Logic Pro X and MainStage Updated With Alchemy Integration From Recent Acquisition
Early this year, Apple acquired popular music plug-in and effect maker Camel Audio, largely known for its Alchemy software, which bundled a range of plug-ins, synthesizers, effects, and sound libraries. Alchemy’s powerful audio manipulation tools have now been built into Apple’s own music software, Logic Pro X and MainStage 3, via updates that are available today.
Described by Apple as “the ultimate sample manipulation synthesizer,” Alchemy introduces additive, spectral, formant, granular, sampler, and virtual analog sound generators, along with 3,000 presets for electronic music ranging from electronic dance to hip hop and rock.
There’s a built-in preset browser built around keywords that’s designed to let users find sounds quickly, and reshaping them can be done with the Transform Pad. Up to four synth modules can be combined to create multi-layered sounds, and there are 100 modulation sources that can be used to create dynamic instruments. The full release notes for Logic Pro X are below:
What’s New
– Introducing Alchemy – the ultimate sample manipulation synthesizer– Next generation synthesizer plug-in with multiple sound generators including; additive, spectral, formant, granular, sampler, and virtual analog
– Over 3,000 presets for all types of electronic music including electronic dance, hip hop, rock, and sound for picture
– Integrated keyword preset browser for finding the right sounds quickly
– Performance controls like the Transform Pad make it easy to explore and reshape sounds
– Combine up to four synth modules to create complex multi-layered sounds
– Virtual analog oscillators produce authentic recreations of iconic synth sounds
– Wide selection of modeled analog and special effect filters for producing sounds with vintage character and tonal complexity
– Create animated, dynamic instruments using over 100 modulation sources that include flexible LFOs, AHDSR and MSEG envelopes, and step sequencers
– Manipulate and combine samples in new ways using a collection of morphing and resynthesis tools
– Import EXS24 instruments or create your own using a robust set of sampler features
– Apply independent arpeggiators to each of the 4 sound sources to transform simple chords into elaborate performances
– Integrated effects rack with reverb, modulation, delay, compression, and a range of distortion effects– New tabbed Transform Pad and X/Y Pad Smart Controls for Alchemy instruments
– Share directly to Apple Music Connect
– Adds support for Force Touch trackpad
-Create custom track icons with your own image files
– 1,000 new Apple Loops from a variety of popular instruments and genres including EDM, Hip Hop, Indie, Disco, Funk, and Blues
– Expanded MIDI clock options improve sync compatibility with external MIDI devices
– Multiple additional enhancement and stability improvements
Today’s Logic Pro X update also includes support for the Force Touch trackpad in the new Mac models and it introduces tools allowing artists to share their music directly to Apple Music Connect.
Logic Remote, the iPad companion app for Logic Pro X on the Mac, has also gained new smart controls for Alchemy instruments.
Logic Pro X can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $199.99. [Direct Link]
MainStage 3 can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $29.99. [Direct Link]
Logic Remote can be downloaded from the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Most of Google Now’s original development team left before I/O 2015 Now on Tap announcement
During Google I/O this year, the company showed off Now on Tap, which looks to be an extremely cool use of Google Now’s information scraping. Since then, Microsoft has already updated their Bing app to offer a similar experience, and it’s expected that Apple will do the same at some point. The competition in the digital personal assistant space is heating up very, very quickly, but unfortunately, Google may end up struggling to be competitive with other giants, according to some recent news.
Just before I/O this year, a majority of the original Google Now development team left the company for other things. Part of this is because of the shift of Now moving to a Google search project instead of a strictly Android project, and partly because of Sundar Pichai’s attitude towards Now. As of right now, only one original team member is still working with the project. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for the future of Now, but it does mean that the original creators’ vision for the project probably won’t ever be fully realized.
Now has moved from being a killer feature for Android as an OS and has moved to something Google offers across all of its platforms, whether you’re on a Chromebook, using Chrome on a laptop, or using an Android device. Pichai heads Chrome and Android, and he reportedly wasn’t willing to fight for Now to remain totally independent like it started. He also likely realizes that Google needs to keep new products flowing in and improving in order to continue making Google money. At the end of the day, making money is pretty high up on the to-do list for any company.
It’s tough to say exactly what direction Now will go in, but I wouldn’t worry about the feature going anywhere. Sometimes Google just restructures segments of their products, like we’ve seen with Google+, and like we’ve seen happen with Android, Chrome, and everything else.
Personally, I only ever use Google Now on my phone, never on my laptops or desktops. How often do you utilize Google Now cards across your devices?
source: re/code
Come comment on this article: Most of Google Now’s original development team left before I/O 2015 Now on Tap announcement
HyperLink for Apple Watch Review: A Quality Stainless Steel Link Bracelet at Sport Band Pricing
While the stainless steel Link Bracelet is one of the nicest looking Apple Watch bands available, it is also the most expensive with a $449 price tag for the 38mm or 42mm version. For comparison, you could purchase an entire Apple Watch Sport for $100 less than the Link Bracelet.
But for those looking to give their Apple Watch more of a premium Rolex-like appearance without breaking the bank, look no further than the HyperLink Stainless Steel Link Bracelet from HYPER by Sanho Corporation, which launched today on crowdfunding website Kickstarter with a $50,000 funding goal.
Design
HyperLink is crafted from the same 316L stainless steel alloy used for the Apple Watch, providing the band with added strength and corrosion resistance. The metal is also water and sweat resistant, allowing you to carry out everyday tasks such as showering, washing your hands or jogging without worrying — although you’re probably still better off wearing a Sport Band for the latter.
The Swiss-inspired band has a unisex link bracelet design available in three models: 42mm Space Black, 38mm Silver and 42mm Silver. 38mm in Space Black is also listed as a possible stretch goal on Kickstarter, although no specific funding level is listed. The 42mm Silver model that I tested closely matched the look and feel of my stainless steel Apple Watch — well beyond my expectations for a non-Apple band.
The silver HyperLink that I tested has a lustrous appearance on the outside, while the inside is flatter in comparison. Meanwhile, the Space Black model has an additional diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer added for a sleek, durable and scratch resistant finish. The band, slightly thinner than a Sport Band, did not attract any noticeable scratches or scuffs after wearing it over the course of one week.
Fit
When I first tried on the HyperLink, I immediately noticed that it was well oversized for my wrist. But like most stainless steel bands, it is possible to remove individual links by inserting a very thin-pointed screwdriver or tool into the pinholes on the side to pop out the pressure-sensitive pins holding the bracelet together. Disappointingly, no such tool was included alongside the band.
Fortunately, I found an adjustable screwdriver laying around the house that was thin enough to pop out the pins holding together individual links. The process was rather simple and should be familiar to anyone that has ever owned a common stainless steel wristwatch before, but the lack of a tool included in the box is definitely something to consider when choosing between stainless steel bands.
HyperLink is precision CNC milled to fit the Apple Watch, and the results are favorable. Unlike some third-party bands, the adapters on HyperLink slide into the Apple Watch as effortlessly as official bands sold by Apple. The band also has a convenient quick clasp mechanism that enables you to quickly put on or take off your Apple Watch — much faster than the Classic Buckle or Sport Band in my testing.
For the first few days, I wore the HyperLink rather tight against my wrist and noticed some pinching of my skin when closing the quick clasp mechanism, but otherwise the band was comfortable, lightweight and did not catch my hair. I have since added one link back to the band for a more loose and relaxed fit that gives the Apple Watch some flexibility on my wrist and makes it easier to take on and off.
Bottom Line
HyperLink is a premium yet affordable Apple Watch band that receives my recommendation, especially at its $49 early bird price; even at its $69 or $99 price points, it is a worthwhile option — with only a few drawbacks — to consider among third-party Apple Watch bands.
HYPER by Sanho Corporation also has a reputable track record of successful crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, including CloudFTP, iStick, Pearl (Kickstarter), Pearl (Indiegogo), iPin for iPhone/Android, iPin for iPhone and HyperDrive for MacBook. The campaigns have altogether raised over $1.6 million.
Pros:
- Affordable ($49-$99)
- 316L stainless steel
- Precision CNC milled to fit Apple Watch
- Polished, scratch-resistant design
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Water and sweat resistant
- Quick clasp mechanism
- Adjustable links
Cons:
- No link adjustment tools included
- GMobi logo on link bracelet is an eyesore
How to Buy
HyperLink is $49 on Kickstarter in any size or color for the first 1000 early bird pledgers, at which point the price rises to $69. The regular retail price will be $99 following the crowdfunding campaign.
HYPER is also offering bulk deals on the HyperLink through Kickstarter, including two bands for $98, three bands for $147, five bands for $245, ten bands for $490 and larger reseller packages.
HyperLink’s crowdfunding campaign runs from August 25 to September 30, with early bird and regular rewards expected to ship in October and November respectively. The band will be shipped to retailers in December and sold for $99.
Best Buy Accelerating Apple Watch Rollout to All 1,050 Stores Amid Strong Demand
Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly today announced that the company plans to accelerate support for the Apple Watch by having the wearable device be sold in every one of its 1,050 retail locations across the United States “by the end of September” (via Fortune).
The move follows Best Buy’s initial plan to deploy retail support for the Apple Watch in just 300 of its stores by the holiday season, but recent strong sales of the device have encouraged the retailer to back Apple in not just Apple Watch support, but with all of the Cupertino company’s products.
Currently undergoing renovations at 740 locations in the United States are the Apple branded sections of Best Buy’s retail stores, “including new fixtures and more display tables for phones, computers, and tablets.” The company has already completed the update at 350 of its stores and has plans to get another 170 completed before the holiday shopping rush coming later this year.
We’ve also been working with Apple to update the 740 stores-within-a-store that were first implemented in 2007. The stores-within-a-store will have new Apple fixtures and are larger with more display tables for phones, computers, and tablets. We’ve already implemented approximately 350 of them, and expect to upgrade a total of approximately 520 by the holidays.
The additional display tables are great for the merchandising of Apple Watch, which went on sale at BestBuy.com and in more than 100 of our stores in August. Now, because demand for Apple Watch has been so strong in these stores and online, we are excited to share that beginning September 4 we will be carrying Apple Watch in more than 900 of our big-box stores. Apple Watch will be available in all 1050 of our big-box stores and approximately 30 of our Best Buy Mobile stores by the end of September.
Best Buy began selling the Apple Watch in-store and online in early August, along with a few third-party accessories for the wearable, like charging docks and various bands. The retailer will even begin selling AppleCare and AppleCare+ warranty plans in mid-September, no doubt hitting just in time for the launch of the next generation iPhones. Apple has avoided attaching specific sales figures to the Apple Watch, but Best Buy’s doubling down on the company’s wearable device is no doubt a sign of the Apple Watch’s success.
VMware Launches Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Pro With Windows 10, OS X El Capitan and Cortana
VMware today launched Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Pro, the latest versions of its virtualization software for running Windows apps on a Mac without rebooting. Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Pro include full support for Windows 10, OS X El Capitan and the latest Retina Macs, in addition to always-on access to Microsoft Cortana.
Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Pro have 3D graphics acceleration with support for DirectX 10, Open GL 3.3, USB 3.0 and multiple monitors with different DPIs. The virtual machine platform also delivers full 64-bit support with up to 16 vCPUs, 64GB RAM and an 8TB hard drive for a single virtual machine.
Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Pro are optimized for the latest Macs, including the iMac with Retina 5K Display and 12-inch MacBook. DirectX 10 support enables Mac users to run Windows virtual machines with native resolution on a 5K display, with USB-C support and Force Touch pass-through also in tow for the latest MacBook.
Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Pro are available today for $79.99 and $199.99 respectively through the VMware Online Store, with upgrade options available for existing Fusion customers for between $49.99 and $119.99. Parallel users also get 40% off the latest versions of Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Pro.
Philips Announces New Hue Wireless Dimming Kit
Phillips today announced an expansion of its Hue line of lights, adding the new Philips Hue Wireless Dimming Kit and Philips Hue white bulb. The dimming kit requires no installation and it integrates seamlessly with existing Hue products, letting customers change the brightness of up to 10 Philips Hue white bulbs at the same time.
Each dimming kit includes one Philips Hue white light bulb and a portable battery operated dimming switch, with additional white bulbs available as a separate purchase. Using the dimming kit is as simple as plugging in one of the Philips bulbs. The switch can be fixed to the wall, much like the Hue Tap, or used as a remote control.
Getting ambiance at home has never been so simple; just screw in your bulb and press the dimmer switch to create your own personal dimmable glow. You can use the dimmer switch as a normal wall switch, or take it from the base plate and use it as a remote control for optimal convenience as it can be easily placed anywhere you desire. Plus, you don’t have to get off the sofa to dim the lights anymore when watching your favorite TV show; you can even lower the lights from the warmth of your bed.
Philips promises no flickering or buzzing with its dimmer kit, which is a common problem with traditional LED dimming solutions. With the ability to control up to 10 bulbs with one switch, it’s possible to adjust an entire room’s lighting at once.
According to Philips, the new Hue Wireless Dimming Kit can connect to existing Philips Hue compatible products through the Philips Hue bridge, so the dimmer switch can be used to control smartphone-connected bulbs like the standard Hue and the Hue Lux.
The Philips Hue wireless dimming kit is priced at $39.95, while Philips Hue white bulbs are priced at $19.95. The dimming kit will be available in stores in North America beginning in September of 2015.
ASUS and Samsung make the fastest-charging smartphones
Your smartphone’s battery life is no doubt very important to you, but its charging time matters, too — just ask anyone who’s had mere minutes to top up a phone before heading out. So who offers the best recharge rates, then? Tom’s Guide might have an answer. It recently conducted a charging speed test to determine which phones will deliver the most energy when you’re in a rush. In short, you’ll probably want to make a beeline toward either ASUS’ Zenfone 2 or Samsung’s Galaxy S6. The Zenfone 2 is the fastest in short bursts, giving you 32 percent power in just 15 minutes. The Galaxy S6 is faster overall, however, hitting 100 percent after 1 hour and 22 minutes.
Of course, the performance depends on not just a phone’s technology, but the size of the battery. Samsung wins partly because it has a relatively small 2,550mAh pack compared to the 3,000mAh-plus batteries of other phones with speedy refills, such as the Zenfone, G4, Droid Turbo and Nexus 6. While you may be the first to unplug your phone if you have an S6, you may also be the first to plug in again.
One thing’s for certain: if you don’t have quick charging at all, you’ll notice the difference. Both Apple’s iPhone 6 and the OnePlus 2 were well behind the front-runners, taking up to 73 minutes longer to hit peak capacity. That might not be a deal-breaker if you only ever go hunting for a wall outlet at the end of the night, but it’s something to consider if you frequently find yourself running low on juice in mid-day.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, ASUS, LG
Source:
Tom’s Guide
Tags: apple, asus, charging, g4, galaxys6, iphone, lg, mobilepostcross, samsung, smartphone, zenfone2
‘Trade Show’ Plans at San Francisco Theater Spark Speculation of Apple Event Location
With just over two weeks to go until September 9, the expected date for Apple’s next iPhone event, there’s been some speculation that Apple might be planning to hold the event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.
As outlined by San Francisco news site Hoodline, the auditorium is booked for a private event through September 13, with SFPD officers and private security guards patrolling the perimeter of the building.
Documents filed with the San Francisco Planning Department say the event is a “trade show” set to run from September 4 until September 10, which lines up with the timeline when Apple is expected to hold its event, but there are some potential red flags that make it unclear whether Apple is the company booking the event space at the auditorium.
In investigating the documents filed with the Planning Department, MacRumors learned the space is being used by a company known as “Adams and Associates,” which has no known ties to Apple. Additionally, there are very detailed documents that describe the removal of four window panels to accommodate an “exterior wall mounted star graphic sign.” The star is depicted in two different ways in separate documents — both as a standard star shape and as an oddly-shaped star with points at unusual angles.
As Hoodline suggests, it’s possible the star-shaped logo is a placeholder for an Apple logo, but a structural document supplied by an engineer on the project includes detailed, specific calculations and drawings for the star shape that cast doubt on the theory that it could be a placeholder logo.
In past years, Apple has held its iPhone-centric September event at several different locations around the Bay Area, so it would not be unusual for the company to choose a previously unused event spot. Its 2014 event was at the Flint Center in Cupertino, while its 2011 and 2013 events were held at its own campus. In 2010 and 2012, the events were held at the Yerba Buena Center For the Arts.
It’s not yet known if Apple is preparing the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for its September 9 event, but with only 16 days to go until that date rolls around, we should be getting confirmation on Apple’s plans in the form of media invites in the very near future.
Apple Seeds Xcode 7 Beta 6 to Developers
Apple today seeded Xcode 7 beta 6 to registered developers, more than two weeks after releasing Xcode 7 beta 5 alongside the fifth beta of iOS 9.
Xcode 7 beta 6 can be downloaded from the software update mechanism in the Mac App Store or through the Apple Developer Center.
Xcode 7 is designed to accompany Apple’s next-generation operating systems: iOS 9, OS X 10.11 El Capitan, and watchOS 2, all of which will be released to the public in the coming weeks. Xcode 7 supports Swift 2.0 and includes new features like user interface testing and updated playgrounds.
Apple’s $99 ‘One to One’ Tutoring Program May Be Coming to an End
Apple may soon end its $99 “One to One” tutoring program for Mac and iOS users, according to a source that has provided MacRumors with reliable information in the past. Our source says Apple is stopping the program to allow retail employees to focus on hosting a greater number of free workshops, which multiple people are able to attend at once.
One to One is a long-running Apple program that allows customers who purchase a Mac to pay an additional $99 for one year of Mac, iPhone, and iPad instruction from Apple retail employees. One to One sessions include 30 or 60 minute Personal Training sessions, 90-minute Group Training sessions, and 90-minute group-based Open Training sessions.
One to One members can get help with a wide variety of topics, like getting started with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and using Apple services like iCloud, and iTunes. Training sessions on Apple apps, including Photos, Mail, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and more, are also included.
One to One will help you do more than you ever thought possible with your Mac. First, we’ll set up your email, transfer your photos, music, and other files, and show you how to keep everything in sync with iCloud. Then, we’ll work with you to create a curriculum tailored to your goals, learning style, and experience level.
Apple is planning to fold its One to One service into free open workshops, amid some larger changes being made to Apple’s teaching methods. In the near future, workshops will be restructured around themes like “Discover” and “Create,” and will be more accessible on Apple’s main website.
Apple plans to honor existing One to One memberships until they expire, but will not sell new memberships to the program going forward. Customers who need assistance will still be able to sign up for dozens of free, open workshops.
AIVAnet 