Earlier this week, we reported on an upcoming design refresh coming to Apple Music with iOS 10. Mark reported that the update would focus on “a redesigned user-interface, a few new functions, and reorganization as well as simplification of existing features.” The new interface is said to ditch the colorful translucent look of the current app in favor of a more simplistic look with a focus on album art and black & white design.

While I certainly won’t reject an interface refresh for Apple Music, I think there are a variety of things that need to change too (or even first). Read on as I breakdown what needs to be changed…

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Filed under: Apple Music, Opinion Tagged: Apple, Apple Music, Opinion

Earlier this year Immersion Corporation, one of the leading companies in haptic feedback technology, filed a lawsuit against Apple over haptic technology used in the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, and Apple Watch. Today, the company has filed a second lawsuit against Apple and AT&T in which it says the MacBook and MacBook Pro violate one patent relating to haptic feedback. Additionally, Immersion says the iPhone 6s infringes on three more of its patents not mentioned in the first lawsuit.

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Filed under: iOS Tagged: Apple, immersion, Law, legal

It’s time to dine with Tim Cook at Apple’s HQ in Cupertino. One lucky (and generous) bidder has won Charitybuzz’s fundraiser campaign to have lunch with the Apple CEO at 1 Infinite Loop, plus attend a future Apple event during the next 12 months. Apple’s Campus 2 opens early next year, so it’s possible the winner could wait to visit Apple’s new location before the offer expires.

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Filed under: iOS Devices

Apple has announced a new enterprise-focused partnership with SAP that it hopes will boost iPhone and iPad usage in the workplace. The Apple and SAP partnership follows an ongoing effort between Apple and IBM to create specific iOS apps for various industries and deploy iOS technology in the field. Apple’s latest effort will include an SDK, or software developer kit, in partnership with SAP that will let developers create business-specific apps plus offer resources for learning how to utilize iOS technology. Read the full press release below:

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Filed under: iOS Devices

If you’re running OS X Yosemite or later, it’s possible to hide the menu bar on your primary display. Hiding the menu bar works very much like a hidden Dock in OS X, in that when you move your cursor to the edge of the screen, the menu bar reappears from its hidden state. In this post we’ll show you how to hide your menu bar, and why you might consider doing so. more…

Filed under:
How-To, Mac Tagged: how to, Mac, Menu Bar, Tips and Tricks, video

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Apple 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (latest version) for $700 shipped (Reg. $899)

Apple 12-inch MacBook (Early 2015) 1.1GHz/8GB/256GB $930 shipped (Orig. $1,299)

Lenovo 23-inch IPS 1080p LED Monitor w/ HDMI: $90 shipped (Reg. $150+), more

Add a six-outlet Belkin Surge Protector to your home or office for $5 Prime shipped (Reg. $10+)

Grab a free download of Camera Plus w/ AirSnap for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch (Reg. $1)

Grand Theft Auto iOS Sale: Liberty City Stories $3, China Town Wars $3, San Andreas $4, more

App Store Free App of the Week: Dragon Hills goes free for the very first time ($2 value)

Best Buy’s latest Apple sale takes $100 off iPad mini 4, up to $100 off Apple Watch & $25 off Apple TV

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Daily Deals: Canon MAXIFY All-In-One Printer w/ AirPrint $75, Philips Bluetooth Multimedia Speakers $32, more

• Smartphone Accessories: Boombotix Boombot Bluetooth Speaker $30 (Reg. $54), more
• Games/Apps: NES Remix Pack for Wii U $16, Max Payne Mobile $2, freebies, more
• How To: Save a significant amount of money on your next Walt Disney World vacation

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless In-ear Active Collection Headphones $120 shipped (Reg. $140+), more

• ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ $1 HD Digital Rental (Reg. $5)
• Green Deals: TaoTronics six-pack of A19 LED Light Bulbs $20 (Reg. $25), more
• Poweradd Pilot P2 Compact 10000mAh Power Bank $10 (Reg. $22), more
• Pay what you want for 9 courses on pentesting and ethical hacking
• LG G5 Smartphone w/ 32GB flash GSM 4G LTE (factory unlocked): $575 (Orig. $650)
• Nexbit Robin, cloud-powered smartphone now $299 shipped (Reg. $399)
• Take to the skies w/ DJI’s Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter for $399 (Reg. $499)
• One of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, UE’s Roll, is down to $50 shipped (Orig. $100)
• Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Refurb) $59 shipped (Orig. $400)
• Bluesmart Smart Carry-On Suitcase connects to your iOS device for $319 (Reg. $400)
• Kindle eBook Deals: Star Wars Darth Vader Stories $2, more
• Green Deals: WORX 32V 12-inch Cordless Electric Trimmer/Edger $100 (Reg. $125), more
• Amazon is giving away $5 credits when you download select free Android apps
• Unlocked AT&T BlackBerry PRIV down to $389 + free shipping (Reg. $649)
• Save up to $150 on Huawei Watch for iOS/Android, prices start at $250: Mesh Band $300, more
• This 32-inch Sony 720p HDTV is perfect for your bedroom or office at $148 (Reg. $170+)
• Smartphone Accessories: GOOLOO Jump Starter Power Bank $30, more
• Here’s our first official look at the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare trailer [Video]
• Add this highly-rated LED Headlamp w/ Motion Sensor to your tool box for $10 (Reg. $15)
• Amazon’s already insanely low-priced 7-inch Fire tablet is now just $40 Prime shipped
• PureVPN is the world’s fastest VPN: $59 (Orig. $286)
• Kindle First eBook freebies for May: The Butterfly Garden, About the Night, more
• Green Deals: 4-Pack of BR30 9W 4000K LED Flood Lights $24 (Reg. $33), more
• Magicfly Tens Unit and Pulse Massager: $18 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)
• OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups w/ Magnetic Snaps $15 (Reg. $20)
• Super-inexpensive 1080P HDTVs at Walmart: Vizio 24″ Smart (refurb): $90, more
• Samsung 55-inch 4K 3D 240CMR Smart LED UHDTV: $998 (Reg. $1,500+), more
• LG Google Nexus 5X 16GB 5.2-Inch LTE Unlocked Smartphone: $240 shipped

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Garmin goes classy with its new smartphone-connected vívomove fitness tracker

• Moog brings its $10,000 Model 15 synth to iPad and iPhone w/ new $30 app
• Erato’s Apollo 7 is the latest Kickstarter project with a goal of completely wireless earbuds
• SeeNote puts your iPhone notifications and smart home controls on an e-ink display
• Leica’s latest $6,000 digital camera drops the built-in display for a throwback look
• New MagicMount battery attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android smartphone
• Triby is the first non-Amazon portable Bluetooth speaker with built-in support for Alexa
• The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a lean mechanical gaming keyboard w/ Cherry MX Red switches
• Dyson’s new Supersonic hair dryer will leave your hair healthy and wallet empty
• This LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer custom build is nearly 5-feet long
• The Hover drone uses a unique foldable carbon fiber design to keep its wings safe
• The new LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS is everything we could’ve hoped for
• PICTAR’s vintage-inspired SLR camera accessory for iPhone

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon, app deals, Belkin, Best Buy, Daily Deals, free apps, Gold Box, Lenovo, MacBook Air, video games

SoundShare has released a major update to their iOS app today that looks to bridge the divide between multiple music streaming services. By combining multiple music streaming services (Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music), SoundShare creates a social network that takes out any hassles in sharing and discovering music. Even users who may not be using any premium streaming services can take advantage of the app. Thanks to iOS 9.3’s Apple Music API, apps like SoundShare can exist to create a better overall music discovery experience.

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Filed under: Apple Music, Apps Tagged: Apple Music, Deezer, SoundShare, Spotify

Netflix is today introducing a new way for users of its mobile apps to adjust the quality of video streams based on data usage. The new “cellular data controls” in the mobile apps include Low, Medium, or High settings.

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Filed under: Apps Tagged: 3D Touch, App Store, cellular data controls, Data usage, iOS, Netflix, quick actions, unlimited

Cupertino mayor Barry Chang has accused Apple of ‘abusing’ its home city by failing to contribute to much-needed public projects, and claims that he was ‘surrounded’ by security and escorted off the premises when he tr

Apple is not willing to pay a dime. They’re making profit, and they should share the responsibility for our city, but they won’t. They abuse us.

However, the Guardian notes that Apple paid $9.2M in city taxes in 2012/13 …

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Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Campus 2, Apple Spaceship Campus, Apple tax, Barry Chang, Cupertino, Cupertino city, Cupertino mayor, Spaceship Campus

A number of Reddit and Twitter users are reporting problems searching both iOS and Mac App Stores, with major iOS apps like Star Wars, Spotify and Google Apps failing to show up in search results – and even Apple’s own Xcode failing to show in searches of the Mac App Store. I’m seeing the same issues myself …

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Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: App Store, App Store (iOS), App Store search, Mac App Store