iTunes Match Users Experiencing Issues Uploading Tracks

A growing number of complaints on Apple’s Support forums suggest there is an ongoing problem with Apple’s iTunes Match service. According to the posts in multiple threads, the service times out when users try to upload new tracks for matching by Apple’s iTunes servers.

“I’ve been using iTunes Match for about a year and a half and have started experiencing a new problem in the last couple of days. I’ve added a few new tracks to my library over the last couple of days and have attempted to “Update iTunes Match.” However, the matching process is stalling out at the end. It looks like it’s just about to finish but then it never does, ” writes Apple Support forum member Ryan Hargrove.

The issue apparently began on June 10th and is still affecting users six days later. Various attempts to fix the issue by updating iTunes, restarting the computer and more were unsuccessful.

“This started today. It was working fine. I have deleted my entire library and I can’t even get one song to go through. Thoughts? I’ve been working with this all day. I have uninstalled iTunes, downgraded iTunes, upgraded iTunes again. Finally, I erased all data…Libraries…playlist data, etc.. I’m extremely frustrated now. I had synced about 4,000 songs since September and it had been working fine,” writes Apple Support forum member ExileAtkins.

Apple has not acknowledged the problem, with its System Status page still showing that all iTunes services are fully operational. Further tests by affected users and MacRumors staff suggest the problem may only involve tracks that are not included in Apple’s iTunes library. These self-recordings and Indie music tracks appear to stall during the upload process, while recognized songs are matched without issue.

We have reached out to Apple for comment and are awaiting a reply. Since this problem is likely a server issue on Apple’s side, affected users will have to wait until Apple addresses the issue internally.

‘Coin Pocket’ Becomes First Bitcoin Wallet App on iOS After App Store Policy Change

Earlier this month, Apple updated its App Store review guidelines to allow for “approved” virtual currencies in apps. Now, Coindesk (via The Next Web) reports that Bitcoin wallet app Coin Pocket has launched in the App Store, becoming the first app on iOS that allows users to send and receive the virtual currency.

Bitcoin wallet app Coin Pocket
In addition to Coin Pocket, gift card purchasing app eGifter has also received an update to now accept Bitcoin as a form of payment. Earlier this month, betting app Betcoin also appeared on the App Store with in-app Bitcoin spending capabilities. Its developer, Omri Cohen, noted that the app was an experiment to test what Apple would allow ahead of the policy change on virtual currencies in apps.

Prior to its policy change, Apple displayed past tendencies to remove and deny apps that promoted virtual currencies, notably asking the developers behind private messaging app Gliph to remove the app’s Bitcoin sending capabilities. With the launch of Coin Pocket however, it is now likely that users will be seeing many more Bitcoin-related apps in the App Store provided they follow Apple’s guidelines.

Coin Pocket [Direct Link], eGifter [Direct Link], and Betcoin [Direct Link] are all free apps for iOS devices and can be downloaded through the App Store.

Yosemite ‘Hand Off’ Feature Limited to Macs with Bluetooth LE

One of the more exciting features in Apple’s upcoming OS X Yosemite is the Handoff feature that allows a seamless app transition between your Mac and iOS devices.

The feature, however, is based on Bluetooth 4.0/LE which was first introduced in Macs in Mid 2011. The feature has since made its way into later Mac releases, finally coming to every Mac as of the 2013 Mac Pro.

Apfeleimer has published this chart which shows all Macs that support Yosemite, and the subset of those which have support for this version of Bluetooth:

The full bars represent Macs that can run OS X Yosemite, while only Mac models in the green bar timeframes support the required Bluetooth protocol for Handoff. For iOS users, the iPad 2 is the only device that is capable of running iOS 8 but doesn’t come with hardware support for Bluetooth LE.

OS X Yosemite is in developer beta right now and will be released to customers later this year.

Apple Said to Have Enough Sapphire Glass for Production of Both iPhone 6 Models and iWatch in 2014

Apple will reportedly have enough sapphire glass for both of its iPhone 6 models as well as the iWatch in 2014, based on the latest supply chain check at the company’s sapphire glass manufacturing partner GT Advanced done by analyst Matt Margolis for Seeking Alpha (via GforGames).

As a result of my most recent supply chain check I believe that the Mesa sapphire operations will have ample supply to cover the iWatch, the 4.7″ iPhone and the 5.5″ iPhone with full sapphire cover glass in 2014. Additionally, the maximum sapphire screen capacity of the Mesa facility is likely to exceed 200m annual units.

Margolis notes that GT Advanced has installed more than 2,500 furnaces and is expected to work with sapphire boules that weigh between 200 and 235 kg. The plant is waiting for its final prepayment from Apple in order to finish construction and secure equipment, which is expected to be received by the end of this month.

Furnaces for sapphire glass production
In February, Margolis estimated that Apple would be gearing up for mass production of devices with sapphire displays, with equipment in the factory leading to a yield of anywhere from 100 to 200 million ~5-inch sapphire displays. A yield of over 200 million sapphire displays as indicated by this latest report means that Apple could possibly produce more than enough sapphire displays for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and the iWatch.

Previous reports indicated that sapphire display supply constraints may force Apple to reserve the scratch resistant material for its larger iPhone models, with expenses perhaps driving up the retail price for consumers. Other reports suggested that initial sapphire production would target the iWatch instead of the iPhone 6, however the reported volume of raw material and equipment purchased would likely hint at bigger plans for sapphire display production.

Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is expected to be released later this year, with the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 launching near the end of 2014. In addition to a sapphire display, both phones will likely include a thinner profile, a faster A8 processor, and an improved camera. Meanwhile, the iWatch is expected to be revealed at an October event and may launch later that month.

Foxconn Looking to Secure Orders for iPhone and iPad Displays with Sharp Partnership [iOS Blog]

Longtime Apple supplier Foxconn is said to be in talks with Japanese display manufacturer Sharp to utilize the firm’s technology in order to start producing displays for the iPhone and the iPad, reports Taiwan’s United Daily News (Google Translate, via GforGames).

While Foxconn has long been the primary assembler for Apple’s devices, a further collaboration with Sharp would mean that the company could begin to secure display orders for the iPhone and iPad, perhaps reducing Apple’s reliance on rival Samsung as a primary display supplier. An enhanced collaboration would also help further speed and streamline the development and adaption of new technologies into Apple’s products.

Foxconn and Sharp announced in 2012 that they had entered a strategic partnership to advance LCD technology and even opened an iPhone display plant in Chengdu, China. It was also rumored that Foxconn would attempt to secure a 10 percent steak in the Japanese display maker, however those plans were dropped shortly thereafter.

Currently, Apple’s displays are made by LG, Japan Display, Sharp, and Samsung. Notably, Samsung was said to be Apple’s top iPad display supplier in Q1 2014, with the company turning to the Korean manufacturer last October to produce displays for the Retina iPad mini as Sharp and LG struggled with low yields.

Newest MacBook Airs on Sale for Father’s Day [Mac Blog]

BestBuy is offering free shipping and $100 off all the newest MacBook Air models. This brings the base MacBook Air model down to $799 — the lowest we’ve seen for the latest generation models. The discount kicks off today, but appears to extend all week.

– 11.6″ MacBook Air, 4GB, 128GB SSD: $899 -> $799
– 11.6″ MacBook Air, 4GB, 256GB SSD: $1099 -> $999
– 13.3″ MacBook Air, 4GB, 128GB SSD: $999 -> $899
– 13.3″ MacBook Air, 4GB, 256GB SSD: $1199 -> $1099

The MacBook Air was recently updated in April by Apple, so is considered safe to buy according to our Buyer’s Guide. It’s unusual for Apple’s latest generation models to be discounted so quickly after their launch.

MacRumors is an affiliate partner of Best Buy.

New Profile on Apple CEO Tim Cook Details Influence on Product Development, iWatch Plans

A new profile on Tim Cook done by the New York Times has shared a variety of details discussing the Apple CEO’s leadership style over his nearly three year tenure as the head of the company, including his influence on product development, brand expansion, and “quiet” approach to design. The profile also sheds new light on the development of Apple’s highly-rumored “iWatch” smartwatch.

The report notes Cook’s differences in management compared to Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs, sharing how the CEO has made key decisions to release unique new products and acquire new talent over the past few years. Moreover, his attempts to broaden Apple’s brand by expressing support for initiatives such as environmentalism and charitable giving were also highlighted.

A number of Cook’s peers spoke on Apple’s pressure to deliver another breakthrough product, with Apple design chief Jony Ive saying that Cook has “not neglected” the company’s central mission of “innovation,” noting that it has been “hard” for the company and its CEO to “be patient.”

Honestly, I don’t think anything’s changed,” he said. And that includes the clamor for some exciting new thing. “People felt exactly the same way when we were working on the iPhone,” Mr. Ive added.

New details were also shared on Cook’s influence on the iWatch, with the report noting Cook has been “less involved” in the direct engineering of the device, delegating the hands-on roles to other executives such as Ive. Cook is said to be interested in the smartwatch’s “broader implications”, taking an interest as to how the device could help people monitor their health more efficiently. Sources said that the iWatch is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of this year, which is in line with previous reports.

Cook has also managed to acquire new personnel throughout the past few years, hiring personnel such as former Burberry chief Angela Ahrendts to head Apple’s retail efforts and former Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve to lead “special projects.” U2 lead singer Bono, who worked closely with Apple through the (Product) RED initiative, says that Cook is amassing a “creative brain trust,” adding that Apple’s acquisition of Beats Electronics was done to expand the company’s creative perspective in the absence of Jobs.

Disney CEO and Apple board member Bob Iger also shared perspective on Cook’s decision making towards new products:

Since he took over, the company has released a number of upgrades, including a smaller tablet, the iPad Mini. Mr. Cook “thought the world would love a smaller and less expensive tablet,” said Robert A. Iger, the chief executive of Disney and a member of Apple’s board. It was a product that Mr. Jobs thought did not have a market, he said.

The profile finally speaks on Cook’s approachability as told by developers and employees at the company, highlighting the CEO’s ability to hold conversation and express his activism and perspectives. Overall, while Apple has experienced criticism amid slowing revenue growth and the lack of drastic product expansion, the profile notes that Cook has gained a considerable amount of influence throughout his tenure as CEO.

Apple is expected to launch a variety of new products this year, including bigger iPhones, a new Apple TV, and refined iPads, as well as new MacBooks and an upgraded iMac in addition to the aforementioned iWatch.

See Handoff on OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 in Action

With iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, Apple is focusing heavily on increased integration between desktop and mobile through several new “Continuity” features, including Handoff, which allows users to start a task on one device and swap to another nearby device.

While Handoff doesn’t appear to work reliably at this point in time and is listed as one of the features currently unavailable in the beta software, some users have been able to get it working, giving us a quick glimpse at how the feature works.

A video from French site Mac4Ever displays how the feature works with Maps, Safari, and Mail. A map opened on the iPhone is automatically picked up by the Mac, displayed in the lower left corner of the screen, with the process repeated for a site in Safari and an email message in Mail.

Handoff is also demonstrated in a second video from Cult of Mac, which explains how Handoff works and shows the feature being used with Safari and Mail. The video also demonstrates a second Continuity feature, which allows Macs and iPads to make and answer phone calls relayed through an iPhone.

Handoff, Mac/iPad phone calls, and the other Continuity features will continue to be refined during the iOS 8/OS X Yosemite beta testing period. Both iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite are currently available to developers and are expected to be released to the public in the fall.

Apple Plans to Encrypt iCloud Email in Transit Between Providers [Mac Blog]

NPR Yesterday wrote a story on the efforts of tech companies to protect consumer data, which included an extensive chart on how companies measure up when it comes to encryption.

While Apple was found to be encrypting iMessage end-to-end, as well as email from customers to iCloud, it was found to be one of the few global email providers based in the U.S. that does not encrypt customer email in transit between providers. That means emails that are sent from iCloud to iCloud are encrypted, but emails sent from iCloud to other providers, such as Gmail, are not encrypted.

Following the post, however, Apple told NPR that it is planning to encrypt those emails in the near future.

Apple encrypts e-mail from its customers to iCloud. However, Apple is one of the few global email providers based in the U.S. that is not encrypting any of its customers’ email in transit between providers. After we published, the company told us this would soon change. This affects users of me.com and mac.com email addresses.

As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple’s response to NPR mentions only Me.com and Mac.com without a mention of the newer iCloud.com email addresses, but Google’s data protection transparency website suggests that outbound iCloud.com emails are not encrypted, so it is likely Apple’s plans include changes to the iCloud.com domain as well.

As noted by NPR, end-to-end encryption of emails sent back and forth between service providers requires cooperation between providers. Both email services involved (such as Apple and Google or Apple and Yahoo) must implement encryption, which means Apple will need to work with other email providers for true end-to-end encryption of iCloud.com email.

NPR’s study also noted that many app installations and iOS updates are sent unencrypted to iPhones, as are configuration files sent from telecom companies, and pre-login browsing/shopping traffic from the Apple Store.