Apple

Is Apple Finally Getting Rid of That Annoying Home Button?

Back in the day, when smartphones were actually small, the circular home button that has been a mainstay on the iPhone since gen one wasn’t that big of a deal. But as iPhones continued to challenge practical ergonomics by inching a bit bigger year after year, it’s become kind of a problem. It just takes…

Taylor Swift vs. Tim Cook in a Cartoon

Taylor Swift and Apple have been enjoying a back-and-two over the last 24 hours about streaming royalties—a conversation that’s made Apple look like the artist-exploiting, money-churning behemoth that it is. To the extent that it U-turned. Go Swfit? [Joy of Tech]

Apple Bows to Queen Taylor, Does Abrupt About-Face Over Unpaid Streaming

Earlier today, noted hater of streaming music Taylor Swift published an open letter to Apple, blasting its decision to not pay artists during the three-month free trial for Apple Music. A few hours later, it appears that Apple got the message, and is changing its policy on paying artists. In a series of messages posted…

This Clever Film Captures the Life Cycle of an iPhone

Thanks to two-year contracts and our general clumsiness, smartphones don’t have a particularly long life expectancy. Filmmaker Paul Trillo captures the life, death, and eventual black-market reincarnation, all from the poor iPhone’s point of view. Even more impressively, Trillo shot and edited the movie — including some fun and well-worked transitions — on his iPhone,…

Taylor Swift Condemns Apple’s Free Music Trial in an Open Letter

In an open letter to Apple, Taylor Swift explains that Apple Music won’t be getting her latest album 1989, because the service isn’t planning to pay artists, producers, or writers during the 3-month free trial period subscribers enjoy when they sign up. The letter, which appeared today on the singer’s Tumblr, explains that the decision…

1989 Won’t Be On Apple Music, And That’s Bad News For Apple

Joke about TaySway and her army of loyal Tumblr tweens all you want (go on, I dare you), but Swift is an undeniable powerhouse in pop music. Eight months after the launch of 1989, it’s still the fourth-best selling album in the country. And that makes it doubly bad for Apple that she’s just stuck…

The Next Apple Watch May Be Way Less Reliant On An iPhone

Rumors are an endless ouroboros of speculation. As soon as one device is announced/launched/shipped fresh gadget hearsay about The Next Generation begins. With some Apple Watch buyers still awaiting their precious wrist-strapped cargo, we’re already hearing more and more about the next one, and to be honest, it sounds way better. The famous purveyor of…

Why Your Favorite Independent Artists Aren’t On Apple Music (Yet)

Some of the world’s most important independent record labels are calling bullshit on Apple Music. With good reason! As Apple Music’s launch looms in the distance, many of the most influential independent record labels haven’t signed on to the streaming subscription service because Apple’s terms are an absolute screw job to anyone who hopes to…

Our Favorite Android, iOS, and Windows Phone Apps of the Week

This week was a good seven days of apps, including yet another piece of software from Facebook but also some must-download apps across all OSes. Strangely, the theme this week was all about sharing, whether sharing photos with friends or documents across devices or videos with the rest of the world. After all, sharing is…

This Could Be Best Way Yet of Turning Your iPhone Into a Kickass Camera

Product designers have been trying to find a great way of combining the power of your smartphone with an attachable souped-up camera. So far, designs have been awkward and less than user-friendly. DxO thinks it has a better solution with the new One camera. The One looks like an action cam in size and shape.…

You can now order an Apple Watch online then pick it up in-store using the company’s “Reserve & Pickup” system.

There’s a Fallout Mobile Game, And It’s Available Right Now

During their presentation at the E3 show today, Bethesda didn’t just talk about Fallout 4; as it turns out, there’s also a Fallout game for mobile. And even better, it’s available right now (on iPad, at least). https://kotaku.com/fallout-shelter-announced-out-tonight-1711317184

Watch This 10 Thousand Dollar Apple Gold Watch Get Crushed By Magnets

There’s destruction porn, and then there’s destroying the most absurd luxury item you can get your hands on, just because. Of course, I’m talking about Apple’s 18k, 10 thousand dollar gold timepiece. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of it. Most of us would never have the balls or spare chunk change to actually do…

Our Favorite Android, iOS, and Windows Phone Apps of the Week

Welcome to another week of apps. Android gets a DIY smartphone kill switch, iPhones can now use one of the best photo editors ever made, and Windows Phone gets a new browser for your internet viewing pleasure. Let’s take a look. Android Flipd Sometimes, you need a break from smartphone-ing, and in a 21st-century example…

Apple’s New Selling Point Is Privacy

Apple got caught up in a game of “me too” during this year’s WWDC keynote address, but if you listen closely, you notice that it’s starting to pitch products not just on their design or their power, but on how they protect a user’s privacy. Meet Apple’s new competitive point of difference. If you go…

iPhone users will be able to block ads in Safair running on iOS 9.

Apple’s Great New Developer Program Screws Over Safari Devs

During the last few days of the World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple announced major changes to its developer programs. Gone are the different programs — and different fees — that developers for iOS, OS X, and watchOS previously had to pay. And that’s great! Except, one of the most under-appreciated dev communities got a…

One Big List of the New Privacy and Security Features in iOS 9

As Apple had its annual celebration of its own awesomeness, I tuned in to see how Apple’s new operating system will provide better security and privacy to its users. Apple “cares about privacy” During the Keynote, Craig Federighi has made it really clear that Apple “seriously don’t want to know [your personal information]”. This has…

Here’s Proof of Apple’s Downward Fall From Innovator to Imitator 

Imitation in the tech world is normal, even expected, but during Apple’s developers conference Monday, Tim Cook and company were in rare form. They didn’t have much uniquely Apple to show off at all. Instead, the company played some catch-up, packing in feature after feature of things we’ve already seen from Apple’s rivals, and in…

Apple’s Taking Cars to the Road to Add StreetView-Like Features to Maps

With a subtle announcement on its website, Apple has confirmed that it’s sending cars out on to the streets of the U.S., UK and Ireland in order to acquire data—including images—that will be used to improve its Maps service. On anew page, Apple writes that it’s “driving vehicles around the world to collect data which…