Beats CEO Jimmy Iovine in Talks to Join Apple as ‘Special Adviser’
Just a couple hours after the Financial Times reported that Apple was in talks to acquire Beats Electronics, the New York Post is reporting that Beats CEO Jimmy Iovine is in talks to join Apple as a “special adviser” to Tim Cook on creative matters.
Beats Electronics boss and veteran music industry executive Jimmy Iovine is in talks to join Apple as a “special adviser” to Tim Cook on creative matters, two sources close to talks tell The Post.
Iovine is also the chairman of Universal Music Group’s Interscrope Geffen A&M music labels, though his contract is set to expire at the end of 2014. However, it’s not clear if this is part of the potential purchase of Beats Electronics or separate from that deal.
Iovine has strong contacts in the music industry, allowing Apple to potentially leverage him for potential future negotiations with music labels. This would make him a strong addition even if Apple doesn’t purchase Beats.
If Iovine does join Apple, Iovine would be the second high profile executive to join the company after former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts. The Beats CEO also has a history with Apple, having pitched Steve Jobs on a subscription music service and meeting with Apple executives about Beats Music before it launched.
California’s smartphone kill switch bill passes a second senate vote
Perseverance pays off, it seems. Just weeks after California’s senate shot down a bill that would require a remote kill switch feature on smartphones, the legislature has passed an amended version of the same would-be law. Senate critics dropped their opposition after changes were made to both give companies more time to implement the technology and explicitly left tablets out of the regulation. Apple and Microsoft are also onside after initially objecting to the measure, too. There’s still no certainty that the kill switch will become official and let you disable a stolen phone from afar, but it’s now a realistic possibility — much to the chagrin of big US carriers.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Microsoft
Source: San Jose Mercury News
Apple in Talks to Acquire Beats Electronics for $3.2 Billion
Apple is said to be close to completing an acquisition of Beats Electronics, the headphone company and streaming music service created by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. According to the Financial Times, the deal could be announced as soon as next week if negotiations work out.
Apple will acquire Beats’ streaming music service, which launched this year, and its audio equipment business, which includes its brand of headphones and audio equipment. The Beats management team will report to Mr Cook, said people familiar with the deal. Apple and Beats declined to comment.
Apple is said to be paying $3.2 billion dollars for the service, a sum that dwarfs the $404 million that the company spent to acquire NeXT in 1996, it’s largest purchase to date. Tim Cook said earlier this year that the company was open to making large acquisitions if the purchases made sense. “We have no problem spending 10 figures for the right company, for the right fit that’s in the best interest of Apple in the long-term. None. Zero.”
In addition to producing a range of popular premium headphones that Apple currently sells in its stores, Beats also recently launched its Beats Music service, a direct competitor to Spotify, Pandora, and Apple’s own iTunes Radio service. Beats Music is, however, a subscription-based on-demand service similar to Spotify, which could bolster Apple’s free iTunes Radio.
According to the Financial Times, the deal is still in the works with some details yet to be ironed out, suggesting “talks could still fall apart.”
Apple is reportedly close to buying Beats for $3.2 billion
The days of Apple limiting itself to (relatively) small acquisitions may soon be over. The Financial Times hears from sources that the folks at 1 Infinite Loop are close to buying Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion. It’s not clear exactly why the company would splurge on such a deal, although there are some strong incentives — Beats Music could provide Apple with a streaming music platform more advanced than iTunes Radio, while Beats’ audio hardware could complement existing iOS and Mac devices. Apple hasn’t commented on the rumor, but the rumored deal could be official as early as next week — we’ll know the truth soon enough.
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Internet, Mobile, Apple
Source: Financial Times
Buyer’s Guide: Discounts on iMac, iPad Air, MacBook Air, and More [Mac Blog]
There are some decent deals to be had on several Apple products this week, including the iMac, the cellular iPad Air, and the 2013 MacBook Air, all of which are available at low prices from various retailers.
B&H, for example, is currently offering the 21.5-inch 2.7Ghz iMac with 8GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive for $1,149, a $149 savings off the regular price. The higher-end 21.5-inch iMac with a 2.9Ghz processor is also available for $1,399, a savings of $100. $100 off deals from Adorama can also be had on both the 3.2Ghz 27-inch iMac and the 3.4Ghz 27-inch iMac.
Amazon is offering some deals on the AT&T Wi-Fi + 4G iPad Air in space gray, with the high capacity 128GB version available for $819, a discount of $110. Similarly, the 64GB AT&T iPad Air is available for $729, a discount of $100. Deals aren’t quite as good for the smaller capacity iPad Airs from AT&T, but the 16GB model is available for $593 ($36 discount) and the 32GB model is available for $685 ($44 discount).
Apple’s 2013 MacBook Airs are still available at much lower prices following the launch of the 2014 models, with discounts up to $150 on some models from multiple retailers. The 11.6 inch model with 4GB memory and 128GB flash can be purchased from Amazon for $787, $112 off the $899 2014 model. Prices are slightly higher at B&H Photo at $799, but that site only charges sales tax in New York, making it a better deal for most customers.
The higher capacity 11.6-inch 2013 MacBook Air is available for $949.99 from both Amazon and B&H Photo, $150 less than the corresponding 2014 model.
B&H Photo is also offering the 2013 13-inch MacBook Air with 128GB of storage for $899, $100 less than the 2014 model. Amazon has a similar price, at $889. Deals are even better on the 2013-inch MacBook Air with 256GB of storage, which is on sale for $1,044.99 from both Best Buy and B&H Photo, a savings of $154.
As for accessories, the Lightning-compatible JBL OnBeat Micro Speaker Dock for the iPhone is available from Groupon for $39.99 or for $44 from Amazon.com (regularly $99.95). Sphero’s iPhone-controlled wireless robotic ball is also on sale via Groupon for $59.99, a discount of $70.
DODOcase is offering a rare $5 sale on its HARDcover iPhone 5/5s cases via Stacksocial, discounting them to $30. Daily Steals has a couple of Apple accessories available at a discount, including Apple’s EarPods for $15 ($30 retail) and the 30-pin to Lightning Adapter cable for $16 ($39 retail).
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
3D Print Your Own 4.7-Inch iPhone 6 Mockup with These $25 Plans
Following our feature yesterday sharing photos of a case and 3D-printed physical mockup of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, designer Martin Hajek is selling his own set of 3D files for a similar model, priced at $25. The files allow anyone interested in trying out how the alleged design feels in the hand to print their own mockup.
Hajek’s $25 package is available through TurboSquid and includes an .STL file for 3D printing as well as .3DS and .OBJ modeling files. For users interested in printing their own physical mockups, quality will obviously depend on the quality of machine used for printing, but the .STL file is compatible with a wide range of machines and services.
The design is based on the leaked concept by MacFan magazine.
Download this file, 3D print it and see what the new iPhone will look like for yourself!
Don’t own a 3D printer? Don’t worry – a version of the model fit for the Shapeways 3D printing service is included!
Based on our experience with our 3D-printed mockup, we are continuing to refine our own model and may freely release those 3D files in the future.
Availability of iPhone 6 files for 3D printing comes as physical mockups have been appearing in increasing numbers. French site Nowhereelse.fr has been sharing several other photos on Twitter, while regular parts source Sonny Dickson has shared a few of his own images.
While there are a variety of cases and mockups all pointing in the same direction for the design of the iPhone 6, it is important to remember that most of these products are essentially all based on the same sets of leaked design drawings, and they ultimately may or may not prove correct.
Leaked cases and accessory company mockups have generally proven accurate over the years, although they were famously incorrect in 2011 when a tapered design led to numerous cases being produced to fit that design. Ultimately, Apple released the iPhone 4s with essentially the same design as the iPhone 4, and the tapered has not been seen since, although one report indicated that it was in fact a real prototype design that was scrapped by Apple.
Here’s what Apple does when US law enforcement wants your data
Apple insists that the US government doesn’t have backdoor access to its data (despite signs to the contrary). So what happens when law enforcement comes knocking at the company’s door, then? We have a fairly good idea as of this week. The company has published guidelines showing just what data it can provide to the authorities and the legal steps needed to get that information. As a rule, Apple can hand over anything from iCloud and its stores as long as there’s a proper court order, subpoena or warrant. It can also pull call records, contacts, text messages and media from locked iOS devices sent to its headquarters in Cupertino, although calendars, email and third-party apps are off-limits.
The company goes into significant detail about what it won’t do. It doesn’t intercept either FaceTime calls or iMessage chats, since they’re always encrypted; while some security researchers believe it’s possible to scoop up iMessages, Apple doesn’t plan on doing that itself. The tech firm also can’t remotely switch on Find My iPhone or grab GPS information, so don’t expect Apple to lead the feds to your door. Apple will warn you if the government is requesting information, but it will stay silent if a heads-up is either illegal or likely to put someone in immediate danger.
The policies are largely in line with those of other tech giants, and it’s clear that Apple wants formal requests before it turns over anything sensitive. As Ars Technica suggests, though, the only surefire way to prevent Apple (or any other third-party) from disclosing data is to keep it to yourself.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Apple
Jony Ive Wins Lifetime Achievement Award From SF’s Museum of Modern Art
Apple’s design chief Jony Ive is set to be honored with the Bay Area Treasure Award, given by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Ive will receive the award for his long history of designing innovative products for Apple.
“Ive is our generation’s most innovative and influential figure in the field of industrial design–no other design mind has done more to transform the way we visualize and share information,” said SFMOMA Director Neal Benezra. “SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast to establish a department of architecture and design, and we’re thrilled to celebrate Ive’s revolutionary achievements.”
Ive, who has designed products for Apple since 1992, has been responsible for many of the company’s flagship products, including the iPod, iPod touch, iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iOS 7.
The award will be given to Ive at a dinner and presentation set to be held on Thursday, October 30, 2014, where Ive will speak with SFMOMA Curator of Architecture and Design Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher. Tickets for the event will range in price from $400 to $1,250 and can be purchased via the Modern Art Council.
In the past, SFMOMA’s Bay Area Treasure Award has been given to famed artists and creators like architect Lawrence Halprin, filmmaker George Lucas, media artist Jim Cambbell, and painter Wayne Thiebaud. In a statement, Ive said he was proud to be recognized by the museum.
“I’ve always enjoyed visiting SFMOMA, and I think it represents exceptional contemporary art and design,” said Ive. “I’m very grateful to the museum and proud to be recognized among such an amazing list of past recipients.”
Ive has received several other awards for his work at Apple, including a 2007 National Design Award for the iPhone and a 2009 honorary doctorate from the Rhode Island School of Design. Ive was also appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire back in 2006 and in 2012, he was elevated to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, where he was knighted by Princess Anne.
Belkin’s Ultra-Slim QODE Thin Type Keyboard Now Available for iPad Air [iOS Blog]
Belkin today announced the availability of the QODE Thin Type for iPad Air, adding an ultra-slim keyboard option to its popular QODE line of tablet keyboards. QODE Thin Type for iPad Air features an anodized aluminum design, 79 hours of battery life and iOS specific keys that pair nicely with the iPad. The keyboard’s main selling point is its 4mm thin profile that barely adds any heft to the already slender iPad Air.
An early review of the device from ZDNet’s James Kendrick is favorable, noting that the keyboard is “different in a good way” from competing iPad tablets from Logitech, Kensington and Annker.
The Belkin is a simple cover with a keyboard on one side. The metal cover is not flat like the competitors’ models. There is a hump toward the back of the cover that gives the Belkin three advantages over the competition. The hump houses a large battery that Belkin claims gives six months of use on a charge. This is double that of other iPad keyboards. Having this hump on the cover provides an ergonomic tilt to the keyboard, perfect for typing. Last but not least, the protrusion provides a secure grip for handling the tablet in the cover.
The QODE Thin Type keyboard for iPad Air is available now for $99.99 at Belkin.com and will land soon at select retailers worldwide.
Some iOS Users Reporting Apple ID Error Messages When Updating Apps
A number of mostly international iOS users on MacRumors forums, Apple’s support forums, and Twitter are reporting issues with failed app updates today. According to affected users, the process of updating apps in the iOS App Store produces a warning that “the update is not available for this Apple ID either because it was bought by a different user or the item was refunded or cancelled.”
Reader Vinamra on MacRumors forums:
“I go 4 app updates today and as soon as I clicked the update button, the App Store app popped up with the following message:
“Update Unavailable with this Apple ID – This update is not available for this Apple ID either because it was bought by a different user or the item was refunded or cancelled.”
I have always used a single Apple ID and this phone (5S) was bought new and have never had this problem in the past.”
Member Albertus8898 on Apple Support Forums:
i didnt change or log out from my apple id at my iphone 5. But when i wanted to update one of my apps it said “update is not available for this apple id either becuase of using different id or….” then i checked my apple id’s apps and most of my apps gone. what should i do to make them back to my apple id account? and i tried to delete those apps and redownload them but it gave the same message.
One user contacted an Apple Support representative, who confirmed there was a server issue on Apple’s side that was affecting app updates. Apple is working on the problem, but the company has not provided a timeline for the fix.
At this time, this issue that you’re experiencing with updating apps is being investigated. There are no possible fixes at this current time, as [it’s] an issue with our servers, but we are working on it and should have it functioning properly later today.
While such an error message may appear when users are managing multiple accounts or changing countries, the number of complaints surfacing today and reports from several users indicating that they are only using one account with no changes in country suggest that there is indeed a broader issue with Apple’s systems today.
