iTunes

• AAPL Company
• App Store
• iTunes
• Tax
• Russia

Russia wants to force Apple & Google to pay more tax, apply 18% VAT to App Store purchases

In what Bloomberg describes as ‘a 90-minute interview peppered with expletives,’ Russia’s new Internet advisor has said that he wants to force Apple and Google to pay more taxes.

German Klimenko is pushing to raise taxes on U.S. companies to help level the playing field for Russian competitors such as Yandex and Mail.ru […]

Bloomberg says that he has an interesting ally in this aim …

Expand
Expanding
Close

• Apps
• iOS
• iPhone
• How-to
• Apple Books

How-to: Make built-in iOS apps vanish, and force app updates on iOS 9

One of the minor irritants for those of us who have slight OCD tendencies is that there’s no way you can remove built-in iPhone apps – the best you can do is tuck them away inside a folder, which in my case is called unused.

But YouTube user Jose Rodriguez has found a couple of ways to actually render them invisible – at least for now. The main method, shown in the video below, works for iOS 9 to 9.2. Essentially you drag the app toward the right edge of a folder, then let it go. You then repeat this, but the second time keep touching it while you press the home button – the app then disappears …

Expand
Expanding
Close

• Apps
• iOS Devices
• Amazon
• iPad Air
• 9to5Toys

9to5Toys Last Call: iTunes $100 Gift Card $80, iPad Air 2 Smart Cover $18, Beats Solo2 $100, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

Anker iPhone/iPad accessories: Car Chargers from $6, Nylon MFi Lightning Cable $8, more

• Here are the Holiday Best Sellers from Amazon’s record-breaking year
• TurboTax 2015 for Mac/PC price drops: Deluxe $40, Premier $55, Home & Business $65, more
• Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard for iPhone/iPad/Mac: $30 (Reg. $40)
• Thimble’s DIY robot subscription service launches on Kickstarter to great success
• Fashion: Nike extra 25% off clearance – Vapor Jacket $82 (Orig. $130), more
• CBS All Access: Free two-month trial for Chromecast owners ($12 value)
• Sports/Fitness: Sport-Brella Umbrella w/ clamp $15 (Orig. $30), more
• Home: Panasonic Stainless Steel Microwave $100 (Reg. $130+), more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/681533407428481025 align=’center’]

$100 iTunes Physical Gift Card for $80 shipped (20% off): save on apps, music, movies, more!

Apple iPad Air 2 Smart Cover $18 (Reg. $35), Smart Case $35 (Reg. $70), more

Beats Headphones: Solo2 On-Ear $100 (Reg. $200), Powerbeats2 In-Ear $85 (Reg. $150)

Write-Off Week™: Last chance to write off biz expenses w/ best deals on office equipment, tech, supplies, more

iTunes is hosting a rare sale on HD movies, including $5 titles + heavily discounted bundles

Hundreds of iOS/Mac games & apps are on sale for the holidays, these are the best ones you can’t afford to miss

Starbucks $15 gift card for $10: save 30% on your favorite drinks!

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Macbook Air 11.6″ Core i5 4GB/128GB w/.edu: $750 shipped ($250 off, $700 without .edu or less)

Apple 12-inch MacBook w/ Retina display 1.2GHz/8GB/512GB: $1,440 shipped (Reg. $1,599)

• Media: Burn Notice Complete Series $48 (Reg. $80), more
• Games/Apps: The Witcher 3 (digital) $25, Borderlands Handsome $29, more
• TRENDnet 802.11n Travel Router w/ USB: $7 shipped (Orig. $53)
• Daily Deals: Jabra Solemate Bluetooth Speaker $45, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Apple-certified Lightning 3600mAh Aukey Portable Battery Pack + MFi cable: $10 shipped

B&H: $70 off Apple Watch Stainless PLUS $100 Gift card (Tax only in NY) starting at $379 effective

iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi: 16GB $250 (Orig. $399), 128GB $425 (Orig. $599)

Best Buy Apple sale: iPad Air 2 $125 off, iPad Air $100 off, iPad mini 4 $100 off, much more!

Apple TV 32GB (4th generation) w/ Siri remote + 6-ft HDMI cable: $126 shipped (~$155 value)

• No setup or batteries required! Belkin MFi Lightning iPad Keyboard: $34 (Reg. $60)
• Google Chromecast v1: $20 shipped (Orig. $35)
• Save 75% on any movie rental from Amazon, watch Marvel’s Ant-Man for just $1.50
• Year-End Android Game Deals: NBA Jam $.10, Goat Simulator $.99, more
• 1Password for Mac drops to $32 for the holiday season (Reg. $50)
• DuckTales: Remastered for iOS goes on sale for the very first time: $1 (Reg. $10)
• Grab the entire Infinity Blade Trilogy on iOS for just $1 each ($20 value)
• Get 12 months of Adobe’s Creative Cloud plan with Photoshop for $96 (20% savings)
• Digits, the calculator for humans on iOS drops to just $1 (Reg. $4)
• Xbox Store Digital Sale: Save on games, DLCs, more + free trials for streaming services
• Fashion: 25% off at Amazon, 40% off Timex Watches, more
• Logitech Harmony Ultimate Touchscreen Remote: $195 shipped (Reg. $250+)
• Google Play Discounts: Save 75% on a movie rental or 50% off one music album
• Headphones: Philips Over-Ears w/ Lightning Connector $199 (Reg. $240+)
• Grab the Hitman GO & Hitman Sniper iOS bundle for just $1 ($8 value)
• VIZIO Bluetooth Soundbar system w/ wireless subwoofer: $300 (Reg. $500)
• Chromecast users can grab a two month free trial of Sling’s Best of Live TV package
• Google is offering a free $20 Best Buy Gift Card when you use Android Pay

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

ShiftWear sneakers use flexible displays to showcase custom artwork on your shoes

The new iOS-connected Hamwells e-Shower recycles your water with eyes on saving energy

• Hult blends copper and concrete in a stunning modern take on the Bluetooth speaker
• Get Canary’s all-in-one home security system + air quality sensor for $179 (Reg. $200)
• Netflix Preview for 2016: Chelsea Does, Fuller House, Marvel’s Luke Cage, more
• Tiny Arcade puts those 80’s gaming cabinets in the palm of your hand
• The FLUXO Smart Lamp lets iOS and Android users paint their walls with light
• YoCam tops GoPro’s tiny action camera in features, but does it matter?
• This limited edition Rolls Royce cocktail kit is a must see for car and James Bond fans alike

• iOS
• Mac
• iTunes
• Canada
• UK

Apple launches Boxing Week iTunes sale w/ discounted albums in Canada & UK

As it does every year, Apple has officially kicked off its iTunes Boxing Week sale with discounts on select albums for this week only.

The sale, which both UK and Canadian users will find under a special section in the iTunes store on both iOS and Mac, will likely remain available through the end of the week. While “Boxing Day” is officially recognized in Canada and elsewhere on the 26th, retailers usually offer a Black Friday-type event for Boxing Day with most sales lasting the entire week following Dec. 25.

For Boxing Day this year, Apple is offering a long-list of popular albums, normally $9.99, starting at just $6.99 in Canada. There are other albums on offer for $7.99 as well. The deals are grouped into four sections including Hot in 2015, Essential Albums, Musique Francophone, and Discovery Artists.

On the UK iTunes store Apple doesn’t use the “Boxing Day” branding, but it is also offering popular albums from £3.99 in a special section on iTunes starting this week.

Check out the iTunes Boxing Day sale in Canada and the UK sale now. And you might want to grab some discounted iTunes gift cards first.

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• Apple TV
• iTunes
• Music
• Dropbox

VLC media app gains Split Screen + Touch ID features on iOS, much more

[Update: VLC incorrectly included Apple TV support in today’s release notes. That release is coming “very soon” but not available today. The iOS/watchOS updates are out today.]

[Update 1/12/2016: VLC for Apple TV is now available.]

The popular VLC app for playing a variety of media formats not supported by iTunes has now made its way to the new Apple TV. We heard in September that VLC for Apple TV was in the works, and last month the team started accepting beta testers. Today VLC for Mobile delivered a major update that includes the first Apple TV version as well as a handful of new features on iPhones and iPads.

Expand
Expanding
Close

• iOS Devices
• Steve Jobs
• iTunes
• release
• Blu-ray

‘Steve Jobs’ film set to get digital, DVD, & Blu-ray release February 2

Universal Pictures has announced it’s set to give ‘Steve Jobs’, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Michael Fassbender, a release on digital services, Blu-ray, and DVD February 2.

Blu-ray and DVD bonuses include “Inside Jobs: The Making of Steve Jobs,” a documentary detailing the making of the film, as well as feature commentary by Danny Boyle, Aaron Sorkin, and editor Elliot Graham.

The film originally opened to mixed reviews from critics and was, according to reports, generally disliked by those close to Jobs. It eventually bombed nationwide following what were reportedly highest per-theatre earnings of the year on its limited opening weekend. Still, the film may earn its creators a Golden Globe award or two next month.

We’d expect the digital release to hit iTunes and other online video services, but for now Universal is only confirming there will be a “Digital HD UltraViolet” release alongside the Blu-ray and DVD on February 2.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/KnOEdJR0rdM]

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• Mac
• Apple Music
• iTunes
• Music

Apple releases iTunes 12.3.2 with changes to Classical listings in Apple Music

Apple has pushed an iTunes update to match Apple Music changes made earlier this week in iOS 9.2. The change includes a new way to view Classical music on the streaming service, allowing users to see works, composers, and performers.

The update also includes the standard generic bug fix notice. iTunes 12.3.2 is available now from the Updates tab of the Mac App Store.

• Steve Jobs
• iTunes
• Apple Inc
• General
• International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

Banksy uses Steve Jobs as an example of Syrian immigration at a refugee camp in France

With the Mediterranean refugee crisis as much a hot-button issue in Europe as it is in the U.S., famous graffiti artist Banksy has used Steve Jobs as a subtle reminder of the benefits immigrants can offer to a country. Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian migrant.

The artwork appears at a refugee camp in Calais, where many Syrian refugees are among those hoping to enter Banksy’s home country, the UK. The image depicts him carrying a bag with one hand and a Macintosh (sadly with very inaccurate proportions) in the other.

Earlier in the crisis, more than 15,000 people retweeted a photo posted by tech entrepreneur David Galbraith with the caption ‘A Syrian migrants’ child.’

[tweet https://twitter.com/daveg/status/639167370091720704 align=’center’]

Back in September, Apple supported humanitarian aid efforts by making its own ‘substantial’ donation to relief agencies, inviting iTunes users to donate to the Red Cross, and by offering to match employee donations. Earlier this week, Tim Cook mentioned the refugee crisis in a speech to the RFK Center.

[tweet https://twitter.com/krishgm/status/675318860313178112 align=’center’]

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• iPhone
• Amazon
• App Store
• iTunes

Yahoo’s new Video Guide app offers universal search across streaming services

Yahoo today released a new “Yahoo Video Guide” app for mobile devices that acts as one central location for users to find content from across a long list of competitive video services and networks.

The app allows users to search from one place and then offers links to buy or start streaming the content in other apps like iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, HBO GO, and many others. So you’ll still need to be a subscriber, have the app downloaded, and or purchase the content once the Yahoo Video Guide app redirects you.

And while you can just search for something you’re looking for, the app also has a Mood Picker feature that lets users pick a from GIFs to search through curated lists. 

Yahoo of course has its own Yahoo Screen app for mobile devices, but it also links to content on iTunes, Amazon Video, Hulu, Netflix, HBO GO, ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, Xfinity, YouTube, A&E, BET, Cartoon Network, Cinemax, Comedy Central, Disney, Food Network, and others. In total it says it’s promoting over 30 video services through the new Video Guide app.

The Yahoo Video Guide iPhone app is available to download for free on the U.S. App Store now.

• iOS
• Apple News
• iTunes
• video
• The Beatles

The Beatles ‘1+’ collection w/ 50 restored videos now available exclusively on iTunes

Today Apple’s iTunes Store is getting some exclusive content from The Beatles with the “1+” collection consisting of 50 restored videos.

The videos are a mix of promotional and music videos that the group released over the years together with some new audio and video commentary from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. You’ll also find a 124-page illustrated book with information accompanying the videos.

The press release notes that the videos have been completely remastered with new stereo and 5.1 Dolby Digital surround audio mixes, while the video itself was taken from 35mm negatives scanned in 4K and digitally restored.
Expand
Expanding
Close

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• Apple TV
• iCloud
• iTunes
• app

Infuse video playback app makes its way to the new Apple TV

Infuse, a popular video library and playback application for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, is making its way to tvOS on the new Apple TV today. As with its iOS counterpart, Infuse on the Apple TV will serve as a way for users to store multiple video file types in a single library.

 

The application can stream video content from a computer, external wireless storage drives as well as apps like Plex, Kodi, and Servioo. This differentiating feature is handy for users who want a single view of all their video content stored across numerous devices and services.

Because the tvOS version of Infuse is tied to the iOS counterpart, the download is free for users of Infuse 3 on iOS devices. The tvOS version is labeled as Infuse 4.0, and the iOS client will be upgraded to the new version later this year, the developers tell us.

Infuse 4.0 on tvOS (and in the upcoming iOS version) adds automatically downloaded artwork and movie ratings, support for syncing how far along a user is into a video between devices, and support for downloadable subtitles.

Expand
Expanding
Close