Apple’s in an interesting, but tough spot here. They could be the vehicle to bring original content to your home with Apple TV, or they could add their own original content and battle with Netflix and Amazon.

Pixelmator 3.6 Cordillera brings full support for macOS Sierra and the all-new MacBook Pro Touch Bar, adds Tabs so you can manage your Pixelmator windows with ease, includes a content-aware Smart Refine feature, Deep Images support, and more.

There are a lot of changes in the latest version, including macOS Sierra and Touch Bar support. This is one of the first apps I install on any of my devices.

When Shazam (macOS) is toggled ‘OFF’ it to simply stops processing recorded data…however recording continues.

Shazam considers it a feature.

[Via MacRumors]

To deliver that, Google Play Music uses machine learning to figure out what music you like and then mixes in signals like location, activity, and the weather along with hand-picked playlists to personalize music for wherever you are and whenever you want tunes. Starting this week on Android, iOS and the web, the new experience will roll out globally (62 countries, to be precise).

The new app is live now, I just downloaded it.

When was the last time you were frustrated with your time tracking app, for example because you had forgotten to set a timer? Or when you wondered what you spent all your time on today? Timing solves this problem. Instead … Continued

For the past couple of weeks I’ve been using three new MacBook Pros: A 13-inch entry level model; a 13-inch with Touch Bar; and my favorite, a 15-inch with Touch Bar. As with all of my reviews, I’ll give you an idea of how I use the MacBook Pros in my daily life, but I’ll also give you a look at how it performed while working on some pro music projects. […]

My thanks to Marketcircle for sponsoring The Loop this week.

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Try Daylite free for 30 days. The Loop Sponsorship special- mention you heard about Daylite through The Loop and get a 50% credit on your first month subscription.

With so many P2P transactions happening during such a busy season, we’re excited to give our users an early holiday present: starting November 10, Siri will be integrated with PayPal. For iPhone and iPad users running iOS 10, making a … Continued

Google’s Android mobile operating system boosts competition rather than hurts it, the company’s general counsel said on Thursday, in a rebuttal of EU antitrust charges that it uses the platform to crush rivals.

This could cost Google millions.

The recent botnet attacks have called into question the security of all our various internet of Things (ioT) devices, and rightfully so. Those attacks happened because people like you and me had routers, webcams and other gizmos in our homes that were not properly secured. Some of those security issues are fixable by general users, but many are not.

Very interesting article from Dave Hamilton.

A U.S. judge on Tuesday rejected Airbnb’s request to block a San Francisco law that forbids the home-rental company from taking bookings from hosts who have not registered their home with the city.

I love stories like this. He’s had this guitar for 40 years.

Ireland’s government will this week formally submit its appeal against the European Commission’s multi-billion-euro demand for back taxes from Apple, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said on Tuesday.

Not a big surprise, but good to see.

I really enjoy Om’s photographs. The fact he has such great things to say about the iPhone 7 camera says a lot, especially considering he has a number of high-end cameras at his disposal.

Good rundown from MacRumors on the changes in the newest developer beta.

Compressors are so important in mixing—I use them quite a bit in a variety of ways, depending on the instrument or what I’m trying to achieve on an output channel.

The biggest overhaul of the app in nearly four years. It’s the Gmail you know and love, with a fresh new look, sleeker transitions and some highly-requested features.

Relying on your brain for remembering everything? Are things slipping through the cracks? Get organized and increase productivity with Daylite.

Your brain is for ideas, not for remembering things. Free up your mind for ideas by leveraging Daylite to remember all your client and project details. Imagine having all your client info, email history, project details, tasks, and a shared calendar with your team – all in one app. That’s what Daylite does.

Clear out the clutter in your brain. Make more room for your ideas and plans.

Try Daylite free for 30 days. The Loop Sponsorship special- mention you heard about Daylite through The Loop and get a 50% credit on your first month subscription.

Apple on Friday cut the price on its USB-C adapters in the online store. The company also said that third-party USB-C peripherals in the store would be reduced in price. […]

Neil Young’s music is back in Apple Music—this is a happy day. Young removed his music from streaming services in July 2015 because he didn’t like the quality of music. I guess things have changed. Whatever happened, I’m glad he’s back.

If you’ve heard me talk about music creation in the past, you know I love Universal Audio—in fact, they are my favorite pro music company. They care about their users and the products they release. The latest update, version 9.0, not only adds compatibility with macOS Sierra, but they’ve also released some new plug-ins, including:

• API 2500 Bus Compressor
• Chandler Limited Zener Limiter
• A/DA STD-1 Stereo Tapped Delay
• Townsend Labs Sphere Microphone System
• Unison for Ampeg SVT Bass Amps
• Console 2 software for Apollo FireWire

A huge update from UA.

My thanks to Hullo for sponsoring The Loop this week. If you haven’t checked them out yet, you should read the reviews. A buckwheat pillow iis kind of like a beanbag for your head. The hull fill provides unique support that’s superior to soft traditional pillow types. Hullo’s features include:

• Quality construction & organic materials.
• Breathable fill that provides cool comfort all night long. No more flipping to the cool side in the middle of the night!
• American-made craftsmanship.
• Free shipping.
• 60-night money-back guarantee.

Try it for 60 nights. If it’s not your favorite pillow, send it back for a refund.

This is the funniest thing ever!

The fourth title in the Metal Guitar Gods series presents 50 unique amp and cab settings modeled directly after the personal tones of four top metal players.

I really do like Toontrack’s music products.

I like it.

Wearable fitness device maker Fitbit Inc’s revenue forecast for the key-holiday shopping quarter fell well short of analysts estimates, hurt by stiff competition from rival device makers.

Apple Watch.

Looks good.

There is some great information in here. If you are interested in recording instruments, you should read this.

I would like to pull one quote from this Q&A, but I think it’s important to read the entire interview.

Six months ago, we launched Talkshow in the App Store, with the goal of giving people an easy way to have simple, uncluttered conversations in public. Today we have some tough news: on Thursday December 1, we’re shutting down the Talkshow app and website. While we have enjoyed the conversations that have happened on Talkshow, and are grateful for the community that has formed around the product, we don’t see it getting big enough to have the impact we had hoped for. We’re sorry, and we’re going to try to handle this transition in the right way.