Review: iPad

Apple’s iPad could be the most underrated product in its lineup, but with the latest update, the company gives its entry-level users all the power and features they need to get the job done. […]

BBEdit 14 is still the power tool for text [Sponsor]

New! BBEdit 14 is still the power tool for text and also offers a new Notes capability plus greatly expanded language support! I’ve been using BBEdit for over 20 years and it’s still one of my favorite apps on my computer.

Daylite: The only CRM made for your Mac

Thanks to Marketcircle for sponsoring The Loop this week. The award-winning Daylite CRM and productivity app made for Mac-based small businesses has many features to improve and grow your business, including:

  • Made for Mac, iPhone and iPad
  • Daylite is the only CRM and productivity app that seamlessly integrate with Apple devices and built-in Apple apps
  • Direct Apple Mail integration so you and your team can capture all email communication in one place. And you can create opportunities, appointments and tasks in Daylite right from your Apple Mail.

Daylite empowers small business:

  • To Improve team efficiency and make collaboration easy by having everything organized & searchable in Daylite
  • To grow team strength through shareable, online/offline accessibility
  • To easily access information and segment data tailored to your specific client story
  • To accelerate efficiency with at-a-glance, single screen views
  • To enjoy familiar and intuitive interface, mac-like operations
  • To manage and share everyone’s schedules, project status and next steps
  • To build trust by ensuring ‘on time, every time’ delivery to clients

iPhone 13, iPad, and Apple Watch

Apple held its California streaming event on Tuesday, introducing a number of new products including new iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, and Apple Fitness+. Here is a breakdown of each product.

iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max

Apple today introduced iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a smartphone. Redesigned inside and out, both models introduce an all-new Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion featuring an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, making the touch experience faster and more responsive. The pro camera system gets its biggest advancement ever with new Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras that capture stunning photos and video, powered by the unmatched performance of A15 Bionic, more powerful than the leading competition. These technologies enable impressive new photo capabilities never before possible on iPhone, like macro photography on the new Ultra Wide camera and up to 2.2x improved low-light performance on the new Wide camera. New computational photography features like Photographic Styles personalize the look of images in the Camera app, and both models now include Night mode on all cameras. Video takes a huge leap forward with Cinematic mode for beautiful depth-of-field transitions, macro video, Time-lapse and Slo-mo, and even better low-light performance. Both models also offer end-to-end pro workflows in Dolby Vision, and for the first time, ProRes, only available on iPhone. iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max also include 5G with more bands for better coverage, big improvements to battery life for the best battery life ever on iPhone with iPhone 13 Pro Max, new storage capacity of 1TB, and the Ceramic Shield front cover, tougher than any smartphone glass.

The iPhone Pro lineup is definitely the star of today’s event. iPhone has a long history of bringing professional level features to a device that fits in your pocket, and this year is no different. Cinematic mode is going to be something to watch as this iPhone model gets released.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini

Apple today introduced iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, the next generation of the world’s best smartphone, featuring a beautiful design with sleek flat edges in five gorgeous new colors. Both models feature major innovations, including the most advanced dual-camera system ever on iPhone — with a new Wide camera with bigger pixels and sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) offering improvements in low-light photos and videos, a new way to personalize the camera with Photographic Styles, and Cinematic mode, which brings a new dimension to video storytelling. iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini also boast super-fast performance and power efficiency with A15 Bionic, longer battery life, a brighter Super Retina XDR display that brings content to life, incredible durability with the Ceramic Shield front cover, double the entry-level storage at 128GB, an industry-leading IP68 rating for water resistance, and an advanced 5G experience.

Apple’s entry level iPhones bring more power than most users will ever need in mobile device. With the A15 Bionic and new camera system, the iPhone 13 can keep up to most user’s wants and needs.

iPad mini

Apple today introduced the powerful new iPad mini — with a larger 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display — in four gorgeous finishes. Featuring the brand new A15 Bionic chip, the new iPad mini delivers up to 80 percent faster performance than the previous generation, making it the most capable iPad mini ever. A new USB-C port allows faster connectivity, and cellular models with 5G bring more flexible mobile workflows. New advanced cameras, Center Stage, and support for Apple Pencil (2nd generation) enable new ways for users to capture photos and videos, communicate with loved ones, and jot down their ideas when creativity strikes.

I’ve long been a fan of the iPad mini, especially for travel. It’s so compact, yet very powerful for almost everything you would want an iPad to do. That 80 percent performance increase only solidifies what the iPad mini can do for you.

iPad

Apple today introduced the new iPad (9th generation), featuring the powerful A13 Bionic chip that packs even more performance and capability into the most popular iPad, all while retaining its all-day battery life.1 Starting at just $329, the new iPad features a 10.2-inch Retina display with True Tone, a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage, support for Apple Pencil (1st generation) and Smart Keyboard, the intuitive iPadOS 15, and twice the storage of the previous generation.

With a $329 price tag, it’s hard to go wrong choosing the iPad. The A13 Bionic chip is powerful enough to do all of the tasks that entry-level users will need. Actually, it can handle the tasks of most mid-level users too.

Apple Watch Series 7

Apple today announced Apple Watch Series 7, featuring a reengineered Always-On Retina display with significantly more screen area and thinner borders, making it the largest and most advanced display ever. The narrower borders allow the display to maximize screen area, while minimally changing the dimensions of the watch itself. The design of Apple Watch Series 7 is refined with softer, more rounded corners, and the display has a unique refractive edge that makes full-screen watch faces and apps appear to seamlessly connect with the curvature of the case. Apple Watch Series 7 also features a user interface optimized for the larger display, offering greater readability and ease of use, plus two unique watch faces — Contour and Modular Duo — designed specifically for the new device. With the improvements to the display, users benefit from the same all-day 18-hour battery life,1 now complemented by 33 percent faster charging.

The only time my Apple Watch leaves my arm is to charge it for an hour once a day. I rely on my watch to track my sleep, fitness, and I also love the fall detection, heart monitoring and other safety features this device brings to my life. I can’t see a reason why I wouldn’t always wear my Apple Watch.

Apple Fitness+

Apple today announced that Apple Fitness+, the first fitness service built entirely around Apple Watch, will introduce guided Meditation, a simple way to practice mindfulness anywhere, anytime, and Pilates, a new low-impact, body-conditioning workout type, on September 27. Fitness+ is also introducing a new program — Workouts to Get Ready for Snow Season — featuring and designed with two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion skier Ted Ligety, along with Fitness+ trainer Anja Garcia. Inspired by winter sports, the program will help build strength, balance, and endurance so users can have more fun on the slopes, all the way to the last run.

I haven’t tried Apple Fitness+ much, yet. Every time I see something about Apple Fitness+, I tell myself that I need to start using it for my exercising. This is my time.

Daylite: The only CRM made for your Mac [Sponsor]

The award-winning Daylite CRM and productivity app made for Mac-based small businesses has many features to improve and grow your business, including:

  • Made for Mac, iPhone and iPad
  • Daylite is the only CRM and productivity app that seamlessly integrate with Apple devices and built-in Apple apps
  • Direct Apple Mail integration so you and your team can capture all email communication in one place. And you can create opportunities, appointments and tasks in Daylite right from your Apple Mail.

Daylite empowers small business:

  • To Improve team efficiency and make collaboration easy by having everything organized & searchable in Daylite
  • To grow team strength through shareable, online/offline accessibility
  • To easily access information and segment data tailored to your specific client story
  • To accelerate efficiency with at-a-glance, single screen views
  • To enjoy familiar and intuitive interface, mac-like operations
  • To manage and share everyone’s schedules, project status and next steps
  • To build trust by ensuring ‘on time, every time’ delivery to clients

Apple vs. Epic

By now you’ve all heard that a verdict was reached in the Epic vs. Apple, one that is declaring victory. There are a lot of documents in the case, but here are the basics.

A decision was reached today in the high-profile Epic Games v. Apple trial, with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruling that Apple’s anti-steering conduct is anti-competitive, and ruling in favor of Apple on all other counts.

In a 185-page ruling, Judge Rogers said “the Court cannot ultimately conclude that Apple is a monopolist under either federal or state antitrust laws,” but she said the trial “did show that Apple is engaging in anticompetitive conduct under California’s competition laws.” Rogers concluded that “Apple’s anti-steering provisions hide critical information from consumers and illegally stifle consumer choice”.

Apple also released a statement on the ruling:

Today the Court has affirmed what we’ve known all along: the App Store is not in violation of antitrust law. As the Court recognized ‘success is not illegal.’ Apple faces rigorous competition in every segment in which we do business, and we believe customers and developers choose us because our products and services are the best in the world. We remain committed to ensuring the App Store is a safe and trusted marketplace that supports a thriving developer community and more than 2.1 million U.S. jobs, and where rules apply equally to everyone.

The Dalrymple Report: Heisenberg, music rating, and California streaming

This week, Dave and I talk about what to expect at Apple’s California streaming event being held next Tuesday. We also talk about the music star rating system in iTunes and seemingly bad people on TV shows that we love, like Heisenberg and Tony Saprano.

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LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates worth interviewing, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/DALRYMPLE. That’s LinkedIn.com/DALRYMPLE to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

Apple announces event for September 14

Apple on Tuesday sent out notifications for the company’s next big event being held September 14 at 10:00 am. Dubbed “California streaming,” the event will be broadcast from the company’s Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, CA. You can watch the event on Apple.com.

There are no real clues as to be what will be announced, but September is the time for new iPhones, so it’s reasonable to assume we’ll be seeing the iPhone 13. There could be some other surprises too, but the iPhone is always the main attraction at this event.

Toontrack releases singer-songwriter expansion pack

The Singer-Songwriter EZX was recorded in a choice room, relatively small and transparent to ensure minimum ambient coloration. In total, it includes five full kits recorded with sticks as well as one configuration and several additional instruments sampled with brushes. To paint the broadest picture possible, each kit was handpicked for its contrasting qualities, character and tonal complexity. Seeking to deliver the most homogeneously composed kits, the selective process was scrutinized in extreme detail – from the matching of heads with tuning and cymbal sizes with drum timbres down to the delicacy of the drummer’s stroke.

This expansion pack is for EZdrummer 2 and Superior Drummer 3, and is tailored for acoustic pop, Americana, folk and similar genres. I have quite a few of the expansion packs from them and they are worth it.

The Dalrymple Report: Digital ID and Classical music

This week, Dave and I talk about Apple’s plans to allow people to put digital IDs into the Apple Wallet and what that means for users. We also talk about Apple’s acquisition of Primephonic, a Classical music streaming service, that will make Apple Music much better. Finally, we look at how Google is using quick phrases to invoke its digital assistant and if it could work for Siri.

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LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates worth interviewing, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/DALRYMPLE. That’s LinkedIn.com/DALRYMPLE to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

Apple acquires classical music streaming service Primephonic

Apple today announced it has acquired Primephonic, the renowned classical music streaming service that offers an outstanding listening experience with search and browse functionality optimized for classical, premium-quality audio, handpicked expert recommendations, and extensive contextual details on repertoire and recordings.

Users of Apple Music classical will absolutely love this acquisition.What’s really interesting is that Apple plans to release separate classical music app based on Primephonic, but with added features, sometime next year. Apple Music will also get some upgrades from the purchase like better browsing and search capabilities by composer and by repertoire, detailed displays of classical music metadata, plus new features and benefits. There is no word where Thomas Steffens, Primephonic’s co-founder and CEO, fits into Apple Music.

Definitely a great move for Apple Music.

The Dalrymple Report: Google’s payment to Apple, and Samsung

Google paid Apple around $10 billion in 2020 to have it as the default search engine on Apple devices. That is expected to go up to $15 billion in 2021, and even higher in years to come. Samsung had an interesting week with its ability to block stolen TVs and having a flight evacuated after one of its phones ignites. Dave and I also sprinkle in some follow-up items from last week’s show.

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BBEdit 14: The power tool for text

Thanks to BBEdit for sponsoring The Loop this week. New! BBEdit 14 is still the power tool for text and also offers a new Notes capability plus greatly expanded language support!

Apple introduces the News Partner Program

Apple today introduced the News Partner Program, a new slate of initiatives to expand Apple’s work with and support for journalism. The News Partner Program aims to ensure Apple News customers maintain access to trusted news and information from many of the world’s top publishers, while supporting publishers’ financial stability and advancing efforts to further media literacy and diversity in news coverage and newsrooms.

Apple says the program is designed for publications that provide their content in Apple News Format and are subscription services. There are several criteria that must be met to be in the program—you can apply starting today.

The Dalrymple Report: Apple score, CODA, and double agent

Dave is interested in how many devices you have listed in your iCloud account, something he dubbed as your Apple Score. We also talk about the Apple TV+ movie CODA, and Spatial Audio in Netflix. Finally, reports came out this week about a double agent feeding Apple information from a community that deals in stolen iPhones and other data.

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Brought to you by:

MasterClass: I highly recommend you check it out. Get unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, and as a listener of The Dalrymple Report, you get 15% off an annual membership! Go to MASTERCLASS.com/dalrymple.

The Dalrymple Report: Portrait mode video, sampling music

In this week’s show Dave and I look at rumors that the next iPhone will include Portrait mode for video, similar to the photo feature released a few years ago. We also talk about whether sampling in music is theft or good for the industry, and Dave tells a story about Steve Jobs taking a photo for a family.

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Brought to you by:

LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates worth interviewing, faster. Did you know every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn? Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/DALRYMPLE. That’s LinkedIn.com/DALRYMPLE to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

The Dalrymple Report: Auto-Tune, Apple TV+, and Billy Gibbons

Did you know that ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons was in a TV Show? Also, Dave and I talk about Apple’s newest TV show with Mark Ronson called Watch the Sound where he discusses some key points in music with famous people. Speaking of Apple TV, the company just cancelled one of its shows as it tries to be one of the best services on the market.

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BBEdit 14 on Big Sur and the M1 Mac

Thanks to Bare Bones Software for sponsoring The Loop this week. There’s a lot to love about software I’ve been using for more than 20 years and now BBEdit, the power tool for text, is ready for Big Sur and M1-powered Macs and was just updated to version 14!

The Dalrymple Report: ZZ Top, iOS 15 Maps, and Siri

It was a sad week for the music world as Dusty Hill, bassist for ZZ Top died at 72. Dave and I also discuss some of the changes in iOS 15, specifically with Maps and Siri. And Dave gives us an old school iPhone tip that may help you record video a bit quicker when you don’t have much time.

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ZZ Top Bassist Dusty Hill Dies at 72

Joseph “Dusty” Hill, ZZ Top’s bassist for more than 50 years, has died, the group’s longtime rep confirmed. No cause of death was cited.

The band’s Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard issued a statement:

“We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX. We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top’. We will forever be connected to that ‘Blues Shuffle in C.’

“You will be missed greatly, amigo.”

Such incredibly sad news for the music world.

BBEdit 14 on Big Sur and the M1 Mac [Sponsor]

Thanks to Bare Bones Software for sponsoring The Loop this week. There’s a lot to love about software I’ve been using for more than 20 years and now BBEdit, the power tool for text, is ready for Big Sur and M1-powered Macs and was just updated to version 14!

Unite 4 turns any website into an app on your Mac

Thanks to BZG for sponsoring The Loop this week. Unite 4 lets you turn websites into customizable, native apps on your Mac. Unite 4 includes dozens of new features, including support for native notifications, new customization options, M1 support, and much more. Unite apps also serve as a great alternative for resource hogging Electron apps or half-baked Catalyst apps.

You could create a Gmail web client that behaves like a native mail client, or a status bar app for Apple Music or Overcast, and much more.

The Loop readers get 20% off this week when you purchase Unite 4 or when you use the promo code ‘LOOPINSIGHT’ at checkout.

You can also try Unite for 14 days absolutely free or use it as part of your subscription if you’re a Setapp subscriber!

The Dalrymple Report: Apple Watch, Rick Rubin, and Duck, duck, jeep

Dave and I talk about some of the features of the Apple Watch this week, including tracking your sleep with the device. We also look at Rick Rubin’s new documentary about the Beatles and Dave tells us about a game he found out about called duck, duck, jeep.

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Brought to you by:

MasterClass: I highly recommend you check it out. Get unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, and as a listener of The Dalrymple Report, you get 15% off an annual membership! Go to MASTERCLASS.com/dalrymple.

BBEdit 14.0 released

BBEdit 14 introduces a Notes system; the ability to integrate Anaconda environments; new built-in support for syntax coloring and function navigation for source files written in R, Go, Rust, TOML, Arduino, Pixar Universal Scene Description (USD) and Lisp-family languages; plus now enables significantly enhanced code completion, error checking, interactive help and code navigation when using new support for Microsoft’s Language Server Protocol (LSP).

In addition, BBEdit 14 brings a wealth of other new features, changes, and improvements to its powerful tools, all of which are designed to enhance the productivity of web developers, desktop and mobile software developers, and anyone producing or editing Markdown documents.

BBEdit 14 enables several new features or significant improvements to built-in coding aids for developers, such as enhanced language-specific text completions and improved Find Definition, as well as new code-navigation features, built-in support for highlighting errors and warnings, and support for language-sensitive document reformatting; these features and improvements result from new built-in support for LSP, by which user-installed local “language servers” implement key language-specific behaviors. Specific available features may vary by language and by server.

BBEdit is one of those must-have apps that I’ve been using for over 20 years.

Unite 4 turns any website into an app on your Mac [Sponsor]

Thanks to BZG for sponsoring The Loop this week. Unite 4 lets you turn websites into customizable, native apps on your Mac. Unite 4 includes dozens of new features, including support for native notifications, new customization options, M1 support, and much more. Unite apps also serve as a great alternative for resource hogging Electron apps or half-baked Catalyst apps.

You could create a Gmail web client that behaves like a native mail client, or a status bar app for Apple Music or Overcast, and much more.

The Loop readers get 20% off this week when you purchase Unite 4 or when you use the promo code ‘LOOPINSIGHT’ at checkout.

You can also try Unite for 14 days absolutely free or use it as part of your subscription if you’re a Setapp subscriber!

Unite 4 turns any website into an app on your Mac

Thanks to BZG for sponsoring The Loop this week. Unite 4 lets you turn websites into customizable, native apps on your Mac. Unite 4 includes dozens of new features, including support for native notifications, new customization options, M1 support, and much more. Unite apps also serve as a great alternative for resource hogging Electron apps or half-baked Catalyst apps.

You could create a Gmail web client that behaves like a native mail client, or a status bar app for Apple Music or Overcast, and much more.

The Loop readers get 20% off this week when you purchase Unite 4 or when you use the promo code ‘LOOPINSIGHT’ at checkout.

You can also try Unite for 14 days absolutely free or use it as part of your subscription if you’re a Setapp subscriber!