Apple has removed the “far beyond HDR” branding for its Pro Display XDR in the UK following a complaint to the ASA.
Charlotte Henry
Charlotte is a media junkie, covering how Apple is not just a revolutionary tech firm, but a revolutionary media firm for TMO. She is based in London, and writes and broadcasts for various outlets.
Articles by Charlotte Henry
Tim Cook: Epic Wants to 'Make The App Store a Flea Market'
Apple CEO Tim Cook accused Epic Games of wanting to “make the App Store a flea market”, in a new interview.
Microsoft Purchasing Siri Partner Nuance
Microsoft announced Monday that it is purchasing AI firm Nuance. In a blog post, the company highlighted how this increases its progress in the cloud healthcare space. It’s also notable as Nuance’s technology was the foundation for Siri.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Nuance builds upon the successful existing partnership between the companies that was announced in 2019. By augmenting the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare with Nuance’s solutions, as well as the benefit of Nuance’s expertise and relationships with EHR systems providers, Microsoft will be better able to empower healthcare providers through the power of ambient clinical intelligence and other Microsoft cloud services. The acquisition will double Microsoft’s total addressable market (TAM) in the healthcare provider space, bringing the company’s TAM in healthcare to nearly $500 billion. Nuance and Microsoft will deepen their existing commitments to the extended partner ecosystem, as well as the highest standards of data privacy, security and compliance. “Nuance provides the AI layer at the healthcare point of delivery and is a pioneer in the real-world application of enterprise AI,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “AI is technology’s most important priority, and healthcare is its most urgent application. Together, with our partner ecosystem, we will put advanced AI solutions into the hands of professionals everywhere to drive better decision-making and create more meaningful connections, as we accelerate growth of Microsoft Cloud in Healthcare and Nuance.”
The 'Mythic Quest' Season Two Trailer is Here
Mythic Quest is set to return to Apple TV+ on May 7. On Monday, the new trailer landed. It shows (most) of the team back in the office working on a successor to Raven’s Banquet and gives a hint at how reintegration is going.
Update to England and Wales COVID-19 App Faces Delay After Breaking Apple and Google Rules
Apple and Google blocked an update to the COVID-19 contact tracing app in England and Wales asking users to upload their venue check-ins.
The Day the 100 Millionth iPod Was Sold
Given the success of the iPhone, it is perhaps all too easy to forget quite how groundbreaking the iPod was. In its latest ‘Today in Apple History’ piece, Cult of Mac looks back to the day in 2007 when the 100 millionth iPod was sold, making it the most popular Apple product in history at the time.
By April 2007, Apple had released more than 10 iPod models: five original iPods, two iPod minis, two iPod nano, and two iPod shuffles. The devices spawned an enormous ecosystem of more than 4,000 accessories, from cases to standalone speakers. Plus, upward of 70 percent of cars produced in the United States in 2007 offered iPod connectivity. Along with the success of the iTunes Music Store — the third-biggest music store in the United States at the time — the iPod represented Apple’s ascendancy to the pinnacle of the tech world… “At this historic milestone, we want to thank music lovers everywhere for making iPod such an incredible success,” said Steve Jobs in a statement issued by Apple. “iPod has helped millions of people around the world rekindle their passion for music, and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”
Ad Industry Waiting to See What App Tracking Transparency Fallout is
The advertising industry is waiting with bated breath for the arrival of Apple’s App Tracking Transparency. The feature will arrive in iOS 14.5 and make sure users are asked they want to be tracked across other apps and websites. AdWeek’s Andrew Blustein looked at what the fallout might be (Apple News link).
The median opt-in rate so far is 32%, according to an analysis of 300 apps across 2,000 devices from AppsFlyer, a mobile marketing and attribution company. The analysis found that apps with higher consumer affinity saw higher opt-in rates, hovering around 40%. It remains to be seen whether those opt-in rates will stay consistent when ATT roles out widely. Dating app Bumble said in its S-1 filing that it expects opt-in rates to be between 0-20%. Demonstrating the breadth of the identifier, Trade Desk said that 10% of the 12 million ad opportunities per second on its platform are tied to an IDFA. If opt-out rates are high and IDFAs do become scarce, app developers and publishers should expect to see a 50% decline of in-app CPMs, said Joe Root, co-founder of Permutive, a publisher-focused data management platform. This mirrors the impact media owners saw when Apple introduced ITP, he said.
Justin Timberlake to Star in Forthcoming Apple TV+ Adaptation of 'Confessions of a Dangerous Mind'
Justin Timberlake will star in a forthcoming Apple TV+ drama series based on Gong Show host Chuck Barris’s ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind’.
Apple Music TV Arrives in the UK and Canada
Apple Music TV, 24/7 video service, is now available in the UK and Canada, having originally rolled out in the U.S.
Apple TV+: Helpsters Teach Heart T-Ball
In a new clip shared Friday, the Helpsters teach their friend Heart to play T-Ball. It’s the latest in the ‘We’ve Got a Plan’ series of videos from the Apple TV+ show that have been released. It is from the season two finale, which is available now to subscribers.
Peter Thiel Calls Apple's China Supply Chain Reliance a 'Real Problem'
Peter Thiel criticized tech companies’ relationships with China, picking out Apple and its supply chain in the country as a “real problem.”
Apple TV+ Content Recognized, But Doesn't Win, at GLAAD Media Awards
The episode of Apple TV+ show Little America called The Son earned ‘Special Recognition’ at the Glaad Media Awards.
Apple And Epic Reveal Their Legal Arguments in Upcoming App Store Trial
New filings reveal the legal arguments that Apple and Epic plan to make in their App Store trial. Bloomberg News outlined the details of the respective cases, which the companies presented to a judge on Thursday. None of it is hugely unexpected, but it is worth being aware of as we follow the trial, which will begin on May 5
In a summary of its legal arguments, Apple contends the 30% commission it charges most developers isn’t anticompetitive, but that it’s a typical fee across other mobile and online platforms. Moreover, Apple argues that taking a share of the revenue is justified by the billions of dollars it has invested in developing the proprietary infrastructure that underpins its App Store in the company’s iOS operating system, including software development kits and application programming interfaces. “Epic has benefited handsomely from its contractual relationship with Apple,” Apple’s court submission said. “Epic has used Apple’s proprietary SDKs, and thousands of proprietary APIs to develop games for iOS users.”
Eddy Cue Advising Tom Brady NFT Company
Age-defying, seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady is setting up an NFT company called Autograph. CNN reported that Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President, Internet Software and Services, is acting as an advisor to the firm.
Brady and entrepreneur Richard Rosenblatt will serve as co-chairs of Autograph. The company has also assembled a high-profile advisory team including Apple SVP Eddy Cue, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer, Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael Rapino, DraftKings cofounders Jason Robins and Paul Liberman, and Dawn Ostroff, chief content and advertising business Officer at Spotify, among others. Autograph will also have interactive offerings like live auctions, physical product drops and in-person experiences.
How to Play Apple Music Radio and Playlists on an Amazon Alexa Device
Apple Music 1, the rebranded radio station, and playlists can be accessed on Amazon’s Echo dot and other Alexa-enabled smart speakers.
Tom Holland to Star in 'The Crowded Room' on Apple TV+
Tom Holland will star in a forthcoming Apple TV+ anthology series called The Crowded Room, created by Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman.
'Hey Spotify' In-App Command Now Available on iOS and Android
Spotify users on both iOS and Android can now use the phrase ‘Hey Spotify’, GSMArena reported. It activates the audio-streaming app’s built-in voice search when the screen is on and the app itself is open.
A notification was received by the Spotify app. It brought us to a screen that prompted us to turn on “Hey Spotify”. Saying the wake phrase will prompt Spotify’s built-in voice search while the screen is on and the Spotify app is open. This means that the app is continuously listening for the wake phrase. Spotify’s privacy policy for voice data usage states that Spotify says it only holds recordings and transcriptions of the searches that you perform when tapping the voice button or saying the wake phrase. The feature doesn’t really add any function outside of enabling Spotify’s own voice search for hands-free use.
Apple Releases Dev Beta Seven For iOS 14.5 and Other Operating Systems
iOS 14.5 developer beta seven, and dev betas for a host of other Apple operating systems, are now available.
iPhone 12 Holds Its Value Better Than Rival Samsung Galaxy S21
Smartphones in the iPhone 12 range have lost value by between 18.1 to 33.7 percent since they launched in October last year, according to data from SellCell (spotted by Macrumors). Meanwhile, devices in the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, which only launched in January 2021, have already seen a 44.8 and 57.1 percent drop in value.
We can say with some confidence that the reason the iPhone 12 series has held its value better than the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, is because the demand is still there even after that initial sale. Apple owners looking to upgrade their device will, in the majority, stick to the Apple brand. In that sense, demand is high for pre-owned iPhone 12 handsets, meaning that they keep their value as consumers are happy to pay a premium, even for a refurbished or pre-owned iPhone 12. On the other side, not only do Samsung owners show less loyalty to the brand, but 26% of them are happy to consider jumping ship to an Apple device once they’re done with their Android handset. This has two effects. It decreases demand for Samsung’s handsets, driving the value down, while at the same time increasing Apple demand even further, slowing the rate of iPhone 12 value shrinkage.
No, They're Aren't Really Two Million Shows on Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts recently hit a milestone – having two million podcasts available to listeners. However, as Amplifi Media explained, all is not quite as it seemed, with many not getting past show number one.
Out of the two million titles reflected in Apple Podcasts (and similar results from Podcast Index), a remarkable 26% have produced just a single episode. One and done. That suggests many people fired up their creative juices, especially during the pandemic, and stopped after creating one episode. Roughly 1/4th of all podcasts are out of business, or more likely, were never really in it. Sure, there might be some that only planned a single episode but for our x-ray, let’s drop the number of podcasts down by 26% – which means there are roughly 1.5 million (1.48m) podcasts with two or more episodes. That’s a big difference. Let’s go a bit further. Let’s use three or fewer episodes as a mark. That rockets the number up to an astonishing 44% of all podcasts… If a ‘real podcast’ is a series of at least four episodes, that effectively reduces the total of two million podcasts to 880,000.
Apple News+ Could Hit 19 Million Subscribers, US$2.2 Billion Revenue by 2023
Apple News+ could hit 19 million paid subscribers and generate US$2.2 billion in revenue by 2023, according to a note from Cowens.
Martin Scorsese Apple Original Film 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Adds Four Cast Members Alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro
Apple Original Films production Killers of the Flower Moon has added four new cast members alongside Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Steve Jobs Taught His Former Executive Assistant to 'Work on All'
Naz Beheshti worked as Steve Jobs’s executive assistant. In a CNBC interview, she explained how working with the Apple co-founder inspired her into her current life as a wellness coach, speaker, and author. She also broke down some misconceptions about him.
“There has been a big misconception about him that he was a workaholic and that he was really tough to work with,” Beheshti tells CNBC Make It. “Yes, in some cases he was.” But, in the midst of being a tough boss, Beheshti says Jobs, who died in 2011, made it a point to “prioritize his wellbeing,” which gave him the “energy and the clarity and the vision to sustain his success and build Apple.” For example, Beheshti says not only did Jobs “eat really healthy,” but he also “meditated daily, he had regular physical activity like exercise several times a week and he maintained strong relationships… [Jobs] taught me by example that you need to really work on all,” when it comes to your health and wellness, “rather than just working on one aspect of your life,” Beheshti says.
Morgan Stanley Lowers AAPL Target Despite Services Growth
Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty has lowered her target price for AAPL. However, according to a note seen be Apple 3.0, she did forecast that Apple Services revenue growth will increase by 6 points during 2021.
From a note to Morgan Stanley’s clients that landed on my desktop Tuesday: “Services strength drives estimates higher but peer multiple compression drives PT lower to $155 (from $164). Following strong March quarter App Store results and an analysis of the key drivers of Apple’s Licensing & Other segment, we raise our already above-street FY21 and FY22 Services revenue estimates by 3% and 5% respectively, and are increasingly convinced that consensus Services forecasts over the next 2+ years are too low. We now forecast Apple Services revenue growth accelerates by 6 points to +22% Y/Y in FY21, up from +19% Y/Y previously, nearly 4 points ahead of FY21 consensus Services growth of +18% Y/Y.”