The results of our poll asking which Apple services TidBITS readers use are in, with iCloud+ proving the most popular by far, followed by a surprisingly strong showing from Apple TV+. Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness+ brought up the rear, but remember, TidBITS readers aren’t representative of the overall Apple audience.
This week's Do You Use It? poll asks which Apple services: iCloud+, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Arcade—and the Apple One bundle—you both pay for and actually use.
Apple has released a list of enhancements coming to Apple services with the next versions of its operating systems.
People unfamiliar with classical music who want to discover new music will find the Apple Music Classical app more than sufficient. Classical music fans familiar with the genre and looking for uncommon recordings will find it somewhat frustrating.
Over a year and a half after it acquired Primephonic, Apple has finally announced the release of the dedicated Apple Music Classic app for iOS, scheduled for 28 March 2023. You can “pre-order” the free app now.
Apple has updated all of its operating systems, adding the Freeform digital whiteboard app, support for Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, Apple Music Sing, Stage Manager on external displays, and various smaller improvements. A fix for a serious security vulnerability encourages updating soon.
We have two quick things to share that don’t warrant an article: an explanation of why Apple Pay-using TidBITS members may see incorrect credit card expiration dates and the news of Apple Music Sing, which fills Adam Engst with dread.
Apple has raised the prices of Apple Music, Apple TV+, and the Apple One service bundle by $1–$3 per month.
Jason Snell calls out Apple for inserting promotional content into Apple-created radio stations and playlists on Apple Music.
Apple Music is now available as a channel on Roku, but it doesn’t support the Apple Music Voice Plan.
The new Apple Music Voice Plan is a bargain at $4.99 per month, but it mostly limits you to using Apple’s Siri voice assistant for searches and playback. The Voice Plan has been met with some skepticism, but Julio Ojeda-Zapata thinks it’s a good option for casual music listeners.
Apple used its “Unleashed” event partly to focus on music. It revealed third-generation AirPods with a host of improvements, unveiled new colors for its HomePod mini speaker, and announced a new Apple Music Voice Plan for access to the music service via Siri voice commands.
Apple has bought Primephonic, a classical music service. Apple will be shutting Primephonic down soon but promises to create a new app just for classical music fans.
Apple has published a support article offering clarity on how lossless audio will work with your devices.
Apple Music will provide free upgrades to lossless audio, Dolby Atmos, and Spatial Audio starting next month.