Hold on to your hats, because this issue of TidBITS is a whopper! We say hello to both the Apple Watch and the record-breaking iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but goodbye to the print edition of Macworld and the iPod classic. Apple also announced Apple Pay, with the hope of revolutionizing the payment business, and Adam Engst and Rich Mogull team up to tell you how it works. Adam also details Apple’s more competitive iCloud storage plans, and Josh Centers explains how to get, or get rid of, the free U2 album Apple placed in 500 million iTunes accounts. Finally, Agen Schmitz brings us this week’s FunBITS entry, an in-depth look at Amazon’s Prime Music. Can it go toe-to-toe with the likes of Spotify, Rdio, and Beats Music? Notable software releases this week include Parallels Desktop 10.0.2, TextExpander 4.3.3, Marked 2.4.1, and iTunes 11.4.
It’s not just about time. It’s past time. And future time, as Apple previews a wristwatch from the future — literally, since the Apple Watch won’t come out until early 2015.
Apple has introduced two new iPhone models: the larger iPhone 6, and the even-larger iPhone 6 Plus. They aren’t revolutionary, but boast many new and improved features that make them compelling replacements for older iPhone models.
Apple has announced that the just-announced iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus racked up over four million pre-orders in the first 24 hours of sales, yet another record.
Apple has radically increased the amount of iCloud storage available to purchase and dropped the price per gigabyte. But as welcome as these changes are, they still pale in comparison to offers from Dropbox and Google Drive.
With the triple promise of “easy, secure, private,” Apple announced Apple Pay, a mobile payment system that takes advantage of the Touch ID sensor in the iPhone 6 and also works in the forthcoming Apple Watch. With Apple’s market clout behind it, Apple Pay could be the nudge the payment industry needs to move beyond today’s insecure credit card system.
Sad news: According to Macworld editors, IDG has shuttered the print edition of Macworld and laid off most of the staff. The macworld.com Web site will continue. Our condolences to the many fine editors and writers who are now looking for work.
Apple announced that it’s giving away a free copy of U2’s latest album, “Songs of Innocence,” to every iTunes customer. Here’s how to claim yours before time runs out on 13 October 2014. And if you really don’t like U2, you can remove all traces of the album from your account.
The iPod Classic is dead, but its legacy lives on, with the 128 GB iPhone 6 carrying the torch of putting massive amounts of music in your pocket and the reincarnation of the click wheel in the Apple Watch’s digital crown.
Amazon has entered the streaming music fray with its Prime Music service, available exclusively to subscribers of Amazon Prime. Agen Schmitz spent a few weeks with its desktop and mobile apps to see how it works and whether it’s worth your time.
Notable software releases this week include Parallels Desktop 10.0.2, TextExpander 4.3.3, Marked 2.4.1, and iTunes 11.4.
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.