Skip to content
Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 33 years
and the TidBITS Content Network for Apple professionals

ExtraBITS for 15 September 2014

Last week showered us with Apple news, and Adam Engst joined The Tech Night Owl Live podcast to make sense of it all, including Apple’s new products and the inglorious end of Macworld’s print edition. Apple CEO Tim Cook had an interview of his own with Charlie Rose, where he shared some juicy tidbits about Apple. Microsoft bought the makers of the hit game Minecraft for a whopping $2.5 billion, putting the future of the game into question. Finally, we have an insider look at Apple’s deal to distribute U2’s latest album and a watch guy’s take on the Apple Watch.

Adam Engst Revisits Apple Announcements on Tech Night Owl — On The Tech Night Owl Live podcast, Adam Engst joins host Gene Steinberg to talk through Apple’s major announcements — the Apple Watch, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and Apple Pay — along with the demise of the print edition of Macworld.

Read/post comments

Tim Cook Sits Down with Charlie Rose — Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down for an interview with Charlie Rose, and the first hour is now available to watch. It’s chock full of interesting tidbits, such as Steve Jobs still having an office at Apple, who Apple’s biggest competitor is, things Apple wouldn’t have done under Jobs, and the state of the TV industry.

Read/post comments

Microsoft Buys Minecraft Developer for $2.5 Billion — Microsoft has announced that it will purchase Stockholm-based developer Mojang, creators of the smash-hit game Minecraft, for $2.5 billion. Minecraft is a procedurally generated sandbox game that mixes survival, construction, and fantasy. It rose from obscurity to be one of the most popular games of all time, with over 100 million downloads. Unfortunately, the founders of Mojang are moving on, so the game’s future is uncertain.

Read/post comments

Behind the Scenes of Apple’s $100 Million U2 Deal — Billboard spoke with U2’s new manager, Guy Oseary, about the band’s deal with Apple to distribute their latest album, “Songs of Innocence,” for free to iTunes users. The deal is rumored to have cost Apple up to $100 million. Oseary discusses Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine’s close relationship with U2, hints at future Apple collaborations, and talks about retailers’ annoyance at the deal.

Read/post comments

The Apple Watch from a Watch Guy’s Perspective — Many tech watchers and pundits have weighed in on the recently announced Apple Watch, but almost all the talk has been about it as an interactive device, focusing on features and capabilities. Benjamin Clymer has a different take — as the founder of HODINKEE, a publication devoted to wristwatches and wristwatch aficionados, he evaluated the Apple Watch, not surprisingly, as a wristwatch. His opinion: “…though I do not believe it poses any threat to haute horology manufactures, I do think the Apple Watch will be a big problem for low-priced
quartz watches, and even some entry-level mechanical watches. In years to come, it could pose a larger threat to higher end brands, too.” It’s a fascinating look at the watch market and the Apple Watch’s place in it.

Read/post comments

Subscribe today so you don’t miss any TidBITS articles!

Every week you’ll get tech tips, in-depth reviews, and insightful news analysis for discerning Apple users. For over 33 years, we’ve published professional, member-supported tech journalism that makes you smarter.

Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.