughout most of fiscal 2015, but the service was an option across all of Apple’s phone lineup by the time the iPhone SE arrived in March of this year. That’s also excluding those people who may have an iPhone 5 or 5s and are using an Apple Watch for their payments.
Whatever is involved, it’s likely that Apple Pay will see continued growth for at least a while. The payment system reached both Japan (as of iOS 10.1) and Russia in October, and there’s still room for both more countries as well as additional cards and stores in existing regions.
The question is whether or not Apple still has a lead in this fledgling industry. The company hasn’t divulged its latest transaction numbers, you see. Samsung was quick to boast about having 100 million transactions for its own service in August, but the lack of context makes it difficult to say whether it’s catching up (Apple is estimated to have racked up $10.9 billion in purchases in 2015) or trailing behind. About the only certainty is that Google’s Android Pay will need to grow faster if it’s going to latch on. It only just reached the UK in May, and card support isn’t as broad as you get with its rivals.
MacBook Pro leak reveals an OLED touch strip and Touch ID
Cat’s out of the bag, it seems. Remember that macOS Sierra update that arrived on October 24th? It turns out that the code contains hidden images of the widely rumored next-generation MacBook Pro, and they’re revealing enough to confirm more than a few details. Assuming this represents the finished product, you’ll get an OLED touch strip (possibly called the Magic Toolbar) with an embedded Touch ID fingerprint reader. Not surprisingly, the reader would be useful for macOS’ Apple Pay support — you’d touch your laptop to quickly check out at a web store instead of authenticating with your iPhone or Apple Watch.
There are a few other design clues in the images as well. It looks like the new Pro will use the same butterfly mechanism keys as the 12-inch MacBook. Like them or hate them, you’ll have to get used to them if you’re a Mac user. The built-in audio on the 13-inch system may get an upgrade through top-mounted speakers (mirroring what you see on the 15-inch today). And do we see hints of a MacBook-style metal hinge?
The top-down view from the inadvertent leak doesn’t reveal other details, such as the expected USB-C ports or the kind of performance you can expect under the hood. When October 27th is just a couple of days away, though, you won’t have to wait long to see what else the new laptop has in store.
Source: MacRumors
Apple chose BlackBerry’s ‘hood for its car OS project
Apple may have put the brakes on plans to build its own self-driving car, but the company’s plug-and-play, self-driving operating system is still moving forward, even if the team has been scaled back. According to a new report from Bloomberg, what’s left of Project Titan is coming together at Apple’s Canadian office in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata, using a big team of engineers poached from BlackBerry’s automotive software division QNX.
While QNX is best known for building in-car entertainment systems, the company started making software for autonomous vehicles in the past year. Former QNX CEO Dan Dodge was actually hired to run Project Titan earlier this year, but as one executive told Bloomberg, more than two dozen former BlackBerry engineers are now commuting to Apple’s Kanata office to build its car platform instead — which must sting a little bit now that BlackBerry has finally bowed out of the smartphone wars.
Since Apple doesn’t have a real world vehicle to build, the company is said to be testing its self-driving platform using VR simulations built in-house by a separate Project Titan team led by VR/AR expert Doug Bowman. While those are a lot of high-profile hires in the past year, the Titan team was hit with a big round of layoffs during its restructuring last month and those that are left are still working to deliver a viable self-driving solution under a hard deadline of late 2017.
Source: Bloomberg
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