As noted by MacRumors, Apple has recently introduced a new model of the low-end 21.5-inch iMac to educational institutions that brings slightly downgraded specs and shaves $200 off the price of the entry-level iMac available to consumers. Replacing the old $999 iMac for education option, the new $1,099 21.5-inch iMac (ME699LL/A) offers 4GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000, and a 500GB hard drive. That’s compared to the 8GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive Apple includes in the regular entry-level model....

We’ve learned Apple has quietly introduced a new specification for manufacturers in its Made-For-iPhone/iPad/iPod (MFi) program that allows them to create headphones that connect to iOS devices using a Lightning connector instead of the usual 3.5mm headphone jack. Apple has not flipped the switch on the audio input support for Lightning cables and existing iOS devices, but it will release a software update in the future that will enable support in devices running iOS 7....

Apple Maps started listing electric vehicle charge points as points-of-interest late last year, and now Apple is expanding that functionality to Europe. The new feature rollout will include listings for bike rental hubs in three cities around the world as well. Apple tells Bloomberg that the new features for Apple Maps in Europe come as part of a partnership with Munich-based Cirrantic’s Moovility service. Bike rental hubs will appear in Apple Maps for users in London, New York, and Paris as well:...

Since partnering in 2014 to develop enterprise iOS apps under the “MobileFirst for iOS” banner, Apple and IBM have rolled out over 30 apps for various industries. Today the two companies introduced their first MobileFirst education app. The new iPad app, IBM Watson Element for Educators, offers insights on students to teachers, including: “data on interests, accomplishments, academic performance, attendance, behaviors and learning activities.” When Apple and IBM first announced the partnership, the companies had plans to develop 100 enterprise apps and cloud services, while IBM also started pushing and supporting Apple devices alongside specialized AppleCare plans....

Apple has opened a Trailer Showtimes site today that uses browser location settings both on desktop and mobile devices to deliver showtimes. You’ll be prompted to let the browser access your GPS information, whether that is your geo-located IP or your device’s dedicated GPS. This not only works on iOS devices but works on other mobile platforms as well and provides a slick way to navigate movies, especially when integrated with Apple’s high-definition trailers sites....

As the Epic vs Apple trial continues, the latter has submitted a filing in the case to have the court make a ruling on Epic’s allegation that iOS is an essential facility. Apple believes the judgment should be granted in its favor as Epic hasn’t offered up evidence for the claim and provides two core reasons for why it should be dismissed. First, Apple says proprietary operating systems protected by patent and copyright laws cannot be essential facilities....

Apple has told Re/code that it is increasing the number of scholarship places offered at this year’s WWDC from 200 to 350 as part of its work to create greater diversity amongst developers. Those selected get a free ticket to the developer’s conference. The company last year published its first ever diversity report, showing that the company is fairly typical of tech companies today: 70% male, 55% white. CEO Tim Cook said then that he was not satisfied with the numbers, and was doing “meaningful and inspiring” work with women’s and minority groups to bring about change....

Heads up! Tim Cook is set to appear next month at Box’s BoxWorks conference, WSJ’s WSJ.D Live conference, and perhaps most importantly, CBS’s The Late Show next week. Stephen Colbert, previously of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and Colbert Report, took over hosting duties at CBS’s late night variety show earlier this week on Tuesday after David Letterman’s recent retirement. Colbert announced in a cheeky tweet tonight that Tim Cook will appear as a guest during the comedian’s second week on the air....

A report from Times Union newspaper today claims Apple could be looking to GlobalFoundries to make chips for the iPhone and iPad at its “Fab 8” plant in Malta, New York (via MacRumors). It’s unclear if the move would be to reduce its dependence on Samsung, its current manufacturing partner for the iPhone and iPad system-on-a-chip, but Times Union says Samsung will go to Fab 8 at least initially to assist GlobalFoundries in preparing to build the chips:...

Up until now, Apple has limited promo codes on the App Store to app downloads and hasn’t allowed developers to offer codes for in-app purchases and Newsstand issues. However, as noted by 148apps, EA is currently offering promo codes that allow users of its Real Racing 3 iOS app to get an in-app purchase normally valued at $1.99. While users aren’t forced to enter a promo code manually in the App Store, visiting an EA website sends users to the App Store and automatically redeems the code for the in-app content....

Apple Music is falling behind Spotify in the music streaming wars. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been using Apple Music since the day it was released in 2015, but after almost six years of its launch, I don’t think I can defend Apple for not correcting some flaws or adding features users really want. Before 2015, I used to rip my CDs to my iPhone or buy them on the iTunes Store....

Apple has now named new Marketing and Medical VPs for its Apple Watch team following the product’s official unveiling earlier this month. The company has also today posted its first job listing seeking software engineers for the Apple Watch team on its website. Longtime Apple marketing executive Stan Ng gets a promotion from his previous role as Senior iPhone Product Marketing to VP of Product Marketing for Apple Watch. Ng has held various executive roles since 1999 and previously served as Sr....

Keri Russell plays a teacher who discovers one of her students is hiding a terrifying secret in the trailer for Scott Cooper’s horror movie Antlers. This is the first time the acclaimed storyteller has tried his hand at the horror genre, having previously worked on films like the musician drama Crazy Heart and crime biography Black Mass. However, he’s joined behind the camera by a pair of experts in the field here - namely, Channel Zero creator Nick Antosca and Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who served as a cowriter and producer, respectively....

Users of 16 popular iOS and Android apps claim that they would be willing to pay a monthly subscription for popular apps if there was no longer a free version. WhatsApp was the one most users would rather pay for than give up, while YouTube was the app for which they’d be willing to pay the highest subscription fee… The McGuffin survey of 2,000 consumers found that a massive 89% of WhatsApp users would pay a monthly subscription if the messaging service were no longer available for free....

Apple’s generous returns policy is one of its real strengths, giving new customers the confidence to buy an expensive product in the knowledge that they can return it for a full refund within 14 days for any reason or no reason at all. But a change introduced today adopts a far stricter approach in Hong Kong … The change noted on the website for the Hong Kong store says that it will not allow exchange or refund unless the product is defective....

On the day of the annual Academy Awards ceremony, Apple has begun airing a new iPad Air advertisement highlighting how the tablet is used in the filmmaking industry. The new video advertisement is narrated with excerpts from notable movie director Martin Scorsese’s 2014 commencement speech at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. The video, embedded below, is accompanied by a website highlighting specific stories of the iPad being used to make movies....

Apple has announced the iTunes Festival 2010 in London, UK, promising 62 bands across 31 days in a series of gigs at the Roundhouse. The first three headliners have been announced, these include Scissor Sisters (July 1), Tony Bennett (July 2) & Ozzy Osbourne (July 3). “This has all the makings of a great gig,” says Ozzy Osbourne who will release Scream, his first album in almost three years via Epic, on June 14....

This morning, Apple announced plans to open a second data center in Denmark. The first unit in Viborg opens later this year (pictured in above render) and the new announcement sees a second facility being built in Aabenraa, expected to go online in 2019. It will run on 100% renewable energy and power Apple’s internet services across Europe, including iTunes Store, Siri, iMessage and Maps. The data centre would be situated in Aabenraa, close to the German border....

Following weeks and rumors of speculation, Apple has announced a media event for Wednesday, September 12th. Above is the invitation that reads “it’s almost here” (via Peter Ha). Obviously, the huge ‘5’ shadow seems to indicate that the new iPhone will be called the ‘iPhone 5’. Apple will be demoing a new version of its iPhone at this event. The new iPhone is rumored to include a thinner design, a taller, four-inch display, improved internal hardware, and more....

Apple has earned another first place ranking for its laptop customer service when compared to other tech companies. Laptop Mag today released its 2019 study that found Apple far ahead of competition like Samsung, Microsoft, HP, and more when it comes to both phone and web support for computers. Laptop Mag notes that it goes undercover to rate laptop tech support from the major tech companies for the most authentic results....