Adobe has chosen to use a Bob Ross lookalike for a series of video tutorials on using Adobe Photoshop Sketch with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. The company posted the last of the four-part series (below) over the weekend.

The late host of the long-running TV show The Joy of Painting was a much-loved personality, and the decision to effectively bring him back from the dead some eleven years later could easily have been considered tasteless, but YouTube commentators seem to be broadly in favor.

The series was made with the cooperation of Bob Ross Inc, which says Adobe took great care to get all the little details right, from the clothing worn to the type of easel used.

Adobe Photoshop Sketch runs on all iPads, and is a free download from the App Store (it does offer an in-app purchase, but only for optional cloud storage, not for brushes or the like). You can watch the four tutorials below. If that leaves you hankering for the real thing, season 20 of the show is available on iTunes.

Filed under: Apps Tagged: Adobe, Adobe Photoshop Sketch, Bob Ross, Photoshop, sketch, Sketch for iPad

Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of Apps, Adobe, and Photoshop.

What do you think? Discuss “Four-part video tutorial taps Bob Ross lookalike to promote Photoshop Sketch for iOS” with our community.

If searching for Apple Music content in the iOS Music app isn’t working for you, it’s not just you. Multiple users on Apple’s support forum are reporting the issue, with Twitter users joining the complaints. The problem appears to have begun late last night.

It’s not a universal issue, as it’s working fine for some people. Apple hasn’t yet acknowledged any problem on its system status page, but it’s not unusual for issues to exist for some time before showing up there.

Reboots aren’t curing it, so if you’re experiencing the problem there doesn’t appear anything you can do about it except wait for Apple to solve the problem, or switch to iTunes on the Mac where searches are working normally.

Some users are already unhappy with Apple’s decision to take its free ad-supported iTunes Radio stations off the air on Friday.

Via MacRumors

Filed under: Apple Music Tagged: Apple Music, Apple Music search, iOS Music app, Music, Music app

Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of Apple Music, Apple Music, and Music.

What do you think? Discuss “Multiple complaints of failed searches in Apple Music in iOS app” with our community.

On a BBC radio show where interviewees are asked to choose eight music tracks with special significance to them, Bill Gates yesterday selected the Beatles song “Two of us” as one of them, saying that it summed up his relationship with Steve Jobs. In the Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs, Gates said the two of them had a varied relationship.

Steve really is a singular person in the history of personal computing in terms of what he built at Apple. For some periods, we were completely allies working together – I wrote software for the original Apple II. Sometimes he would be very tough on you, sometimes he’d be very encouraging. He got really great work out of people.

“In the early years, the intensity had always been about the project, and so then [when] Steve got sick, it was far more mellow in terms of talking about our lives and our kids. Steve was an incredible genius, and I was more of an engineer than he was. But anyway, it was fun. It was more of a friendship that was reflective, although tragically then he couldn’t overcome the cancer and died.

In the wide-ranging interview, Gates also talks about his childhood, girls, cars, holidays, ruthlessness, charity and his wife Melinda.

Via the FT

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Inc, Bill Gates, Desert Island Discs, Microsoft, Steve Jobs

For more information about AAPL Company, Steve Jobs, and Apple Inc continue reading at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Bill Gates chooses Beatles song “Two of us” to sum up his relationship with Steve Jobs” with our community.

After the success of last year’s Shot on iPhone 6 ad campaign, taking one of the top prizes at the Cannes Grand Prix festival, Apple is relaunching the campaign to highlight photos taken with the iPhone 6s/Plus, reports Time.

The new ad campaign features 53 images from 41 amateurs and professional photographers from around the world. While the previous campaign included a variety of photographic subjects – from landscapes to extreme close-ups – this time, Apple has put the focus on portraits, most of them photographed in subtle, everyday moments.

Apple first launched the Shot on iPhone 6 campaign on its homepage last March, alongside a new App Store page highlighting photography apps. The company then used the photos in worldwide billboard ads – which Apple will be doing again this time around …

Time notes that the billboard ads will run in 85 cities across 26 countries.

We’d expect the new photos to be featured on Apple’s homepage shortly, perhaps taking over from the current ‘Start something new‘ campaign which features other types of art created using Apple products. As last year, we’d expect Apple to feature video as well as still photos on its website.

If you want to try your own hand at professional-looking people shots with the iPhone 6s, check out a video tutorial.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: ad campaign, Apple ad, Apple ad campaign, apple ads, shot on iPhone 6, Shot on iPhone 6s

For more information about iOS Devices, Apple ad, and apple ads continue reading at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Apple reboots ‘Shot on iPhone 6’ campaign with all-new photos from the iPhone 6s” with our community.

A new leak spotted by Macoatakara that first appeared on an Alibaba site appears to hint at some potential changes coming with the iPad Air 3. Earlier this month, Mark Gurman reported that Apple announce a new version of the iPad Air at a March press event alongside new Apple Watch models. Now, a leaked case design suggests some of the potential new design changes that the iPad Air 3 could feature when it launches to the public.

The first thing you’ll notice in the image below is that there appears to be a cutout for the Smart Connector. Apple first introduced this connection with the iPad Pro, using it for a more stable and reliable connection for things like keyboards. This case leak suggests that Apple plans to add the Smart Connector to the iPad Air lineup with the March revision.

Another change is that the camera cutout on the back of the case appears to extend further down, perhaps hinting that the iPad Air 3 will gain support for rear camera flash, a feature the iPad Pro does not have. Finally, the leaked images appear to show holes for four speakers, a change that was first reported earlier this month.

Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported last month that the iPad Air 3 would not feature support for 3D Touch due to a production error. Of course, the iPad Pro doesn’t have support for 3D Touch either.

Case leaks are something that should also be taken with a hint of skepticism, as sometimes case makers build designs off of rumored features without any confirmation from Apple itself. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see another source potentially corroborating otherwise sketchy reports.

The iPad Air 3 should launch in March alongside the iPhone 5se and new Apple Watch variants.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: Apple, case, iPad Air 3, leak, rumor

Continue reading more about iOS Devices, Apple, and case at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Leaked iPad Air 3 case images hint at Smart Connector support, rear camera flash, and more” with our community.

Apple recently has filed a new document with the Federal Communications Commission in which it argues that Made for iPhone, or MFi, accessories should be acknowledged by the organization as alternatives for hearing aid compatibility compliance. Recently, the FCC has proposed that all phones and consumer wireless devices must be compatible with hearing aids.

In response to the new proposal from the FCC, Apple says that all products that fall under its MFi hearing aid standards already comply with the FCC’s hearing aid compliance regulations. Apple argues that Made for iPhone hearing aids are already available to consumers everywhere, thus making them a valid alternative to the hearing aid compatibility requirement (via MacReports).

In its FCC filing, Apple touts that its MFi hearing aid platform offers a better experience than traditional hearing aids, while noting that recognizing the platform as an alternative to the hearing aid compatibility requirement would further the development of new and improved ways to better  handset accessibility:

Apple is driven to make its devices truly accessible, and believes that consumers with hearing loss deserve a better experience than what traditional hearing aid compatibility technologies offer today. iPhones comply with existing HAC rules. But as the Commission has recognized, Apple has also invested heavily to improve accessibility by developing a new hearing aid platform that relies on Bluetooth® technology.

Apple believes that this Made for iPhone (“MFi”) hearing aid platform represents a substantial improvement to consumers over devices that are deemed accessible by today’s HAC rules. In order to encourage innovators to develop new and better ways to improve handset accessibility, the Commission’s rules should recognize solutions such as the MFi hearing aid platform as alternatives for hearing aid compatibility compliance.

Finally, Apple notes that the FCC should focus in the future on “qualitative assessments” rather than its current interface-based assessments to “create meaningful solutions.” You can read the full FCC filling from Apple here.

Filed under: iOS Tagged: Apple, FCC, hearing aids, MFi

Continue reading more about Apple, iOS, and MFi at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Apple asks FCC to recognize Made For iPhone hearing aids to encourage accessibility innovation” with our community.

Welcome to the latest edition of Jeremy’s 5, my latest roundup of 5 interesting little things that aren’t big enough for full articles, but are still worth sharing with you.

This week, I’m looking at Enblue’s iPad Pro upgrade kit for an excellent multi-device dock, Olloclip’s Studio accessory bundle for iPhone photographers, AAXA’s P5 video projector, Apple innovation/execution in 2016, and the likelihood of an Apple virtual reality solution in the near future…

1. Enblue’s W3iPro Upgrade Stability Kit for iPad Pro. Last August, I reviewed and loved the iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch dock Premium One W3. To increase W3’s appeal to iPad Pro owners, developer Enblue has come up with a $49 glass base that attaches to the bottom of the W3, primarily “to increase the stability.” I’ve been testing the W3iPro Kit over the last week, and although I would certainly not call it necessary for the iPad Pro, it’s nice.

Measuring 9.05″ by 7.08″ by 0.31″, it includes an acrylic recess in the front to hold an Apple Pencil, screws to attach the glass to the W3 base, and a larger rear support bar for the iPad Pro. I happen to use my W3 on a glass-covered nightstand, where it blends in even more than it might with other surfaces. It feels solid, looks nice, and adds a little more stability to the W3, though if you use the microsuction tape on W3’s bottom, the base unit is totally safe with even the large iPad Pro. Consider the W3iPro Kit largely for the cosmetics and Apple Pencil holder.

2. Olloclip’s Studio for iPhone 6/6 Plus/6s/6s Plus. Earlier this month, I wrote about the CES debut of Olloclip’s Studio ($90) — a brand new iPhone case bundled with a collection of camera accessories. I’ve had one in hand for a few days, and as a photographer, I like it, though I’m anxious to see Olloclip expand its own camera accessory collection to make Studio as powerful as possible. Olloclip already makes iPhone lens attachments, which work perfectly with Studio; now it could and probably should get into selling LED lamps and tripods, as well.

Studio begins with Olloclip’s latest iPhone case in your choice of 6/6s or 6 Plus/6s Plus sizes. It’s clearly the very best case Olloclip has ever made, with ease-of-use and protection that are nearly up to par with a Speck CandyShell. The package also includes a nicely designed, useful finger/hand stabilizer grip, a so-so kickstand, easy-to-use vertical and horizontal tripod thread attachments, a basic wriststrap, and two coldshoe adapters that conceivably would let you mount a self-powered external LED fill-in lamp or flash system. Each of the accessories slides effortlessly onto a rear rail system to securely attach to the case, and you can use at least two at a time.

I would call Studio a no-brainer if you want to use your iPhone often with a tripod or existing coldshoe accessory — it makes attachment and detachment of these common camera accessories as seamless as adding or removing an Olloclip lens. The fact that you don’t have to compromise on iPhone case quality or coverage when adding these accessories is fantastic, as well. But if you don’t already have a compatible lighting accessory or tripod, you might find the $90 entry price for the case to be steep; you can get Olloclip’s last-gen lens-ready case for only $30. I’m optimistic that Studio will grow in value over time: Olloclip has done a great job of building out its past accessory options, and I expect that Studio will be well-supported as well.

3. AAXA’s P5. Last year, I had the opportunity to review two different AAXA pico video projectors — the $300 ST200 and the $450 P700 — both of which were decidedly more impressive at creating large, high-resolution video projections than smaller pocket-sized projectors such as Sony’s MP-CL1. This month, AAXA is shipping P5 ($400 MSRP, $352 online), a tweener model that offers twice the ST200’s power for only a small price premium. It’s a thick rounded-off square shape that occupies around 2/3 the physical volume of P700, a size that I’d call convenient but not hugely more convenient than P700. (The photo above makes it look comparatively smaller than it actually is.)

The P5 has a 300 Lumen DLP projector inside (twice the ST200’s brightness and a little under half the P700’s) while otherwise offering highly similar specs to the P700. P5’s native resolution is 1280×720, with two hours of promised battery life, now with the ability to easily swap batteries for extended play times. AAXA has kept the ports, controls, and menus highly similar, notably including a manual focus knob, keystoning and volume buttons, and a full-sized HDMI input. You give up a bit of speaker power and brightness versus the P700, but the difference isn’t night-and-day — P5 is bright enough to create up to a 100″ diagonal video projection in dim lighting conditions, with plenty of color at smaller screen sizes. It’s like an excellent featherweight boxer compared with the solid middleweight P700.

Normally, I’d give the P5 a full review, but in all honesty, it’s just a smaller version of the P700 with the same basic accessory bundle, pros, and cons — including the really-should-be-replaced tripod pack-in. The only major difference is that you’re paying less for less power, and going from an iPad mini footprint down to 2/3 of the size. Pick the model that best matches your budget, bearing in mind that while the P700 is a better overall performer, the P5 delivers slightly better value for its lower price.

4. Quick Thought #1 – For 2016, Apple Needs To Focus On Both Execution And Innovation. Some pundits have opined that Apple just needs to spend 2016 focusing on getting its house in order — improving the Apple TV’s, Apple Watch’s, and iPad Pro’s not-quite-finished software. Others have said that Apple desperately needs to come up with some major innovations to make its now leveled-off product lines exciting again. Who’s right?

I’ve had a lot of time to think about these topics over the past month, and my conclusion is that Apple needs to deliver heavily on both innovation and execution this year. Although it will make billions of dollars in 2016 no matter what it does, its long-term health now depends on a return to past form, when its events used to be exciting and “finished” products shipped in non-beta form. I can’t help but feel that the iPhone, iPad, and Mac have become stale. They’re all great devices, but they haven’t delivered industry-stunning breakthroughs in years. What new features they get seem not to work properly or impressively for at least a year, if not longer, and old features (hey, Siri) have become riddled with incredibly annoying issues. Another year of the same-old, same-old won’t be good for Apple, so I’m hoping to see some bona-fide excitement rather than more incrementalism throughout 2016.

5. Apple VR: I’m Not Holding My Breath. Following the lead of Oculus, Sony, Valve, Samsung and others, Apple is reportedly exploring virtual reality products — a category that has been under development for over 20 years by other companies. Yet apart from scattered patents and reports of secretive development, we’ve seen relatively few signs that Apple is actually planning to release anything in the VR category any time soon, or that it has something major to bring to the category Oculus has largely defined (but stands to lose to Sony over unrealistic pricing).

Based on what I’ve been reading, I seriously doubt that we’ll see any Apple-branded VR hardware for at least 2 years, probably longer. The company appears to be in the middle of staffing up for the project, rather than substantially finished with it, which would be necessary for near-term production. History suggests that it will let other companies trailblaze the category, only releasing dedicated hardware if and when the dust has settled. It certainly could release (or, via the App Store, embrace) a Samsung Gear VR-like “mount your iPhone on your face” enclosure earlier than that, but given the pace and apparent priorities of the company’s designers, I’d be surprised to see even an Apple-branded VR accessory for at least a year.

It’s never wise to rule Apple out — even when it’s sitting on the sidelines — but I can’t help but wonder whether other companies will spend the next year or two continuing to lock down the key technologies that make VR truly user-friendly. VR has been touted as the next frontier of computing for most of my adult life, but because the concept/medium/format literally depended on yet-to-be-perfected head tracking, display, and control technologies, it has made little to no impact on mainstream society. That looks set to change over the next couple of years, but while other companies have clearly invested in solving VR’s hardware and software challenges, Apple’s been focused on developing watches, cable boxes, and cars.

Is Apple missing out on something big with VR? Or won’t anyone care about it 2-3 years from now? I’d be curious to hear your thoughts below.

More From This Author

Check out more of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve published a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users, as well as a personal gift guide for Apple fans, a great gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed gift guide for Mac users, and a separate gift guide for Apple photographers.

Filed under: iOS Devices, Opinion, Tech Industry

Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of iOS Devices, Tech Industry, and Opinion.

What do you think? Discuss “Jeremy’s 5: Enblue’s W3iPro Kit, Olloclip’s Studio, AAXA’s P5, Apple Innovation + Apple VR” with our community.

There’s a new podcast app option for CarPlay fans out today: Downcast. The popular iOS and Mac podcast player updated today to add CarPlay integration, enhanced VoiceOver features, scrubber improvements, and lots of battery life and bug fix improvements.

Downcast wrote a bit on the app blog to talk about what to expect from the CarPlay integration:

Customization

CarPlay is meant to be safe and easy to use. To ensure that, Apple has limited customization of the UI. This is why you’ll find that most audio apps on CarPlay are quite similar. I can’t change the font, move labels around, add additional labels, or customize the now playing screen. These things just aren’t possible at this time, and that’s probably a good thing.

Limited List Items

Downcast limits lists in CarPlay to a maximum of 100 items. This is an arbitrary decision meant to control performance and improve safety. If this creates a problem for you, I suggest creating a playlist on your iPhone with appropriate episode inclusion settings to make a manageable list.

Downcast also limits lists in CarPlay to include only ready-to-play episodes. That includes those that are marked for streaming, are downloaded, or queued for downloading.

For the uninitiated, CarPlay is an infotainment feature in cars that lets supported iPhone apps project and control information on built-in screens.

Pro tip: you can remove Apple’s Podcasts app from the CarPlay Home screen and move Downcast to the front page by disabling Podcasts in the Restrictions section in the Settings app on iOS (as long as it’s the next alphabetical CarPlay app installed).

Downcast is available for iPhone plus Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. The podcast player is currently $2.99 for iOS/watch OS, and $7.99 on OS X. CarPlay integration is a free update to existing Downcast for iPhone customers. Find more apps with CarPlay integration here.

Filed under: Apps Tagged: CarPlay, CarPlay apps, Downcast, Podcast, Podcasts

For more information about Apps, CarPlay, and Podcast continue reading at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Downcast for iPhone adds CarPlay integration for enhanced podcast playback” with our community.

Apple’s Q1 2016 earnings results were historic in more ways than one. While Apple’s revenue during the holiday quarter was an all-time record for the company, Apple did indicate that iPhone unit sales would drop year-over-year for the first time next quarter. “We do think that iPhone units will decline in the quarter,” Cook told investors on this week’s call, though observers are quick to point out that this may not be a negative outcome. This simply raises the question: why?

Perhaps users are holding out for the iPhone 7 after the comparatively minor iPhone 6s launch was Apple’s sole-iPhone debut in 2015. Another possibility, however, is that people are holding on to their older devices longer because protective case accessories allow iPhones to last longer.

Indeed, Cook did tell investors on the call that the existing iPhone 5s “continues to do quite well” and that 60% of active iPhone users are using models older than the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which were launched in the fall of 2014. That means that only 40% of iPhone users are working with the latest form-factor found with the 6 and 6s lines.

With all that in mind, cases such as its the CandyShell Clear from Speck Products contribute to older models lasting longer, giving consumers a way to stretch their dollars until their next upgrade. Speck created a case packed with protective features and a slim design to help consumers get the most out of their iPhone. The following are the features of the CandyShell Clear that help it stand out from the competition:

• Completely clear iPhone 6 case with two layers of next-generation clear material that resists UV yellowing.
• Military-grade drop protection. Certified to meet or exceed MIL-STD-810G drop test standards.
• Patented one-piece, multi-layer design. Patented design provides two layers of protection. Exterior polycarbonate layer disperses impact while interior TPE layer absorbs shock.
• Patented raised bezel screen protection. Bezel rises above screen to guard glass from direct drops onto phone face and prevents screen from scratching when laying flat.
• Precision-engineered slim fit. CandyShell Clear protects iPhone 6 without adding unnecessary bulk.
• Perimeter port and camera protection. TPE liner protects ports from drops without compromising sound or photo quality.
• Lab-tested durability. Durability testing against extreme temperatures, cracks, and abrasions.
• Responsive button protection. Rubberized covers shield volume and power buttons while keeping them fully accessible.

Critically, using a case gives users a position of power to dictate when they can want to update, allowing users to wait until the next model instead of having to upgrade mid-cycle due to a broken device. Even with the exciting iPhone 7 launch this fall, users may be inclined to hold on to their iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, or iPhone 6s Plus if their phone keeps working properly thanks to a protective case.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: best protective case, clear case, iPhone 5se, iPhone 7, protective, shell, Speck, Upgrade

For more information about iOS Devices, iPhone 7, and Upgrade continue reading at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Speck’s CandyShell Clear lets users choose the right time to upgrade their iPhone” with our community.

Speck’s VR solution on the iPhone

During this week’s earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook answered a question on virtual reality by saying “I don’t think VR is a niche…It’s really cool and has some interesting applications.” It looks like Cook’s statements have some background to them. According to a new Financial Times report, Apple had reportedly been prototyping VR headsets in the past under Steve Jobs in the mid-2000s, but the project was eventually abandoned once the technology was found to still be immature. With new acquisitions and a dedicated VR team, the effort is said to be once again a new focus.

Apple has been going on a hiring spree in the world of virtual reality as of 2013 with their acquisition of PrimeSense. Reportedly the VR/AR research unit at Apple has hundreds of staff from multiple previous acquisitions including past employees from Microsoft’s HoloLens team as well as Lytro.

With their latest acquisition reportedly being Flyby Media, a company that worked with Google in developing some of the 3D positioning software for Project Tango, it looks like Apple is reinvigorated to taking this new direction seriously.

This has been an interesting two-weeks behind Apple’s VR news as Doug Bowman, a top virtual and augmented reality researcher, was recently hired by Apple to help expedite the efforts for the platform. Although Apple’s Jony Ive told the New Yorker that the face was the “wrong place” to put technology, the secret research unit at Apple is said to have been building prototypes of possible headset configurations in the past several months.

The report goes on to claim that Apple is moving foward by building out the secret VR/AR team at the company. Earlier this week, 9to5Mac’s Chance Miller opined about the state of VR and how Apple should increase its role in the space. Now it looks like that may actually be a reality. You can read the full report here.

Filed under: iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: Apple, AR, Augmented reality, Doug bowman, Flyby Media, iOS, Jonathan Ive, Lytro, Microsoft, Project Tango, Tim Cook, Virtual reality, vr

Continue reading more about iOS Devices, Apple, and Tech Industry at 9to5Mac.

What do you think? Discuss “Apple reportedly building secret research team to develop virtual and augmented reality tech” with our community.