Daniel Dilger, writing for Apple Insider, captures an essential difference between Apple, Microsoft, and Google’s music efforts. The difference is the need for music to be a profit center.
Business
I’m going independent
I love stories like this. Inspirational.
Salon: The origins of Steve Jobs’ and Apple’s success
An interesting analysis of Apple’s move from the brink of failure to the largest company in the world.
Apple Music, the App Store and human curation
Jean-Louis Gassée, writing for Monday Note, discusses the difference between algorithm and human curation and makes the point that Apple should use the Apple Music approach on the App Store.
Not entirely down to Taylor Swift
Interesting quotes from an independent record group who just concluded their negotiations with Apple Music.
Some Apple Music math
How much will Apple Music pay out per user during the free trial period? Let’s do the math.
Walmart, staunch competitor to Apple Pay, tests Apple Watch app
Walmart, the brains and brawn behind the Apple Pay competing CurrentC, is now embracing Apple Watch.
Eddy Cue talks about Apple’s change of heart
Lots of action yesterday. Taylor Swift writes a bit of a nastygram to Apple, Apple responds in the best possible way. Your move Taylor.
To Apple, love Taylor
Taylor Swift writes a letter to Apple directly addressing the issue of artists’ pay during an Apple Music trial period.
Apple pulls iPad mini, all iPads, most iPhones now retina, 64-bit
This ought to help Apple’s supply chain management.
Edward Snowden supports Apple’s public stance on privacy
Josh Constine, writing for Tech Crunch, asked Edward Snowden about Tim Cook’s public statement on privacy.
Re/code interview with Apple SVP of Operations Jeff Williams
This interview happened a month ago, but re/code just released the complete video and transcript. I actually enjoy reading a transcript. Let’s me focus, undistracted, on the words.
Apple vs Google and the battle over personalization and privacy
Om Malik, in a terrific piece for the New Yorker, lays out the modern battle between Apple and Google.
I do not agree to your terms
Mike Ash writes a widely read development blog, which he makes available as an RSS feed. Mike got an email from Apple letting him know that they planned to include his feed in their iOS 9 News initiative. Nice to be noticed, right?
Read on.
Thoughts on last week’s keynote
Thoughts on last week’s keynotes, spurred by a Monday Note writeup from Jean-Louis Gassée.
Video for John Gruber’s WWDC interview of Phil Schiller
Here’s the video to Gruber’s interview of Apple’s Phil Schiller. Just great.
Apple Maps vehicles
Apple is sending cars around the world to collect map data. Want to know where they are going next?
Apple Music antitrust investigation – Nothing to see here
The attorneys general behind the 2013 eBook price fixing investigation are at it again.
Apple Legal prevents AltConf from streaming WWDC keynote
Apple just sent AltConf a letter that, in effect, was a shot across their bow. Be sure to read the update at the bottom of the post, as well as the comments (some excellent points, well made).
Jeff Williams: “Response to Apple Watch has surpassed our expectations in every way”
The logjam is loosening.
No new Apple TV at WWDC
Brian X. Chen, writing for the New York Times:
Yet one much ballyhooed device will be absent from the conference: a new Apple TV, Apple’s set-top box for televisions.
Feh.
Gluing together a startup
If you have even the slightest interest in building a startup, if you have even the tiniest entrepreneurial bone in your body, read this story. Inspirational and educational.
Why Android Pay isn’t really about payments at all
Karen Webster, writing for PYMNTS.com, digs into the headwinds facing Android Pay.
Judge certifies class action against SiriusXM over pre-1972 music
The Hollywood Reporter:
A huge lawsuit against SiriusXM over its performance of pre-1972 sound recordings is officially no longer just about Flo & Eddie of The Turtles. On Wednesday, the high-stakes litigation took another major step forward after U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez granted a motion for class certification.
Big implications.
Apple acquires augmented reality firm Metaio
At the same time as Google was updating their virtual reality plans, Apple was quietly buying Metaio, a company specializing in augmented reality.
Google’s big bet on Cardboard
At last year’s Google I/O conference, Google introduced Cardboard, their inexpensive virtual reality viewer made out of parts you can get for about $20. Now they’ve invited Apple users to the party. There’s more to this than meets the eye.
Apple Store app offering same day delivery for certain products, in certain areas
MacRumors:
Apple is now offering same-day delivery of certain products in its Apple Store app, through a partnership with Postmates.
New York Times: Apple Pay rewards program will be announced next month
The New York Times, in an article about the upcoming battle between Apple Pay and Android Pay, reports that Apple has filled in the missing piece in Apple Pay. Question is, is that really what’s coming.
Apple’s crushing brand value growth
There’s a lot of interesting data to digest in research agency Millward Brown’s latest global brand value report. Read on for some good quotes from the report.
Great design: Shoes that will grow with your kid
Take a look at these shoes. True, they are more sandals than shoes, but they are US$12 (in bulk) and are designed to last through many years of foot growth.