Many Apple Music Listeners Seeing 503 iCloud Connection Errors
Apple Music appears to be experiencing some issues today, with some users reporting continual 503 errors for the last several hours. When attempting to play an Apple Music song via iTunes, an error message that says “The shared library ‘Cloud Music Library’ is not responding.”
More annoying than debilitating, the error can be dismissed and music will play after another attempt to connect. The error also seems to pop up occasionally when no music is being played. Errors are being reported by MacRumors readers, redditors, and people on Apple’s Support Communities.
Apple’s System Status page is not reporting an outage at this time and the 503 error does not appear to be affecting all users. It is not clear what is causing the issue or when it will be fixed by Apple.
Since its June 30 debut, Apple Music has experienced a few outages, including an hour-long Beats 1 radio outage on launch day.
New iPod Touch Teardown Confirms 1,043 mAh Battery and 1GB of RAM
iFixit has posted a detailed teardown of the new sixth-generation iPod touch, confirming that the device has a 1,043 mAh rated lithium-ion battery and 1GB of SK Hynix LPDDR3 RAM. Comparatively, the fifth-generation iPod touch released in 2012 had a 1,030 mAh rated battery and 512MB of RAM.
The teardown also provides a closer look at the new iPod touch’s Apple A8 chip and M8 motion coprocessor (NXP Semiconductors LPC18B1UK ARM Cortex-M3 Microcontroller), Toshiba NAND flash memory, InvenSense MP67B 6-axis gyroscope and accelerometer, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi module, Broadcom and Texas Instruments touchscreen controllers and other components.
The new iPod touch received a relatively low repairability score of 4 out of 10, with ten being the easiest to repair, due to several components being soldered together, no external screws and ribbon cables that are difficult to remove. iFixit has posted detailed step-by-step teardown instructions for the new iPod touch and sells the required tools and parts for most do-it-yourself repairs on its website.
Leaked ‘iPhone 6s Plus’ Images Showcase Rear Casing and ‘Stronger Body’
A few new images of the so-called “iPhone 6s Plus” today have been shared by Future Supplier (via Nowhereelse.fr), putting emphasis on the new iPhone’s visual similarities to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus line-up while mentioning a “stronger” construction to the device’s rear casing.
Future Supplier noticed a slight difference between the iPhone 6s Plus and last year’s model, specifically in the location of a few screws used to hold the loud speaker module. But otherwise, the website noted a pretty aesthetically similar device, which makes sense for an “S” generation upgrade for the iPhone 6 line.
iPhone 6s Plus on the left with screw holes that are “slightly higher” than the iPhone 6 Plus’ on the right
Another slight difference may come in the material actually used to create the rear housing for the iPhone 6s Plus, according to a source that spoke with Future Supplier. The source noted that the backing of last year’s iPhone 6 Plus was “smoother” than the new iPhone, but simultaneously the 6s Plus will be getting a “stronger” rear housing, perhaps in response to the “Bendgate” controversy.
Video demo: here’s how Samsung Pay will work in stores
Samsung touted its upcoming mobile payment service as a key feature of the Galaxy S6, but close to six months later, Samsung Pay is still not available anywhere in the world.
Samsung just kicked off a limited trial of the service in its home market, but the full release is only expected this fall.
With Apple Pay fully working in the US and now expanding to Europe, Samsung risks falling behind in a high-stake race that also includes Google’s Wallet, which is set to be replaced by Android Pay later this year.
Part of Samsung’s problem is consumers generally don’t know what to expect from Samsung Pay, and if they do, they may not be convinced that the service is worth waiting for. While Samsung has explained how Pay works in a blog post from March, there’s nothing like an actual hands-on demo to drive the point home.
The video below, courtesy of Times of India, shows exactly what steps paying with Samsung Pay will entail. The good news is paying with your Galaxy phone seems as straightforward as using a card. You just swipe up from the home button to bring up the stored cards, pick the preferred card, authenticate by touching the fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button, and put the phone against the magnetic card reader or NFC module.
Compatibility with NFC and classic magnetic card stripe readers is what Samsung hopes will make Samsung Pay a hit. Unlike Apple Pay or Google Wallet, which require NFC, Samsung Pay will work with just about any old card reader. That means Samsung Pay will have a wide base of adoption among retailers from day one, circumventing the chicken-or-egg problem that holds back the adoption of NFC.
Samsung paid $250 million to acquire LoopPay, the US-based company that developed the technology allowing the Galaxy S6 to work with magnetic stripe readers. But the potential returns of this investment are staggering, provided Samsung manages to sign up enough users.
Samsung is expected to launch in fall in South Korea and the United States, with more countries to follow. With Samsung rumored to throw a big launch event for the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+ in mid-August, there’s a solid chance we’ll hear an official announcement at that point.
Do you see yourself using Samsung Pay over the traditional cards? Would you consider buying a Samsung device just for this feature?
A Closer Look at Apple’s New iPod Touch Colors and Features
Apple earlier this week introduced the sixth-generation iPod touch, featuring a new A8 chip and M8 motion coprocessor, 8-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera and Bluetooth 4.1, in six colors: blue, gold, pink, red, silver and space gray. 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models are available through the Apple Store and Apple Online Store for $199, $249, $299 and $399 respectively.
Apple’s new sixth-generation iPod touch in blue and pink
The video below submitted by MacRumors reader Jacob Zacks takes a closer look at the new iPod touch colors and features. The existing silver color from 2012 has been complimented with space gray and gold models that match the new MacBook lineup, while the new blue and pink colors are much brighter and deeper than the fifth-generation iPod touch. The sixth color is (PRODUCT)RED and remains unchanged.
iPods have declined in sales and popularity since the iPhone was released, but the portable media player still fills a niche and was long overdue for an update. The sixth-generation iPod touch’s most important new feature is the jump to an A8 chip, which delivers up to 10 times faster graphics performance and ensures the device will be capable of running iOS 9 and future software updates.
A recent benchmark test clocked the new iPod touch’s A8 chip at 1.10GHz per core, slower than the 1.39GHz per core the iPhone 6 runs at, and confirmed it has 1GB of RAM. The new iPod touch is also the first iOS device to include the Bluetooth 4.1 specification, which is more reliable and offers less interference with LTE bands, improved power management and better data transfer.
Apple’s new iPod touch no longer has a loop attachment on the back
Whether this is the last significant update to the iPod lineup remains to be seen, but for now the iPod touch lives on with a vibrant lineup of new colors and under-the-hood improvements. Apple Stores have begun receiving in-store stock of the new iPod touch this week, with Personal Pickup now available in the U.S., and all models and storage capacities currently ship within 1 business day on the Apple Online Store.
Samsung and Apple in advanced talks to join e-SIM launch
One of the things we do when we get a new smartphone is to check whether it will accept the SIM card used in the previous device. Current SIM cards are ‘locked’ to a specific carrier and sometimes a different sized SIM card than previously used is required by the new device. Those requirements could become unnecessary when the e-SIM becomes available in the relative near future though.
The e-SIM is an electronic SIM that removes the need for a physical SIM card to be present in the device, this would mean that consumers could switch between carriers with much less hassle, theoretically at least. Of course, for the e-SIM to make it to the consumer would require many, if not most, of the world’s top handset makers to be on board. Both Apple and Samsung are believed to be in advanced talks to join the e-SIM standard.
The mobile telecom industry association, GSMA, is apparently close to announcing an agreement for an e-SIM standard that would be implemented on mobile phones.
“We have got everyone back on one point, with Apple and Samsung agreeing to be part of that specification,” said Ms Bouverot, Chief Executive of the GSMA. “We have been working with them and others to create an industry solution for machines and will agree a solution for consumer electronics.”
Major carriers such as AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Hutchison Whampoa, Orange, Telefonica, and Vodafone are expected to support the e-SIM plans, with all parties heading for a common architecture. The e-SIM is expected to be made available in 2016 at the earliest.
Source: Financial Times
Come comment on this article: Samsung and Apple in advanced talks to join e-SIM launch
Samsung and Apple could adopt e-SIM technology
According to a report in the Financial Times, mobile market leaders Samsung and Apple are in advanced talks with the GSMA, the mobile telecom industry association, regarding plans to adopt Electronic SIM (e-SIM) technology. Such a move would drastically shake up the relationship between customers and network operators.
E-SIM technology enables devices to work on any supporting network without the need for a physical SIM card and would allow customers to switch carrier more easily. This may put an end to network exclusive handsets debuts and, more importantly, would allow consumers to switch between networks to find a better deal without having to change a physical SIM card. Current physical SIMs are tied to a specific carrier and won’t work with handsets locked to other networks.
“We have got everyone back on one point, with Apple and Samsung agreeing to be part of that specification … the plan is to finalise the technical architecture that will be used in the development of an end-to-end remote SIM solution for consumer devices, with delivery anticipated by 2016.” – Anne Bouverot, chief executive of the GSMA
The GSMA is apparently close to announcing an agreement on a standard for e-SIM implementation in smartphones. The standard is heading towards a common architecture, which should iron out all of the technical details to ensure that the technology works across carriers and with all participating smartphone manufacturers.
Several major network operators are already said to be on board, including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, Vodafone and others. Apple had previously tried to implement its own e-SIM idea, but barely convinced a couple of carriers to join its scheme.
That said, the specification is not expected to be finalized for a while yet, and it will be probably be later than 2016 before any devices supporting e-SIM technology reach the market.
The best of Public Access Vol. 5: Paying tribute to a gaming giant
It is with great sadness that the world mourns a man responsible for many treasured gaming memories. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, who died Saturday, had a history with the company that pre-dated even Mario. In honor of Mr. Iwata and Nintendo’s cultural impact, we’re turning to the Public Access community for your tributes to the consoles, controllers and games that Iwata and co. made possible.
On a lighter, still nostalgic note, y’all continue to excite our inner-childhood geeks with reflections on your early human-machine interactions. These rememberings and an explainer on drone journalism make up the best Public Access entries of the week that was. It’s all available for you after the break, so dig in.
P.S. The homepage is coming soon! in the meantime you can check out the latest from Public Access right here. Not a member? Apply, and keep the weird alive.
Recommended Reading
“The next morning Mikey came downstairs to find me putting the last screws into the case, and soon after the computer started just fine. What he didn’t know (and what I did not volunteer) was that his computer spent half the night in pieces. I was so astonished by the ease at which the tech installed a new source of magical power into the box of witchcraft that I had to check it out for myself.”
Read the rest of Love and PCs: Your first computer memories by Richard Mackey
“While I don’t consider myself old, I feel my screen name was from some other dimension. Some other life. Although it was boring, someone out there found it (and my use of language) interesting enough to foster a connection. Sometimes I wish there was a way for me to dig up all those AOL chats just to see how far I’ve grown. I know, I would probably cringe.”
Read the rest of The Genderless Screen Name of a Curious Teen by Dorothy Santos
“Drones present a huge divide in the court of public opinion: from the arena of war to the ruins caused by natural disasters and the Hollywood cinematic space, drone technology has ushered us into the golden age of citizen journalism.”
Read the rest of Stories in the Sky: Technology and Privacy in Journalism by Miné Salkin
Your Dose of Inspiration
A tribute to Nintendo
As we reflect on the impact of the late Satoru Iwata, we’re reminded of some of our earliest and fondest gaming memories. Perhaps no other gaming company has had the same cultural impact as Nintendo. As a tribute to Mr. Iwata, we’re looking for your first and most memorable moments with the consoles, controllers and games that Iwata and Nintendo made possible.
Apple Watch Flop: What’s a wearable good for?
Earlier this week, we published a piece by our friends at Fast Company that claimed the Apple Watch is flopping due to lackluster design and limited functionality. That news came as a surprise to many, and fostered a lively debate in our comments section. While many are divided on the necessity of the entire category, one question remains: What is a smartwatch good for? Unlocking doors? Flipping pancakes? Flushing the toilet? Tell us what your dream wrist-worn device would be capable of in 500 words or less.
Filed under: Announcements, Apple, Nintendo
Xiaomi VP Hugo Barra Defends Against Copycat Accusations in New Interview
Xiaomi vice president Hugo Barra, who came to the company from Google, today did an interview with Bloomberg where he once again spoke out in defense against copycat accusations that have been levied against the company.
According to Barra, all of the copycat claims come from a single iPhone 5-style chamfered edge on a Xiaomi device. “Yes, it does look like an iPhone 5 and that chamfered edge, by the way, is present in so many other devices.”
Xiaomi’s Mi Note
He went on to say that the accusations were the result of a bias against Chinese companies. “People couldn’t bring themselves to believe a Chinese company actually could be a world innovator, could build amazingly high-quality products.”
When asked if the recent Mi Note looks like an iPhone 6 Plus, Barra laughed it off and said “it’s white like an iPhone 6 Plus.” He said accusations of copying weren’t fair, because these days, every smartphone looks like every other smartphone on the market.
I just don’t think we can allow a company to take ownership of things that just are how they are, right? I think if you look at what we’ve designed in the last 12 months you understand how much originality there is in what we do. And to be honest, I think you’re going to see a lot more happening the opposite direction, people taking inspiration off what we do.
Over the course of four years, Chinese electronics company Xiaomi has managed to become the world’s third largest smartphone distributor, competing with the likes of Lenovo, LG, Samsung, and Apple. Its devices, ranging from smartphones to tablets, have been publicly criticized for heavily borrowing design elements from Apple’s iPhones and iPads and adopting marketing materials tactics similar to Apple’s.
Xiaomi’s copycat antics led Apple chief designer Jony Ive to verbally skewer the company in a 2014 interview, where he famously said “I think it’s theft and it’s lazy. I don’t think it’s okay at all,” following a statement from Xiaomi vice president Hugo Barra, who had said, “Our designers, our engineers are inspired by great products and by great design out there. And frankly who in today’s world isn’t?”
At the time, Ive went on to say Xiaomi’s devices aren’t a form of flattery. “When you’re doing something for the first time, like with the iPhone… and you spend 7 or 8 years working on it and then it’s copied – I have to be honest, the first thing I think isn’t ‘oh, that was flattering.’ ”
The iPhone 5c-style Xiaomi Mi 4i
Xiaomi’s latest smartphones are the Mi Note and Mi Note Pro, designed to compete with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but the company has most recently expanded into the home arena, with the Smart Home Kit.
Situ Scale Review: This Smart Scale Needs a Smarter App
The Situ Scale, which originated as a Kickstarter Project, is an iPad-connected food scale that’s designed to offer up a more precise picture of the calorie and nutrient content in the food you’re eating by measuring portion size in ounces or grams and storing nutrition information in an accompanying iPad app.
You can take a handful of crackers or an apple, place it on the scale, and get a calorie and nutrient estimate that’s based on weight, which is more accurate than using a nutrition measuring app alone. In many apps, the only option would be to enter “medium sized apple” or “13 Goldfish crackers,” whereas the Situ Scale can use the weight of what you’re eating for a quicker, more reliable measurement.
I went hands-on with the Situ Scale and I was impressed with what it has the potential to do, but there are some definite caveats to the product. I had no complaints about the scale itself, but as you’ll see in my review, this is not a product that’s going to work for everyone due to the limitations of the iPad app.
The Scale
The Situ Scale looks and functions a lot like other scales one might purchase for the kitchen. It’s made from a sleek white glass-topped plastic that was a good aesthetic fit in my kitchen and is likely to match with most kitchen decor. It’s big enough to hold a large bowl, but not so big that it took up an excessive amount of countertop space.
It’s powered by two batteries and controlled by an on/off switch on the side. When turned on, it pairs with an iPad over Bluetooth, a function that worked flawlessly. Every time I turned it on it connected to my iPad within a matter of seconds, without fail. Aside from the Bluetooth connectivity, it works as any other kitchen scale. There are rubber feet on the bottom to raise it up slightly and keep it from slipping around on a countertop.
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