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Apple blocks Been Choice app

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Just when we thought we had seen the end of in-app advertising, Apple wipes the iStore clear of a host of applications that it deems unsafe and insecure. Been Choice was an in-app blocker that was capable of blocking even Apple’s own ads from within their news feed. Apple blocks Been Choice from the app store as a result of carrying out practices that enabled them to view encrypted traffic. Due to the way that Been Choice routes traffic, Apple was quick to pick up on the fact that the data being transported was also being diverted to an ad-removal server, which in turn left it vulnerable. Apple is not going to let your sensitive data lay around to fall into the wrong hands.

Root Certificates Cause Insecure Traffic

Whilst the motives for this function of the Been Choice app are most likely free from malicious intent, the installing of “root certificates”, as was the case with their app, allows for the viewing of data on a packet to packet level, bypassing any encryption used. Apple holds a sincere commitment to protecting customers’ security online, always looking out for the privacy of their consumers. In this particular case however there was also reference to the damage that in-app ad-blocking will create to steady revenue streams across the world. Safari in-browser ad-blockers were unaffected by the app store clean-up.

Been Choice Back to the Drawing-Board

Been Choice responded on Friday 9th 2015, stating that they would resubmit their application once adapting it remedy complaints from Apple. They are confident that it will meet fully compliance, stating in a Tweet “We will remove ad-blocking for Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Yahoo Finance and Pinterest and resubmit tomorrow to comply”. Apple may have blocked Been Choice for now and details are unclear over the level of ad-blocking functionality that will be provided by Been Choice when it returns, but the trending ad-blocker is definitely not gone for good.

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13th of October brings 21.5-inch iMac with 4K Display

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As reported by 9to5mac‘s sources, we are scheduled to see the release of the brand new Retina 4K 21.5-inch  iMac on Tuesday 13th October. This iMac features a high quality graphics processor and outstanding 4K supporting resolutions up to 4096 x 2304. Apple fans are eagerly awaiting these new 21.5-inch iMacs which is due for release, preloaded with Mac OS X 10.11, El Capitan. It is going to prove to be interesting to see of El Capitan performs on the hardware that it was designed for.

Outstanding 4K Display

Graphics have received a complete overall and are the main focus of this fantastic new mac. In actual fact the other aesthetic features have not changed at all. The 4K display is highly anticipated and translates to a pixel density of 218 pixels per inch. Users across the world have been questioning whether or not this iMac features an update to Skylake.

Unfortunately it is not likely that next week will bring anything new in the form of Skylake, despite eager demand we are left with a Broadwell chipset. Shipments are expected to begin with a supply of roughly 1.5 million units. Retina has been out of reach for most users and this new iMac appears to be changing that trend through its relative affordability.

imac-with-4k-display

High Demand for 21.5-inch iMacs

4K Display iMacs have been in high demand and Apple is most likely expecting their 1.5 million units to not last long.  With the launch of the 21.5-inch 4k iMac in about a week, fans are asking whether or not we will see a simultaneous launch of the new Magic Mouse 2 featuring Force Touch integration and Apple’s new Bluetooth Keyboard with extended battery life. This is one of the biggest updates seen in recent years to the iMac platform, with the last update of a similar magnitude being in 2013.

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Apple iPod may be reaching end of product life cycle

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Apple Inc. owes a large amount of their success to the top-selling iPod. Over recent years the sales of the iPod have been dwindling. This can be attributed to the increase in smartphone users, almost all of which rather use their phones for their music listening needs.

The iPod Nano has received no updates at all over the last three years and the Apple iPod touch has not had any major design changes either. Sales of the iPod have dropped so much that Apple Inc. refused to reveal their sales for the last quarter. Will Apple soon retire iPod altogether?

iPod Touch May Have Hope

Even those iPod fans do have some hope on the horizon in the form of possible RAM and chipset upgrades next year, the future is not bright for the Apple iPod. The iPod Nano is most likely a device to be retired, although the iPod touch still holds a chance of being upgraded.

There is a high possibility that the Apple Watch will replace the iPod as music listeners’ streaming device of choice. After all it does make more sense that the tech giant would put more resources into their newest, trending platform. With WatchOS 2.0 being released the Apple Watch is likely to be flooded with apps that will give it functionality far out-reaching the scope of an iPod.

No Place for Apple iPod

Any iPhone holds capabilities equal to, or greater than that of the current range of Apple iPod. In actual fact one can see further evidence of the decline of the iPod by Apple’s change to their website, whereby they replaced iPod’s category with Apple Music.

According to a report from BidnessETC, we could very soon be forced to say goodbye to our trusty iPods. With technology such as the iRing in the distant future, there is simply no place for a device designed to just play music from a limited, fixed amount of storage.

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Barclay’s to implement Apple Pay by 2016

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Even though Apple Pay launched at over 250,000 locations across the United Kingdom in July, not all major banks support Apple’s payment service. Banking giant Barclay’s have however announced their plans to roll out Apple Pay early in 2016.

Even though Barclay’s UK implements Apple Pay early in the new year, no specific launch particulars or time has been officially announced, with Barclay’s CEO of Personal and Corporate Banking, Ashok Vaswani stating in a customer email to Techradar’s Mike Jobson:

“We have signed up for ApplePay and will launch it very early in the New Year. We truly value your custom and hope that you continue to bank with us particularly since we are launching this shortly.”

Here is a list of the UK banking institutions that support Apple Pay, excluding Barclay’s imminent integration:

  • American Express
  • Bank of Scotland
  • First Direct
  • Halifax
  • HSBC
  • Lloyds
  • M&S Bank
  • MBNA
  • Nationwide Building Society
  • NatWest
  • Royal Bank of Scotland
  • Santander
  • Ulster Bank

Barclay’s Late Adoption of Apple Pay

Barclay’s is the last major UK based banking institution to adopt Apple Pay as a supported platform. It is unclear as to why Barclay’s took so long to integrate Apple Pay, but it is fantastic news for many nonetheless. The delay experienced is most likely due to Barclay’s development of their own contact-less payment system, although this is just speculation.

The arrival of Apple Pay for Barclay’s customers may come in as soon as four or five months. The only banking institution in the UK still to adopt Apple Pay is TSB. With eleven banks in the United Kingdom already supporting Apple Pay it is likely that FSB will follow suit, Barclay’s eventually have!

While no official statement regarding the late option of Apple’s mobile payment gateway has been declared, it is evident that Barclay’s have sent a clear message to competitors. They pay attention to their own endeavours first, as any leading business should do. Barclay’s adoption of Apple Pay eventually is arriving, but it is clear they were in no hurry.

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Apple iBooks exclusive: Harry Potter Enhanced Digital Edition

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J.K. Rowling fans will be thrilled to hear that Apple’s iBooks Store will be receiving exclusive versions of the Harry Potter series. These enhanced digital versions of the classic can only be found on the iStore and feature many unique additions and changes to the seven-book series.

Owners of a Mac, iPhone, iPad & iPod touch can immerse themselves into any of Rowling’s majestic adventures, exploring Hogwarts and Harry’s adventures through a fully digital experience.

Annotations from J.K. Rowling, Interactive Animation & More

These enhanced Harry Potter digital books come with annotations from the author herself.

Each book contains the original text and before-mentioned annotations, as well as unique and entertaining, interactive animations. These tales are brought to life through extensive artwork in beautiful detail. Custom title covers are also added to these great digital books, as is new typography and custom typefaces.  In a statement to Apple, J.K. Rowling shared:

“I’m thrilled to see the Harry Potter books so beautifully realised on iBooks for the digital world; the artwork and animations in these enhanced editions bring the stories alive in a delightful new way,”

Available now on iTunes
Available now on iTunes

Similarly Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, was just as pleased sharing the following on the Apple site:
“J.K. Rowling’s legendary series is perfect for enjoying on your iPad or iPhone and we’re thrilled to offer them exclusively on the iBooks Store.”

James was also welcomed by Apple’s chairman Art Levinson stating:

“We look for outstanding individuals to strengthen our board’s breadth of talent and depth of knowledge, and we are very happy to have identified a fantastic person in James Bell. I’m confident that he will make many important contributions to Apple.”

Harry Potter Enhanced Digital Edition Exclusive iBooks Page

Enhanced editions of all the Harry Potter titles are available, however this is not the last of the magic Harry Potter content. Fans are to expect movies, soundtracks, apps and more on the Harry Potter iBooks page.

Books are priced at $9.99 (USD) and available in thirty two different countries. English is the only available language, although pre-orders are open for French German and Spanish enhanced versions. These pre-orders will be available on the 9th of November in eighteen additional countries.