[Update: Keep up with our live coverage of Eddy Cue’s SXSW talk right here.] Apple has today confirmed that it is taking a major step into the digital magazine business. Apple’s Eddy Cue shared in a statement that the company would be purchasing Texture, a digital magazine distributor which could enhance Apple’s News app and more. The purchase will give Apple a large catalog of magazines from a range of publishers....

Apple has officially lowered the price of the HomePod worldwide. In the price has fallen from $349 to $299, breaking the $300 level. HomePod has seen promotional discounts at many third party retailers (eg: it’s $279 right now at Best Buy) over its lifespan, but now Apple has dropped the smart speaker’s standard list price. This price cut represents a roughly 15% drop and seemingly applies to every region, not just the US....

Apple today has detailed the several ways it will honor America’s national parks this month. These initiatives come as the US National Park Service celebrates its 103rd anniversary. Apple explained why it supports national parks in a new press release today: In the press release, the company reiterated an Apple Pay promotion that will see the company donate $10 to the National Park Foundation for each Apple Pay purchase made at Apple․com, in Apple Stores, and in the Apple Store app....

Well-sourced Re/code is indicating that Apple’s media event and keynote announcement for spring will be held in the week of March 21st. In an independent report by Buzzfeed, John Paczkowski reports that the event will take place on March 21st itself and will be a ‘smaller scale event’, suggesting it will take place in Cupertino on Apple’s campus. The reason for the event’s delay, given Apple initially planned for a March 15th event, is also unclear....

Apple has just been granted a patent for a new technology that could bring touch controls to the bezel of a device with a small display (via AppleInsider). The technology would be able to dynamically change between a place to simply hold onto the device with and an area for controls. Apple describes it as an “Electronic device, display and touch-sensitive user interface” and says the technology is centered around a layered stack of touch sensors and displays around the edge(s) of a device that could be selectively activated and deactivated....

Business Insider reports that Apple is in talks to acquire the growing e-commerce related social network The Fancy. The Fancy is a competitor to Pinterest, and its premise is a network where users can “fancy” products, clothes, places, and more. Users of the network are able to purchase what they “fancy” or view on the site, making it an e-commerce platform. Sometimes, these purchases come at a discount. The Fancy’s company description:...

iPhone attracts a lot of people worldwide due to the wonderful advanced technologies that carry itself beautifully to the next-generation. These phones have a handy feature that also lets the owner of the phone know the usage easily and quickly. Issues of Wi-Fi in any phone can never be avoided. These issues may occur at any time but can be remedied at home by some workarounds unless hardware damage or network outage is present....

As construction continues on Apple’s new Campus, the company is considering expanding its operation to a new, even larger 4.15 million square foot facility in San Jose, according to a new report. The tech company is currently seeking an agreement with the city that would allow it to develop the massive lot for a new campus, though actually getting such an agreement would not necessarily guarantee that Apple would begin construction....

Apple News is expanding its mail notifications with a new ‘Good Morning’ daily newsletter. Previously, users could opt in to receive email alerts from Apple News about select featured stories. The company appears to be formalizing that into a regular daily newsletter. Apple says it will bring top news, analysis, and fascinating features every morning, collating the ‘best stories from the most trusted sources’. Apple has said that Apple News is the most popular news app on the iPhone....

But now Apple has partnered with mobile connectivity company GigSky in order to expand Apple SIM cellular data plans to over 90 countries and territories around the world (check the entire list on Apple’s website). Thus, from now on, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 users with an Apple SIM can make use of short-term data plans in their travels. Ravi Rishy-Maharaj, Founder and CEO of GigSky, said the following: Thus, you can now purchase an Apple SIM iat Apple Retail Stores in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States....

Apple is making it easier for developers in China to enroll in the Apple Developer Program. Starting today, developers in China can now join the Apple Developer Program using the Apple Developer app for iOS. As we reported last month, Apple recently renamed the WWDC application to the “Apple Developer” app. The new Apple Developer application delivers in-depth information from Apple experts all year round, including news, videos, WWDC content, and more....

UPDATE: EA has published official patch notes here. They have also announced that the patch will be releasing ahead of February 22 on Twitter. The original article follows below. Anthem is already available to some of those who purchased the game for PC, and those players’ feedback might be shifting the game’s balance ahead of its official launch this coming Friday, February 22. According to a post on Reddit that has since been corroborated by BioWare staff, Anthem will be receiving an extensive day one update once it releases....

Over the last few years, indie developers have banded together just before Christmas Day to discount top iOS and Mac apps for new customers. The sale is called App Santa and includes popular apps like Tweetbot for Mac, Pcalc, Screens, Deliveries, and over a dozen other highly recommended apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. App Santa doesn’t last long though so check out the full list below to save some money on quality apps....

Apple has included Watchever, a Netflix-like subscription video service, to the Apple TV in Germany. According to iFun (translated), a recent update to Apple TV added the Watchever app to the home screen. Vivendi launched the service Jan. 9 (PDF), and it boasts a catalog of U.S. and German content for only €8.99 a month. Watchever specifically offers movies and shows by ABC, BBC, HBO, and more. Some of the notable movies include “The Twilight Saga” and “Slumdog Millionaire”, while the more famous series range from “The Sopranos” and “Breaking Bad” to “Scrubs” and “Big Bang Theory”....

T-Mobile USA has announced that it has struck an agreement with Apple to begin supporting Apple products in 2013. Deutsche Telecom Rene Obermann made the announcement to analysts today. The company also confirmed the announcement in a press release today: Deutsche Telecom also notes that this new agreement with Apple would affect the company’s cash flow: It is currently unclear which products this deal will cover. Apple currently sells both the iPhone and the iPad on either Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint on the U....

In June, Apple announced that its longtime Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, Bob Mansfield, would be retiring after transitioning the role to iPad Hardware VP Dan Riccio over several months. However, earlier this week Apple announced that Mansfield would not be leaving the company. While Riccio was named SVP of Hardware Engineering, Apple said that Mansfield would stay at Apple to “work on future products” under Apple CEO Tim Cook’s direction....

Seems this chatter’s back again, with Peter Kafka’s MediaMemo claiming Apple to have been in talks with TV networks in an attempt to put together a $30 all-you-can-eat TV subscription service. This service, which may well appeal to companies not yet signed-up to NBC,ABC and Fox’s Hulu service, and which can also be seen as extending the Apple TV model into business currently occupied by satellite and cable TV services, seems set to launch “early next year”, if anyone signs up....

Apple has introduced more features in the latest beta release of Apple Music for Android. In version 2.7, which is only available to Google Group beta testers, tablet support for Android devices has arrived. The latest stable release on the Google Play Store, version 2.6.1, still features the classic Android collapsable hamburger menu, however, v2.7 sees this UI aspect removed in favor of a more sensible bottom bar navigation. This design change helps the Apple Music layout easily resize for larger screens....

The Apple Online Store has gone down this evening ahead of the preorder release of Apple’s latest products. Once the store comes back up, users will be able to preorder the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, the Apple TV 4K, and the Apple Watch Series 3. Like normal, Apple is teasing users that it’s busy updating the store and it encourages everyone to come back soon.” The Apple Watch Series 3, Apple TV 4K, and iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are slated to go up for pre-order at 12:01AM PT/3:01AM ET....

Apple has acquired a startup, Mobeewave Inc., that developed technology to turn iPhones into mobile payment terminals, according to a new report from Bloomberg. Citing people familiar with the matter, today’s report says the deal was worth around $100 million. Apple confirmed the deal with its standard statement about its acquisition strategy. “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” an Apple spokesman told Bloomberg....