Tag: Apple

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Taylor Swift Stands Up To Apple And Wins

(photo via Facebook)

The recently announced Apple Music service is looking to hook customers with a free three-month trial period WHICH Apple did not want to pay artists during.

Taylor Swift wasn’t having any of that.

From Entertainment Weekly:

Taylor Swift took a stand against Apple this weekend when she wrote an open letter condemning the company for not paying artists during the free three-month trial of Apple Music. It sparked Apple to change its policy, and senior executive Eddy Cue announced that because of her letter, Apple would pay artists during that time.

Now, the Recording Academy is praising Swift for standing up to the tech titan. “We applaud Taylor Swift for taking a lead role in voicing the concerns of songwriters, artists, and producers regarding Apple Music’s launch, and we commend Apple for changing its policy,” President and CEO of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow said in a statement. “Once again, the creator’s voice prevailed – as it should. Taylor has demonstrated that when songwriters, artists and producers band together, they can achieve fairness for the creative community.”

Here’s the content of Taylor’s open letter to Apple:

To Apple, Love Taylor

I write this to explain why I’ll be holding back my album, 1989, from the new streaming service, Apple Music.

I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans.

I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries.

I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service.

I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.

This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows.

This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success.

This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt.

This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.

“THESE ARE NOT THE COMPLAINTS OF A SPOILED, PETULANT CHILD. THESE ARE THE SENTIMENTS OF EVERY ARTIST, WRITER AND PRODUCER IN MY SOCIAL CIRCLES WHO ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP.”
These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child.

These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.

I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress.

We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.

Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done.

I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this.

We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.

Taylor

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Apple Announces “Apple Music” – Streaming Music Service

Apple announces it’s new streaming music service which will launch on June 30, 2015.

Apple Music, meant to compete with existing music services like Spotify, is comprised primarily of three components:

• Stream millions of songs—and discover music you’ll love with handpicked playlists and recommendations from our experts.

• Listen to Beats 1, a 24/7 worldwide station broadcasting the best new music direct from Los Angeles, New York, and London that’s anchored by world-class DJ Zane Lowe.

• Apple Music Connect gives you a direct line to your favorite artists; where they can share demos, remixes, lyrics, photos—really anything they wish—straight to the fan.

The service will be free for three months then be available at $9.99 a month (or $14.99 for a family plan that serves 6). Membership will connect to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC.

A free, limited version will be available.

Check the short intro video below. More info at Apple.com.

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One Million Apple Watches Sold On The First Day

According to reports, Apple sold more than one million units of the newly minted Apple Watch on the first day it was available.

I was in an new Apple Store here in Las Vegas over the weekend, and the crowds around the Watches available to peruse was packed. Interestingly, the Apple Watch is not for sale in Apple Stores. You have to order it via their website, with shipping beginning on April 24th.

I’m not feeling the Watch. I don’t wear a watch to begin with, and I’m not a big fan of lots of things on my person. I love tech toys, but I’m not getting the Watch.

Let me know if you plan on buying. I’m curious. Maybe I just don’t get it?

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HBO Teams Up With Apple For New Streaming Service

I grew up in a “television household.” I can’t imagine not having TV.

Over the years, friends have more and more told me “Oh, I don’t watch that. I don’t watch TV. I don’t have a television.”

I couldn’t imagine that. Period.

But, with the internet becoming more and more a part of our lives in every facet, I can see it now.

The price of a full spectrum of cable or satellite TV stations costs close to $100 a month. And then we flip through channel after channel saying, “there’s nothing on” because so much is crap.

Well, now, I can actually see life without cable subscriptions at this point. Most of what I make a point to watch is on HBO. And starting in April you can subscribe to HBO via internet for only $14.99 a month.

Via press release:

Apple will give viewers the ability to enjoy HBO programming via HBO NOW. Upon launch, customers can subscribe using the HBO NOW app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, or directly on Apple TV for instant access. Users can purchase HBO NOW directly in-app for $14.99 a month. Upon registering, subscribers will also be able to watch at HBONOW.com. HBO will offer a 30 day introductory free trial period to new HBO NOW customers who sign up through Apple in April.

That’s a deal. And if you sign up in April – you get a free month. I love free!

Plus, since you already have internet at that point, most networks offer the bulk of their shows online for free now. So even ABC or CBS TV series are available.

And if you want to watch all this on your TV, get an Apple TV unit (one-time purchase at $99 with cable), connect that baby up, and go! Widescreen wonderfulness.

Seriously, why do we need cable or satellite TV at this point?

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Apple Goes Red For World AIDS Day 2014

In a sign of support for World AIDS Day (December 1st), Apple changed the logo of it’s flagship Australian store in Sydney to red.

Via Mashable:

It is the first store in the world to light up in a show of commitment to the (RED) AIDS initiative, that is fighting for an AIDS-free future. Apple will then change the colour of its logo across key stores in Japan, Hong Kong, China, Europe and the United States, as the various timezones tick into Monday. Apple announced on Nov. 26 that the campaign also includes the ability to purchase 24 apps with exclusive (RED) content until Dec. 7; all proceeds go directly to The Global Fund to fight AIDS.

In addition, Apple has announced the company will donate a portion of all sales on Monday – which is one of the largest online shopping days of the year, Cyber Monday – to the AIDS initiative.

By the way, it’s worth noting that this year Apple celebrates another 100% score on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index – the company’s 13th in a row.

(h/t JMG)

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Sen. Ted Cruz: I Love My iPhone Even If CEO Tim Cook “Chooses” To Be Gay

Sen. Ted Cruz didn’t miss his chance to say that he “loves his iPhone” even though Apple CEO Tim Cook has “chosen” to live a gay lifestyle.

Via Advocate:

During an interview with CNBC, Cruz was asked about the Bloomberg Businessweek story in which Cook addressed his sexual orientation publicly for the first time.

“Those are his personal choices. I’ll tell you, I love my iPhone,” Cruz said according to The Hill. He added, “Listen, Tim Cook makes his personal decisions, and that is his life. My focus is on the constitutional question of who has the authority to make decisions.”

It’s worth noting that Sen. Cruz is the coauthor of the State Marriage Defense Act, which would stop the federal government from invalidating state laws on marriage.

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Alabama: Apple CEO Tim Cook Calls Out His Home State On LGBT Rights

Speaking at the Alabama Academy of Honor induction, in front of Governor Robert Bentley, Apple CEO Tim Cook (who has never publicly come out) addressed LGBT rights in his home state:

“I could never understand why some within our state and nation resisted basic principles of human dignity that were so opposite to the values I had learned growing up in Robertsdale, Alabama in a family that was rich in love and respect.”

“We were too slow on equality on African-Americans. We were too slow on interracial marriage. And we are still too slow on equality for the LBGT community.”

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First Weekend Sales of iPhone 6 Top More Than 10 Million

Reuters is reporting that Apple’s newest iPhone – iPhone 6 – sold over 10 million units worldwide this past weekend, the first weekend of it’s availability.

Last year’s iPhone 5S and 5C versions sold 9 million units in it’s first week, which included sales in China.  This past weekend’s sales did not include China due to regulatory delays.

Police in New Haven, Connecticut report that fights broke out among customers who were apparently trying to buy as many iPhones as possible to resell them at a significant mark-up in China.

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Apple introduces new iPhone 6 & Apple Watch

With none other than U2 performing live as the finale of Apple’s reveal of the new iPhone 6 Plus and the Apple Watch, Apple fans had a lot to get excited about.

The event – which experienced deadly flaws in it’s live stream for over half an hour – give the Apple faithful much to be excited about.

The new iPhone 6 release includes the iPhone 6 Plus which features a much larger screen at 5.5 inches, bringing the iPhone into parity with most other smart phones.  The new iPhone will go on sale September 19th.

In addition to being a “smart watch”, the Apple Watch (not iWatch – Apple Watch) has health and fitness monitoring features that can track your physical activity to help you stay in touch with your health goals.  The Apple Watch won’t be available until early next year.

As mentioned, U2 performed as the event’s finale AND gave away to every iTunes Store user their new album “Songs of Innocence” through October 13th.