Pixelmator 3.5

Pixelmator updated its image editor on Thursday with a smart Quick Selection tool, a Magnetic Selection tool, and a full set of retouching tools, among other things. There are also a host of improvements and bug fixes in the new version. Pixelmator also put together some new resources for users including: Pixelmator Retouch Extension Page, Magnetic Selection Video, and a New Pixelmator Tutorial Page.

This is one of my favorite apps.

Automakers, tech companies make deals, not war

Automakers now recognize they may turn ride-hailing services and car sharing companies into steady customers for all sorts of vehicles, particularly hybrid and electric cars, industry executives and analysts say.

You know, that is a good point. I’ve driven in many cars that I wouldn’t otherwise be in if it weren’t for ride-sharing.

Amplified: Sitting Beside the Genius

Jim and Dan talk about the MacBook Pro rumors, WWDC, Dan’s iPhone SE, dual clutch barrel cavity antennas, the new Apple Store opening, Siri, and the Amazon Echo.

Queen’s Brian May makes VR device

If Brian May could capture one moment from his life so that others could step inside that moment and experience it, it would be the time he strode onto the roof of Buckingham Palace alone except for his guitar and played to 200 million people.

“I’d love people to know what that felt like,” said the Queen guitarist. “It was a whole life-changing experience for me.”

I can’t even imagine what that was like. Brian is one of the most humble, and talented, people I’ve ever met.

“Love” your favorite iTunes tracks in Apple Music at once

I’ve been using iTunes since it first came out, and like a lot of people, I’ve spent countless hours rating my favorite songs over the years. However, with the release of Apple Music, Apple implemented a “Love” button for songs, so you can use star ratings and Love. I wanted a way to Love all of my old songs and I did it with a playlist. […]

Apple must sell locally sourced goods to open stores in India

India has said Apple Inc must meet a rule obliging foreign retailers to sell at least 30 percent locally-sourced goods if it wishes to open stores in the country, a senior government official told Reuters.

This is certainly a setback for Apple.

RapidWeaver 7

RapidWeaver is the best web design software for Mac. Build the website you’ve always wanted.

I’ve known the people at this company for a long time–they make some great software.

Huawei sues Samsung for patent infringement

Huawei has filed lawsuits in the United States and China seeking compensation for what it said was unlicensed use of fourth-generation (4G) cellular communications technology, operating systems and user interface software in Samsung phones.

Another company fed up with Samsung theft.

Apple rehires prominent security pro

Jon Callas, who co-founded several well-respected secure communications companies including PGP Corp, Silent Circle and Blackphone, rejoined Apple in May, an Apple spokesman said.

Definitely a good hire for Apple.

Windows 10 nasty trick

Clicking the red cross on the right hand corner of the pop-up box now activates the upgrade instead of closing the box.

So you get a dialog to upgrade, click the button to close the window, and the upgrade starts instead of just dismissing the window. Yeah, that’s nasty.

Tim Cook’s interview at Startup Fest

Tim Cook featured at StartupFest this morning, in an interview with Neelie Kroes discussing Apple’s influence in startups and entrepreneurship culture. Cook covered many topics including the role of entrepreneurs and the App Store, the startup climate in Europe, economic optimism, technology in education, Apple Watch and more.

There are some great comments from Cook in these snippets taken from the interview.

Twitter changes the format of tweets

User names and media attachments such as photos and videos will no longer count towards the length of a tweet, Twitter Inc said on Tuesday, but the 140-character limit will stay.

Good.

Android’s failure to innovate hands Apple free run at WWDC

Rather than focusing on the incremental innovation needed to win back the attention of enterprise users and premium consumers, Google’s vision for Android this year has again leapt in new directions which appear even less attainable. Android’s scattered, imitative strategies du jour are resulting in a platform that looks a lot like Apple’s—albeit the very unsuccessful Apple of the mid 90s.

This is a really interesting article from Daniel Eran Dilger. It will certainly be interesting to see what Apple does at WWDC.

Will.i.am’s wireless headphones debut exclusively at Apple stores

i.am+, the company founded by musician will.i.am, recently announced the launch of its new i.am+ EPs, a set of premium Bluetooth earphones that are available exclusively from Apple retail stores and Apple.com.

Something about this strikes me as odd. The rumors of Apple releasing their own wireless headphones, Apple owning Beats, all of that. I don’t know.

Using Apple Music’s “A-List” to find new music

I mentioned in a previous article how I was using Apple Music’s curated radio stations (specifically the Hard Rock station) to find new music on the service. For the last little while, I’ve also been using Apple Music’s “A-List: Hard Rock” as a way to find music as well.

Dialing in the “Neve Sound”

The punch and musical character offered by the Neve EQs, compressors, and preamps have left their mark on legendary pop, rock, and hip-hop albums for over 40 years.

I’m one of those that loves what Neve gear brings to the sound of an album.

Spotify matches Apple Music’s family plan

Spotify has upgraded its family plan, now allowing up to six Premium accounts per family for $14.99 a month. The new plan is a direct match to Apple Music’s family plan — which Google Play also matched back in December — and is a dramatic improvement over Spotify’s old family offering, which would’ve cost users $30 a month for family of five (there was no six-person plan available before today).

Smart move.

Apple offers to replace Maine school’s iPads with laptops

Before Auburn decided what to do, the district surveyed grades seven through 12 students and teachers, Auburn School Department Technology Director Peter Robinson told the Auburn School Committee on Wednesday night.

The results were overwhelmingly in favor of laptops: 88.5 percent of teachers and 74 percent of students favored them over iPads.

Interesting that iPads showed great success in lower grades, but the schools said “iPads have shortcomings for older students.”

Tim Cook meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Apple CEO Tim Cook laid out his company’s plans for the vast Indian market in a meeting Saturday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in turn sought Apple’s support for his “Digital India” initiative focusing on e-education, health and increasing farmers’ incomes.

It’s fine that India ask for help from Apple, but the country is going to have to give something too—you can’t ban Apple from selling used iPhones and then ask them for help.

Apple pulls iOS 9.3.2 update for 9.7-inch iPad Pro

Amid a growing number of complaints over iOS 9.3.2 bricking some 9.7-inch iPad Pro models, Apple yesterday pulled the iOS 9.3.2 update. 9.7-inch iPad Pro users who have not installed iOS 9.3.2 no longer see the update, with iOS 9.3.1 now listed as the most current version of iOS 9 available for download.

Very specific problem for one model of the iPad. Weird.

Tim Cook lays out Apple’s strategy for India

Mr. Cook said he was not chasing market share in India but wanted to partner with telecom operators to enhance the quality of services. “We are in India for the next thousand years. Our horizon is very long. We are focussed on best, not most. So it doesn’t bother me that we don’t have top market share,” he said.

Apple is committed to its new markets, no doubt about that.