Why Does the Apple TV Still Exist?

Apple commentator Jason Snell writes: Why does this product still exist, and is there anywhere for it to go next? Gruber and Thompson [two other columnists] suggest that perhaps the way forward is to lean into an identity as a low-end gaming console. Maybe amp up the processor power, bundle a controller, and try to use Apple Arcade to emphasize that…

Apple Offers Support For Thread Networking

ttyler writes: As MacRumors reports, Apple’s new HomePod Mini supports Thread networking technology. “Thread is a low-power IP-based networking technology for connecting Internet of Things (IoT) devices, offering a secure, mesh-based system that makes it easy to build an ecosystem of devices,” reports MacRumors. “While Thread is essentially agnostic to the application layers that run on top of it, it can…

Siri, What Time Is It in London?

John Gruber, writing at Daring Fireball: Nilay Patel [Editor-in-Chief of news website The Verge] asked this of Siri on his Apple Watch. After too long of a wait, he got the correct answer — for London Canada. I tried on my iPhone and got the same result. Stupid and slow is heck of a combination. You can argue that giving the…

Sonos Cofounder Hits Back at Spotify CEO Daniel Ek For Complaining About Apple

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek reiterated previous gripes he’s had with Apple during an interview this week, saying its platform is still not open enough to third-party apps like the Sweden-based music streamer. But according to the cofounder of high-end speaker and home audio company Sonos, Spotify operates an even-more closed ecosystem than Apple. From a report: In a tweet posted Wednesday,…

Apple Plans iPad-Like Design for Next iPhone, Smaller HomePod

Apple is preparing a redesign of its top-tier iPhones, borrowing cues from the latest iPads, as part of a major fall refresh that will see 5G added to as many as four new handset models and the release of two key new accessories, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people familiar with the plans. From the report: This year’s successors to the iPhone…

Apple Weighs Letting Users Switch Default iPhone Apps To Rivals

Apple is considering giving rival apps more prominence on iPhones and iPads and opening its HomePod speaker to third-party music services after criticism the company provides an unfair advantage to its in-house products. From a report: The technology giant is discussing whether to let users choose third-party web browser and mail applications as their default options on Apple’s mobile devices, replacing…