Sonos responds to HomePod launch with $349 Sonos One 2-pack, reaffirms AirPlay 2 plans
Sonos is kicking off a new Sonos One bundle tomorrow that matches the HomePod price but includes two speakers. The promotion is timed with the launch of HomePod which goes on sale tomorrow and ships two weeks later.
What do you think of the growing trend of gigs banning phones? [Poll]
Former White Stripes frontman Jack White has become the latest artist to announce a ban on the use of phones at his gigs, saying that he wants fans to focus on enjoying the experience.
No photos, video or audio recording devices allowed.
We think you’ll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON.
The ban will be enforced by requiring audience members to lock their phones into a case …
Further Apple patent application for 5G published after AT&T announced roll-out plans
A fourth Apple patent application for 5G technology has today been published by the US Patent & Trademark Office. 5G will be the next step up in mobile data, and could offer speeds more than ten times faster than today’s LTE/4G networks.
The patent application was published shortly after AT&T announced plans to be the first U.S. carrier to launch mobile 5G …
Twitter aiming to make video sharing more Snapchat-like in upcoming app
PSA: Reddit rolling out two-factor authentication using code generated on phone
Apple reportedly revamping iBooks app with iOS 11 App Store inspired design
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple will revamp the iBooks app later this year with a major redesign, with a new Reading Now tab, a separate section for audiobooks and a store interface that draws from the same design language as the iOS 11 App Store.
The report follows the launch of iOS 11.3 beta, which includes a renaming of the iBooks app to simply ‘Books’. In the current beta, there are no meaningful UI changes to the Books app.
Apple’s addition of Advanced Mobile Location to iOS 11.3 estimated to save 7500 lives in the next 10 years
An organization representing emergency services in more than 80 countries worldwide has said that Apple adding Advanced Mobile Location (AML) in iOS 11.3 is ‘huge news,’ having previously estimated that it would result in saving around 7500 lives over the next ten years …
HomePod hands-on touts superior sound, ‘personal’ notifications only play when owner is at home
In what seems to be the first hands-on report with a HomePod ahead of the orders going live tomorrow, Refinery29 writes they had an hour to test out the smart speaker. The site says that HomePod looks great as an object, and they preferred the HomePod’s sound quality when compared to a Google Home Max, Amazon Echo and Sonos One.
The article also says that the HomePod has some awareness of whether its owner is at home and Siri will not speak about calendar notifications, text messages, reminders and other personal alerts if the user is out of the house.
Apple teases Seoul, South Korea retail store w/ new pictures ahead of Saturday’s opening
As we reported earlier this month, Apple is set to open its first store in South Korea this weekend, on January 27th. Ahead of that grand opening, the company has shared new images of the store in a press release…
Apple adjusting App Store pricing & developer payouts in select countries due to tax changes
Apple today has sent an email to App Store developers informing them of upcoming price changes in select countries. The company says that value added tax, or VAT, has changed in some countries and thus it will adjust developer proceeds. Other countries will also see App Store prices updated.