Eddy Cue and Jimmy Iovine at Code Conference via Re/code

Pandora is announcing its Q2 2015 financial results today and as expected blamed the launch of Apple Music in June for low growth in listeners and an overall loss vs last quarter. While the company confirmed that it did indeed witness lower than normal growth numbers for the quarter, it described the overall impact of Apple Music as “muted”:

…we expected some short‐term impact to our audience  growth as listeners tried this highly‐promoted new service. I am pleased to say that, given the scale of press and consumer attention on this launch, the impact on our active users and listening hours was muted

Pandora officially reported 78.1 million monthly active users, an increase of 2% from last year, while its total listener hours increased 3% from last year to 5.14B. The company pointed out that the numbers mark an overall increase from the year ago quarter, but it also represents around 1 million fewer listeners since the previous quarter and launch of Apple Music.

The company previously warned investors that it would likely notice a drop in audience growth due to the launch of Apple’s new service during its Q2 earnings call.

Despite a clear impact from Apple Music, today the company’s CEO and president Brian McAndrews noted that the June 30th Apple Music launch impact was on par with what the company “experienced during the launch of Apple’s radio service in 2013,” seemingly downplaying the overall success of the service and any potential loss of market share to Apple.

Earlier this week Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the first official Apple Music numbers confirming the service has gained 6.5 million paid subscribers and 15 million total subscribers since its launch on June 30th. Apple is offering a 3 month free trial, which is one of the reasons Pandora expected to take a hit on its listener numbers. For the earliest adopters of the service free trials ran out on September 30, but it’s likely Apple will convert more users that were late to sign-up for the service in the months to come as more free trials expire.

Apple is also yet to launch the Android version of Apple Music, which it confirmed is on the way and just today leaked in some screenshots from an early beta.

Filed under: Apple Music Tagged: active listeners, Apple Music, audience, growth, loss, muted, Pandora, Q2 2015, subscribers

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Horologists, it is said, are very different from casual watch users. They actively collect watches, protect them, and care about small design and functional details in ways average people would shrug off. Apple designed the Apple Watch to appeal to everyone, but it proudly chased horologists with both software features (customizable faces/complications) and industrial design elements, winning the attention of some serious collectors in the process.

Moreso than most of the best Apple Watch docks and stands I’ve covered, Sena’s new Leather Watch Case ($80) is really a horologist’s accessory, not made for the average Apple Watch user. It’s a bespoke leather box designed to do little more than hold the Apple Watch inside, primarily for travel but alternately as a nightstand or desktop dock. Like many of Sena’s other luxurious leather products, you may not find it in a local store, and it may specifically appeal to a narrow niche of people with a lot of spare money. But it’s undeniably well-made — the product of judicious use of black grain leather, a gunmetal accent ring, and hidden magnets. Read on for the details…

Roughly 3″ tall and 3.6″ in diameter, the Leather Watch Case arrives as a set of five pieces: an oversized, thick fabric drawstring bag, a large leather-covered lid, a small leather-covered base, a gunmetal plastic cord manager, and a velvet lined center platform. All of the parts look as luxe as one would expect given the asking price — as fancy as a tuxedo, though understated, and my review sample’s grain was much finer than the version shown on Sena’s site. Similarly, a Sena logo embossed on the front is almost invisible unless light hits it just the right way.

To assemble the Case, you wind a self-supplied Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Cable around the cord manager, place the velvet platform around and behind Apple’s charging puck, then place the plastic assembly inside the base with the USB cord sticking out. This enables you to connect the cord to a wall power adapter or computer; you can also tuck the cord into the base for storage during travel.

The three aforementioned pieces can be used alone to create an Apple Watch charging dock, or you can add the fourth piece, turning the lid upside down and placing the base inside of it. This elevates the Watch roughly 3″ above a flat surface, around an inch higher than some of the Apple Watch docks I’ve tested, and a nice height for seeing the screen in Nightstand Mode.

Functionally, the only particularly cool surprise in the Leather Watch Case is the stealthy use of magnets in the gunmetal cord manager. They keep all three of the bottom pieces together when the lid is off, and also keep the lid on tightly enough that you’ll need to deliberately separate it from the base. Speaking for myself, I wouldn’t feel comfortable tossing a premium (and scuffable) leather case into a backpack or suitcase without protection, but that’s why the drawstring bag is included.

One thing that’s arguably missing from the Leather Watch Case is a battery. Given Nomad’s work on the Pod (reviewed here) and upcoming Pod Pro, this oversized circular form factor strikes me as making a lot of sense for something that doubles as an on-the-go charging dock and travel case. But while the battery-laden Pods are made from hardened metal and not cases, the Leather Watch Case is soft and has no integrated charging ability. It’s inevitable that some company will put the two concepts together in a (more expensive) do-it-all travel battery case for Apple Watch.

As it is, Sena’s Leather Watch Case is pretty much the definition of a luxury product: something most people won’t need, but with enough frills that some people will be willing to buy in anyway. Beyond the horology crowd, it has appeal as a sub-$100 gift for an Apple Watch-loving spouse who already has the Watch and band of their dreams. The Leather Watch Case is currently available at a discounted preorder price of only $70, which will rise to $80 when Sena starts shipping units out in mid-November.

More From This Author

Check out more of my editorials, How-To guides, and reviews for 9to5Mac here! I’ve covered a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users. In addition to my popular guide to the best Apple Watch docks and stands, I’ve recently discussed how to safely prepare and wipe your iPhone for resale or trade-in, and how to get the best iPhone trade-in price to help buy an iPhone 6s, amongst many other topics.

Filed under: Apple Watch, Reviews Tagged: Apple watch, Leather Watch Case, Sena, Sena Cases

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New screenshots of what is reportedly the beta version of Apple Music for Android have been published, providing what may be a first look at Apple’s first second foray into app development on Google’s competing mobile platform.

The screenshots, included below, show most of the features users would expect, such as Beats 1 availability and the “For Me” recommendations page. Apple Music Connect, the social network for musicians built into the service, is also included.

Aside from radio streaming, Apple Music for Android includes support for browsing and playing the full Apple Music catalog. Interestingly, Apple has opted to provide some new features that aren’t supported on iOS, such as the ability to change the size of the cache used to store offline music.

In bringing its software to Android, Apple has taken a slightly different approach from Google’s own iOS apps. While Google’s apps attempt to mimic the company’s Material Design principles—even going so far as to include custom-made toggle switches and other elements—Apple relies on UI elements built into Android rather than attempting to recreate the iOS versions of them. The main navigation has even been moved from an iOS-like tab bar to a more Android-friendly slide-out sidebar.

Despite this, the company hasn’t managed to stick completely to Google’s design guidelines and has injected some of its own style into the app. For example, the For Me page almost identically mirrors its iOS counterpart.

The images appear to be legitimate and match up with the design Apple teased during the Apple Music announcement at WWDC this year. Not every feature of the app is shown off in the screenshots below, but you can get a feel for how the app will look and behave from the gallery below.

Filed under: Apple Music Tagged: Android, Apple Music

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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 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest model) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,080 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

Save up to 70% on Twelve South Apple Accessories: BookBook for iPad Air $45 shipped (Orig. $80), more

App Store Free App of the Week: Dr. Panda’s Mailman ($4 value)

Best Buy lands the first major blow in this year’s battle for holiday shoppers

Amazon thinks leaving your house is over-rated, expands Prime free same-day delivery service

Dell Black Friday Ad Leak: Gears of War Xbox One w/ Fallout 4 + controller $300, VIZIO 60-Inch 4K HDTV $800, more

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: Logitech Performance Mouse MX $45, SanDisk 64GB Flash Memory Card for MacBook Air $44, more

• Games/Apps: GOW Xbox One bundle w/ Destiny Legendary $349, Flick Kick Football free, more
• Gift Cards up to 20% off: JCPenney, Sports Authority, GameStop, Outback Steakhouse, more
• Amazon Gold Box – FlashForge 3D Printer Creator Pro $959 shipped (Orig. $1,349)
• LEGO Deals: Architecture Big Ben $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30), Cargo Heliplane $9, more

More deals still alive:

iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi 16GB in Silver or Space Gray: $230 shipped (Reg. $269)

Get a 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air 2 for less than Apple charges for 16GB: $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

proXPN VPN: Premium Lifetime Subscription for $39 ($375 value)

• Seagate 4TB Portable USB 3 Hard Drive w/ 200GB Cloud: $150 shipped
• Netflix November Preview: Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Seven Deadly Sins, Aziz Ansari, more
• Logitech K480 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard $35 shipped (Reg. $50)
• Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 interface + Sennheiser HD600 + Condenser Mic $400 shipped ($655 value)
• TP-Link Archer C7 802.11ac Router + DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem $130 shipped ($155+ value)
• Get ready for Halloween with Best Buy’s $5 horror Blu-ray sale: The Silence of the Lambs, Mad Max, more
• GoPro HERO4 Silver Action Camera w/ built-in LCD display: $329 shipped (Reg. $400)
• VIZIO 2.1 Sound Stand w/ subwoofer & remote $100 shipped (Orig. $250)
• Bluetooth Sport Earbuds w/ Prime shipping: Aukey Around-Neck $17 (Reg. $30), more
• Timbuk2 40% off Sale: Dashboard MacBook Messenger Bag from $59 (Orig. $109), more
• KMASHI 10,000mAh Battery $9 (Reg. $14), 6-Ft. Braided MFi Lightning Cable $8.50, more
• Media: Spider-Man Blu-ray Trilogy $14 (Reg. $32), $1 HD movie rentals, more
• Bluetooth Speakers: Mpow Armor Waterproof $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $36)
• 2.1-Ch. Home Audio: LG Soundbar 120W (refurb) $65 (Orig. $149)
• Acer Chromebook 1.50GHz/4GB/16GB SSD: $249 shipped (Reg. $279)
• Amazon and Toys R Us give a peek at this year’s must-have holiday gifts
• Ticket To Ride goes free on iPhone for the first time in years (Reg. $2)
• 50% off Fashion Sales: PUMA – Down Jacket $75 (Orig. $150), more
• Samsung Smart 4K HDTVs: 40-inch $550 (Reg. $700+), 50-inch $699 (Reg. $1,000+)
• Jawbone UP Move Activity Tracker: $20 w/ in-store pickup (Reg. $50)
• Display your iPhone 6/s w/ this Mpow Car Air Vent Mount $5 shipped (Reg. $9)
• Adjustable iPad mount for $17 Prime shipped (Orig. $30)

New products & more:

The MiniBrew launches on Indiegogo as an iPhone-connected way to make your own beer

Bird of Prey’s prone-style bicycle puts the rider facedown while riding

• Garmin drops the bulk and adds color with its new Forerunner wearables
• D-Link’s latest surveillance cameras go wide-angle with “less distortion” than the competition
• Libratone introduces multi-room audio alongside two new colorful ZIPP speakers
• Guitar Hero Live lands on iOS with a new mobile instrument bundle
• Gold is Best: This one-off Macintosh is a must see with its walnut enclosure and shiny keyboard
• This mini Segway hopes to take-off with its affordable price tag and compact design
• You’ll have to hurry to grab one of these limited edition Fallout 4 Xbox One controllers

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon, app deals, App of the Week, Best Buy, Black Friday, Daily Deals, Dr. Panda’s Mailman, free apps, Gold Box, Retina MacBook Pro, Twelve South, video games

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Apple Watch may have first launched all the way back in April, but the roll out in more countries around the world is still taking place. Availability for India now appears to have an official date with Apple’s website confirming a release scheduled for early next month on November 6th.

Details are limited on Apple Watch pricing and retail availability just yet, as only the date has been added to the India listing. The news comes as Apple CEO Tim Cook met with India’s Prime Minister last month, discussing Apple Pay and possibly bringing Apple Stores to the country, which would require manufacturing in the country, where Apple currently relies on resellers for distribution.

While Apple Watch is set to hit even more countries, signs that the Apple Pay could be expanding too have surfaced…

A year since launching, Apple Pay is currently only available in the United States and United Kingdom. The UK roll out in July marked the first international expansion since Apple Pay first launched in the US last October.

Reports have put both Canada and China as next for Apple Pay’s debut with a Canadian bank even listing the service as coming soon on its website.

Apple Maps may be the latest to offer hints at where Apple Pay could be coming next, however, as listings for businesses with Apple Pay support have been spotted around Australia where the mobile payment service is not yet available.

You're a tease, Apple.

Looks like some locations in Australia now show Pay accepted icons in Maps. https://t.co/47V2HXUXB3

—
Beau Giles (@BeauGiles) October 21, 2015

iOS 9 added Apple Pay badges to partnered businesses to promote Apple Pay availability, and several readers have mentioned seeing these badges in Australia recently.

Back in the US, Apple Pay rolled out to over 70 more banks and credit unions across the country earlier this week.

Filed under: Apple Pay, Apple Watch Tagged: Apple Maps, Apple pay, Apple watch, Australia, India

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In a Bloomberg interview this morning former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer spent some time discussing competition with Amazon for talent in Seattle and then moved on to Apple and Tesla.

With regard to Apple, Ballmer first said that Apple has “Done a good job” and took credit for saving Apple with an investment in 1997 when Steve Jobs returned – which was part of a patent dispute over Windows 95. Ballmer went on to say that that investment you could say that “In a way you could say that was the craziest thing [Microsoft] ever did.”

Ballmer went on to the current landscape where he said that Microsoft is the only company (with Samsung) really competing with Apple with its Surface Book in a new category.

Ballmer currently is the owner of the Los Angeles Clipper Basketball team and now owns around 4% of Twitter stock.  The relevant clip can be found here with Apple conversation starting halfway through.

Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple Inc, Microsoft, Steve Ballmer

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Following the rumor that Samsung plans to bring 3D Touch style features to next year’s Galaxy phones, it’s no surprise to hear a report that Apple’s greatest fan – the Chinese company Xiaomi – plans to do the same.

The report from a well-known Chinese tipster says that Xiaomi has patented a technology similar to 3D Touch, notes GforGames. It’s believed Samsung plans to use a Synaptics touchscreen controller, while it’s unclear whether Xiaomi plans to do the same or has created its own technology.

Known as ‘the Apple of China,’ Xiaomi has made a living copying everything Apple, from the Mi Phone, with an iOS-like Android skin, to the Mi Pad, a clone of the iPad mini. CEO Lei Jun even took to copying Steve Jobs’ trademark blue jeans and black turtleneck shirt at one point, later using his ‘one more thing‘ line in Apple-style product launches.

Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: 3D Touch, Apple Inc, Mi Pad, Mi Phone, Synaptics, Xiaomi

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If you’ve been waiting impatiently for the Sorkin/Boyle movie Steve Jobs to reach a theater near you, your wait should be at an end as the phased rollout completes today, going nationwide.

Universal Pictures yesterday posted a video of a brief roundtable discussion of the cast and others discussing the legacy of the man. Jeff Daniels, who plays John Sculley, said that Jobs was a creative genius who could be spoken of in the same breath as Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.

A creative genius, a pioneer, one of the great figures of certainly American, maybe world, history.

You can watch the five-minute video below.

Filed under: AAPL Company, General Tagged: Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs movie

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When Microsoft launched its first full-on laptop, the Surface Book, it made a big point of claiming that the machine was twice as fast as a 13-inch MacBook Pro. Benchmark tests by PCWorld show that this claiming is misleading, though the dedicated graphics card available in certain models does pay off for some uses.

The site’s tests showed that in pure CPU benchmarks, the MacBook Pro was actually slightly faster than the Surface Book. This remained true for Geek Bench 3 tests, which simulate real-life usage … 

Where the Surface Book started to pull ahead – though still a long way short of Microsoft’s claims – was in benchtests involving processing tasks that can be shared with the GPU. While the 13-inch MacBook has an integrated GPU, the particular model Surface Book PCWorld tested had a dedicated GPU, so unsurprisingly performed better here.

It should be noted that this isn’t a like-for-like test, as the base model Surface Book, priced at the same $1500 as the 13-inch MacBook Pro used, doesn’t have the dedicated GPU – the model tested here costs $1700. Even so, there was still no sign of the doubled speed claimed by Microsoft. That difference showed up only in a pure graphics test.

Microsoft did, though, underclaim in some respects, says PCWorld: running Tomb Raider, where the Surface Book achieved 74fps against the 23.6fps of the MacBook. But that’s what a GeForce graphics card will get you.

What would be interesting to see is the same tests run against the MacBook Pro 15, with its dedicated AMD graphics card.

Filed under: Mac Tagged: 13-inch MacBook Pro, GeForce, GPU, Graphics processing unit, MacBook Pro, Microsoft Surface Book, Surface Book, Surface Book vs MacBook Pro

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The iPhone 6s/Plus seems pretty popular already in Samsung’s home market of Korea, despite only going on sale today. All three major carriers earlier reported that they quickly sold out when the new iPhones were made available for pre-order on Monday. Now Patently Apple notes queues of hundreds of people at retail stores, with some having waited in line for 24 hours … 

Local brands Samsung and LG were clearly concerned, having both dropped the prices of their flagship devices prior to the iPhone 6s/Plus going on sale in Korea, and Samsung making its Galaxy Note 5 available in a similar pink color to Apple’s rose gold. The Korea Herald reports that more than 30% of iPhone 6s/Plus pre-orders were for rose gold models.

Samsung and Apple enjoy a rather uneasy relationship as both competitors and partners, the two having had endless patent battles in court while the company is one of two suppliers of the A9 chip used in the latest iPhones.

The new iPhones went on sale in India and Malaysia last week, with Apple promising they will be on sale in more than 130 countries by the end of the year.

Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS Devices Tagged: iPhone, iPhone 6s, iphone 6s plus, Korea, Samsung

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