The company says that changing exchange rates have actually bought UK prices roughly into line with those across the rest of Europe. Apple in January said it would reduce the prices it charges UK music fans for song purchases through iTunes. This was after a European Commission enquiry exploring collusion between Apple and the majors over how iTunes works in Europe. At the time, Europe’s competition commissioner Neelie Kroes said: “The Commission is very much in favour of solutions which allow consumers to benefit from a truly single market for music downloads....

Apple has now introduced a manner in which customers seeking support can book repair appointments with not only the well known Genius Bar, but also Apple Authorized Service Providers. Previously customers only had the option to book online reservations with the Genius Bar, but the move to add third-party bookings is a new one. Customers should now have a better experience in finding a location to solve their issues. Third-party authorized service providers aren’t new within Apple’s support ecosystem, but having the ability to book appointments with them is....

Apple is teaming up with Encircle, a nonprofit that provides community resource houses to LGBTQ+ youth and their families. Apple will be donating $1 million and contributing products that “promote digital connection” to the organization, while Apple CEO Tim Cook will serve as an honorary co-chair. Encircle’s motto is “no sides, only love,” and it was created with the goal of “bringing together families and communities, to enable LGBTQ+ youth to thrive....

Patently Apple is on a roll these days with Apple patent filings. Today, the publication uncovered a recent Apple filing that promises exciting new features on future iOS devices catering to citizen journalists worldwide. Put simply, Apple wants to take CNN’s iReport idea to the next level. For example, wouldn’t it be great if a future iPhone could automatically switch between the front and back camera for a seamless live report between interviewer and interviewee, in real-time and during a FaceTime video call?...

What is Apple Glass? The first-generation Apple Glass is likely to offer LiDAR through the right temple and wireless charging through a provided stand. LiDAR technology, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is built into the recently released second-generation 11-inch iPad Pro and fourth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. It’s a remote sensing method that uses light in a pulsed laser to measure ranges. In doing so, LiDAR can help create and overlay AR objects in the real world....

Following the Platforms State of the Union address this afternoon at WWDC20 Apple has shared some highlights on its new developer tech and tools to “foster the next generation of apps.” These include Xcode 12, new features in SwiftUI, App Clips and Widgets in iOS and iPadOS 14, improved access to Apple’s platforms like Find My and HomePod, as well as a new App Store Review process that gives developers a way to “challenge” guidelines....

Apple’s Smart Battery Case, with its controversial design, was released back in 2015 with support for the iPhone 6 and 6S and it now currently supports the iPhone 6, 6S and 7. With the release of iPhone X and iPhone 8, users wondered whether a new battery case would be released for this new iPhone design, but so far nothing has been announced nor released by Apple. This could change soon, based on an icon found in the latest watchOS beta (scroll down for icon)....

Following the announcement of the new iPad Pro at this morning’s special event in downtown Brooklyn, Apple has released two new informational videos that provide guidance for developers and designers updating their apps for the new displays and features. Designing for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil and Bringing Your Apps to the New iPad Pro both dive deep into the technical and experiential factors that make a great iPad app. Rounded display corners and the home indicator first appeared last year on the iPhone X, but for iPad users, the experience is totally new....

Apex Legends is getting a Fortnite-inspired Battle Pass when the game’s inaugural season kicks off in March, and players can learn everything they need to know about either right here. Having blasted its way past its battle royale competitors since its February 4 launch, Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment is gearing up to add much-requested content to the game to retain the attention of its fast-growing playerbase. Growing with an unprecedentedly exponential rate surpassing even that of longtime genre domineer Fortnite, the Titanfall spin-off, Apex Legends, has quickly asserted itself as a force to be reckoned with in the battle royale space with over 25 million unique players....

Periodically, Apple updates App Store prices in certain regions to account for global changes in exchange rates. Today, Apple has notified developers that it will be raising app prices for customers in Norway in response to currency fluctuations. Although the exact increase varies per tier, it seems that the NOK prices will be rising by about 15-20%. A $0.99 USD app previously cost 9 Norwegian Kroner in Norway. When these changes come into effect, the same app will cost 11 kroner....

Apple announced today it has bought the rights to the documentary “Fathom,” which follows Dr. Ellen Garland and Dr. Michelle Fournet, two scientists focused on the study of humpback whale songs and social communication. Directed and photographed by Drew Xanthopoulos, “Fathom” is produced by Sandbox Films, Impact Partners, Walking Upstream Pictures, Back Allie Entertainment, and Hidden Candy. The film is produced by Megan Gilbride (“Tower”) and executive produced by Andrea Meditch (“Grizzly Man”), Jessica Harrop (“Follow This”), Greg Boustead (“Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds”), and Josh Braun (“Wild Wild Country”)....

Following the release of iOS 14.5 with App Tracking Transparency, Apple today released a new video advertisement promoting privacy on the iPhone. The humorous ad aims to visualize what it means when you allow an app to track you across other apps and services. Regarding the new “Tracked” advertisement, Apple says: The person in the video kicks off their day by buying a cup of coffee. Gradually throughout the day, other people begin following — or “tracking” — the person....

As part of its Shot on iPhone 6 campaign promoting iPhone photography, Apple is now hanging billboard advertisements around the world. The ads feature the photographs in full bleed with a simple ‘Shot on iPhone 6’ tagline. The posters are going up around the world, including some dramatic large billboards on the side of skyscrapers. Pictured above is one such poster (photo taken by Jimmy Grewal on Twitter) being setup on a skyscraper in Dubai....

Apple’s Craig Federighi said that “iPad has always supported forms of multitasking.” but for iOS 9 they’re “taking it to a whole new place.” Introducing Slide Over, now users will be able to snap two apps together side-by-side (company is calling it Split View), and work simultaneously on both and even do drag and drop from one app to the other. Users will also be able to resize the windows as they see fit using a slider....

Along with Apple’s iPad Air 2, the iPad mini 3 also hit store shelves during a silent weekday release. If you don’t currently own an iPad mini, it’s probably a better time than ever to pick one up, but I wouldn’t really recommend getting Apple’s latest and greatest. Let me tell you why… Inside of the iPad mini 3, you’ll find a dual-core Apple A7 chip clocked at 1.3GHz, 1GB of RAM, a quad-core PowerVR G6430 GPU, and a 6,470 mAh battery....

iTunes 8 does indeed feature a new visualiser, and that visualiser is Magnetosphere, as we predicted last week (with thanks to the excellent Create Digital Music website). Video producer and designer Allan White has claimed Magnetosphere was purchased by Apple for deployment within iTunes. It’s not the first time Apple’s purchased a technology – then called SoundJam, iTunes was itself purchased from now defunct firm, Casady and Greene, in 2000....

Apple has just launched its annual 12 Days of Gifts campaign for 2013. In previous years, this campaign was available only in a few select countries, but not in the United States. For the first time Apple will now allow U.S. customers to participate in the giveaway. The 12 Days of Gifts app is available for free on the iTunes Store. Each day for twelve days the app will provide a special free item from the iTunes, iBooks, and App Stores....

Apple is reportedly in talks about buying cobalt direct from miners in a long-term deal set to span five years or more. The report is given weight by the CEO of one mining company confirming Apple has held discussions about cobalt, which is used in the lithium-ion batteries which power Apple devices. There would be two benefits to Apple in striking such a deal … First, as the Bloomberg report notes, it would allow the company to secure supplies of a key component at a time when shortages are feared....

Photo of iPad 3 units being loaded on planes? (thanks @sonnydickson) Some new tidbits are coming our way as the days until Apple’s next major announcement dwindle down. The first item of note is a purported shipping document for iPad 3 units. The document appeared on Twitter-like website Sina Weibo, and it is highlighted by Apple.pro. The origin seems to be in the WeiPhone forums. According to the image’s poster, the shipping document (shown below) details shipments beginning Feb....

Apple is today introducing an Apple Music plan aimed at students. The service is identical in features to the standard plan but rather than paying $9.99 per month, qualifying students can subscribe to Apple Music for $4.99 per month. The offering is rolling out today in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and more countries (via TechCrunch). Prices vary per region but the discount should be around 50% of the normal Apple Music price....