Apple is expanding its original content team with a new hire from Amazon Studios. Variety reports that Morgan Wandell is joining Apple to develop original content for international audiences after serving a similar role at Amazon.

more…

Billboard has announced that it will adjust how it weights and calculates streaming music starting in 2018. Changes will include more weight given for paid music services like Apple Music than ad-supported services.

more…

This week we’re partnering with Blast Motion to giveaway one of its popular iPhone-connected baseball, golf, or athletic performance accessories. Head below to find out how you could win.

more…

Four days after releasing the third beta version, Apple has released the fourth iOS 11.1 beta for iPhone and iPad. iOS 11.1 beta includes the return of 3D Touch gestures for multitasking as well as hundreds of new emoji characters including “Woman with Headscarf, Bearded Person, Breastfeeding, Zombie” and plenty more. Apple has also released the fourth beta versions of watchOS 4.1 beta with Apple Music and Radio streaming as well as tvOS 11.1 beta.

more…

Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts doesn’t want you to buy an iPhone X if it’s not for you, as long as you’re buying any other iPhone that is. In a new video interview held at Apple’s new Michigan Avenue flagship store in Chicago, Ahrendts discussed Apple’s retail strategy of not up-selling all customers to the iPhone X when it hits stores in two weeks.

more…

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. more…

Jeff Williams, Apple’s COO will reportedly visit TSMC this month for the suppliers 30th anniversary. While Williams is traveling, he is also expected to discuss iPhone X production issues with Foxconn chairman Terry Gou.

more…

With each new iPhone release you can always be sure that the Leather-centric folks over at Nomad are soon to follow with updated case options. Nomad sent over several new cases for the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 Plus, but since the X isn’t yet in hand, this post and video will focus on the iPhone 8 Plus. more…

The $64,000 question of the moment seems to be: How well (or badly) is the iPhone 8 selling?

We’ve been hearing conflicting answers. A KGI report stated that the iPhone 8 Plus, at least, was selling better than expected. Foxconn financials also seemed to support that idea.

But there have been more negative reports than positive ones. AT&T said that it had seen almost 1M fewer upgrades this year. A carrier store survey suggested more people were buying last year’s iPhone 7 than the iPhone 8. A major Canadian carrier said iPhone 8 sales have been anemic. And a supply chain source claims that Apple has ordered its iPhone 8 suppliers to cut production in half.

I tend to side with those who think the iPhone 8 is selling poorly. But far from considering that bad news, I think it’s a clear indication that iPhone X sales are going to be far better than expected …

more…

Ahead of the impending launch of Apple Pay Cash in Messages, Facebook and PayPal today announced a new partnership that allows users to send money to each other via Messenger. Today’s announcement is an extension of a partnership between the two companies that began last year….

more…