Apple unveiled on Monday a new subscription service, simply called "Apple Music," to compete with Spotify, Pandora and other services that are quickly redefining how consumers buy and listen to music.
The service will offer personalized playlists that stream over the Internet and pull from the massive song library on Apple's iTunes store.
Apple Music will also offer a live 24-hour radio station called "Beats 1" and a site that will allow artists to post lyrics, pictures and videos directly to fans.
Similar to Pandora and other competitors, Apple's service will shape playlists based on a consumer's song library.
Speaking at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference here, company executives emphasized the personal element of its service — its song suggestions are not just based on algorithms but are human-curated as well.
Onstage, Beats Electronics co-founder Jimmy Iovine said that Apple aims to treat music as art, rather than digital bits, and noted that the Beats 1 radio station will have real DJs.
But Apple's new offering is being launched in a crowded space for music streaming. Spotify, which is already seven years old, counts 60 million users, a quarter of which are monthly subscribers. Some analysts said Apple may be playing catch-up but can leverage its popular mobile devices and computers to win over subscribers.
Apple said the service will cost $10 per month, or $14.99 per month for a family plan of up to six people. It will launch June 30 in more than 100 countries and will be available on mobile devices running Android and computers using Windows. The first three months will be offered for free.
In the first half of the keynote address, Apple executives mainly focused on updates to its operating systems for its iPhones, watches, iPads and Mac computers.
The next version of iOS, Apple's mobile software, will make the devices' voice assistant known as Siri a little smarter, allowing it to predict how people use their phones and offer appropriate suggestions.
For those who like to meditate, for instance, Siri automatically could suggest meditation apps. It also will track a person's calendar and could suggest the right time to leave.
The new iOS will have the ability to automatically add events to your calendar from an e-mail inbox, and will have improved search functions, so that users can look for specific things such as "show me my photos from Utah last August."
IPhone users will see about an hour or more of battery life. Apple is also introducing a low-power mode, which turns off phone features to deliver an extra three hours of power.
Some of the features already have been offered on smartphones using Google's Android software system. But Apple is attempting to distinguish itself from rivals by emphasizing privacy. Craig Federighi, Apple's vice president of software engineering, emphasized that all of the data analysis is done on the device, not stored on Apple's servers. The onstage remarks echoed comments by Apple chief executive Tim Cook, who last week stressed that Apple is not in the data collection business.
Before the event, Cook had promised that it would feature an unusual sight for Apple events — female presenters. And indeed, Jennifer Bailey, an Apple executive, came on stage to talk about new partnerships with a variety of companies such as Pinterest and Square to expand Apple Pay's reach.
Apple also said it would release the next software version for its Apple Watch, which itself was released just two months ago. The next operating system will allow people to reply to emails or use the watch to start a workout or control lights, appliances and other smart-home devices. Apple highlighted a new feature called "Time Travel," which enables users to rotate the crown of the watch and scroll through a person's schedule.
Apple provided brief updates to its CarPlay HealthKit and HomeKit apps. For example, users in the future will be able to connect their phones to their cars without even taking the mobile device out of a pocket. Apple is also adding new features to the health program, such as the ability to measure UV exposure.
Entrances and exits for subway stations and trains were added to Apple Maps — a feature that has long been part of Google Maps. The transit directions will be available in major cities in the United States and China, Apple said.
In another new update, Apple's iOS will allow iPad users to use two apps at once and also view video while doing other tasks, such as emailing.
The new version of OS X for Mac computers will be called "El Capitan," said Federighi, continuing Apple's scheme to name its systems after California landmarks. Some new features of this system include small updates such as the ability to manage your mail by swiping across the trackpad, or pinning tabs in its Safari browser. Improvements have also been made to speed up the system and enhance the Spotlight search program. The system is available to developers Monday. It will be available to consumers in the fall.
Apple did not launch its much-anticipated video service, however, as negotiations with content providers didn't come together in time for the big show.
The Washington Post
Tue Jun 09 2015
Similar to Pandora and other competitors, Apple's service will shape playlists based on a consumer's song library. - File Photo
PAC2024 : Lenggong lokasi pertama, tawar produk pelancongan menarik
Lenggong dipilih menjadi lokasi pertama penganjuran PAC 2024 dalam usaha memperkenalkan produk sedia ada di Lenggong Geopark yang bakal diangkat sebagai UNESCO Global Geopark.
SUKMA: Sarawak mahu guna kelebihan sebagai tuan rumah untuk muncul juara
Sarawak mahu menggunakan kelebihan sebagai tuan rumah Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) tahun ini untuk muncul sebagai juara temasya sukan dwi-tahunan itu.
Guna mesin layan diri IPR, pendapatan suami isteri lonjak lima kali ganda
Sepasang suami isteri tidak menyangka maklumat yang diperoleh daripada Facebook mengenai IPR membantu mereka meraih pendapatan hampir lima kali ganda.
Mahkamah tolak saman pegawai khas AG terhadap Rewcastle-Brown
Mahkamah Tinggi menolak saman fitnah yang difailkan oleh iaitu Mabel Sheela Mutthiah terhadap Editor Sarawak Report Clare Rewcastle-Brown.
Suspek abai penumpang ketika kapal terbakar dihukum penjara
Penantian lima tahun buat keluarga mangsa bot penyelam Conception untuk melihat suspek yang bertanggungjawab mengabai serta menyebabkan kematian 34 penumpang berakhir dengan keadilan buat mereka.
Kapten Jerry Boylan, 70 tahun dihukum penjara 10 tahun selepas terjun ke laut bagi menyelamatkan diri sendiri bersama empat anak kapal lain dalam kejadian kebakaran ngeri yang berlaku pada jam 2 pagi di Pelabuhan Platt berhampiran Pulau Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara.
Kapten Jerry Boylan, 70 tahun dihukum penjara 10 tahun selepas terjun ke laut bagi menyelamatkan diri sendiri bersama empat anak kapal lain dalam kejadian kebakaran ngeri yang berlaku pada jam 2 pagi di Pelabuhan Platt berhampiran Pulau Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara.
Pengaruh pemberontak semakin kuat & meluas di Colombia
Seorang kanak-kanak memegang belon berwarna merah, kuning dan biru -warna bendera negara Colombia di sebuah sekolah yang dibina serta dibiayai sepenuhnya oleh Estado Mayor Central (EMC), kumpulan yang diselia oleh pemberontak yang menguasai pelbagai kawasan di negara itu.
Senario ini memberi mesej mendalam bahawa usaha damai kerajaan pusat dengan kumpulan pemberontak Angkatan Bersenjata Revolusi Colombia (FARC) yang menyelia EMC itu, dilihat sukar.
Senario ini memberi mesej mendalam bahawa usaha damai kerajaan pusat dengan kumpulan pemberontak Angkatan Bersenjata Revolusi Colombia (FARC) yang menyelia EMC itu, dilihat sukar.
Palestin mohon Mesir benarkan permit sementara buat rakyat
Kedutaan Palestin Mesir memohon agar rakyatnya diberikan permit kependudukan untuk sementara waktu.
Duta Besar Palestin di Kaherah, Diab al-Louh pada Khamis memberitahu, kebenaran itu sekurang-kurangnya dapat mengurangkan kesengsaraan berterusan yang dihadapi penduduk di Gaza sehingga perang di wilayah itu selesai.
Duta Besar Palestin di Kaherah, Diab al-Louh pada Khamis memberitahu, kebenaran itu sekurang-kurangnya dapat mengurangkan kesengsaraan berterusan yang dihadapi penduduk di Gaza sehingga perang di wilayah itu selesai.
Malaysia kecam serangan pelampau Israel ke atas konvoi bantuan kemanusiaan Jordan
Malaysia mengecam sekeras-kerasnya serangan terang-terangan tanpa belas belas kasihan pelampau Israel ke atas konvoi bantuan kemanusiaan Jordan yang sedang menuju ke Gaza pada Rabu.
Polis surai himpunan dengan bom flash bangs
Selepas gagal untuk mematuhi arahan bersurai dalam tempoh 24 jam, polis bertindak lebih ganas dengan merempuh penghadang yang menempatkan kem penyokong Palestin di Universiti California, Los Angeles (LA).
Bukan itu sahaja, bom tangan flash bangs turut dilemparkan ke kawasan yang menempatkan mahasiswa-mahasiswa serta penyokong yang berhimpun sebagai tanda solidariti kepada rakyat Palestin.
Bukan itu sahaja, bom tangan flash bangs turut dilemparkan ke kawasan yang menempatkan mahasiswa-mahasiswa serta penyokong yang berhimpun sebagai tanda solidariti kepada rakyat Palestin.
AS tak senang Malaysia pertahankan Iran
Mohamed Nazri memaklumkan, ini kali kedua beliau dipanggil oleh Jabatan Negara Amerika Syarikat sejak mula bertugas lebih setahun yang lalu.
Google bayar Apple hingga AS$20 bilion pada 2022, kekal enjin carian utama Safari
Google sedia bekerjasama dengan Apple untuk menjadi enjin carian utama dan pembayaran dilihat meningkat dari tahun ke tahun.
Apple dijangka tambah ciri AI pada Safari melalui iOS 18
Ciri kecerdasan buatan pada Safari kelak akan memudahkan beberapa proses pelayaran.
Apple Pencil baharu hadir dengan sistem haptik
Apabila digunakan pada skrin iPad, pengguna boleh merasakan tindak balas haptik seakan menggunakan pensel sebenar.
iPad Pro mungkin dijana dengan cip Apple M4 terbaharu, fokus ciri AI
Cip Apple M4 dijangka memfokuskan kepada keupayaan enjin neural yang disertakan bersama dengannya membolehkan ia menawarkan ciri AI yang lebih baik.
Apple perkenal HomePod, HomePod Mini di Malaysia, harga bermula RM529
Kedua-duanya akan mula dijual 10 Mei 2024 untuk pasaran tempatan.
Apple dalam perbincangan guna teknologi OpenAI dalam iOS 18 - Laporan
iOS 18 akan membawakan perubahan paling besar untuk sistem operasi iPhone tahun ini dan integrasi sistem AI akan akhirnya didedahkan.
'Made in Malaysia' - Apple punyai 19 kilang pembekal di negara ini
Malaysia merupakan salah satu negara yang mempunyai beberapa kilang pembekal yang menawarkan komponen kepada Apple.
Syarikat induk Google kini kembali bernilai lebih AS$2 trilion
ALPHABET, syarikat induk disebalik Google kini sekali lagi berjaya mencapai nilai pasaran semasa melangkaui AS$2 trilion.
TSMC akan hasilkan cip 1.6nm menjelang 2026
Menurut TSMC, teknologi 1.6mm akan memberikan peningkatan prestasi sehingga 8-10% untuk voltan yang sama serta pengurangan penggunaan kuasa antara 15-20% pada kelajuan yang sama.
Apple dilapor kurangkan pengeluaran Vision Pro susulan permintaan rendah
Walaupun jualan pada awalnya amat memberangsangkan, momentum tidak berterusan kerana unit awal hanya dibeli oleh peminat paling tegar Apple.