Apple will reportedly reward artists for offering music in spatial audio

Apple will reward record labels and artists who offer their music in spatial audio, a relatively new audio format that is more immersive than regular stereo. According to a Bloomberg report, artists who release their music in spatial audio will receive “added weighting” starting next year. That, Bloomberg speculates, could mean higher royalties.

Nearly all of Apple’s audio hardware such as AirPods, HomePod, the iPhone and the upcoming Vision Pro headset, support playback in spatial audio, so the company’s move to incentivize artists is almost certainly to ensure that most music available on Apple Music is available in a format that Apple has positioned as a selling point. Notably, Bloomberg notes that Apple Music listeners wouldn’t necessarily have to stream a song in spatial audio for artists to be rewarded. Simply having their music available in the format would be enough.

Apple added spatial audio, which is powered by technology from Dolby Atmos, to Apple Music in 2021. Most of the company’s original shows and movies on Apple TV+ are also offered in the format. Artists also have the option of mixing their older music in the new format, something that bands from all decades are already doing. Mixing music in the format isn’t wildly expensive, according to Bloomberg; if true, this push could help get independent musicians and smaller acts on board.

Some Apple Music competitors like Amazon Music and Tidal also offer spatial audio on their services. But Spotify, Apple’s biggest music stream rival, is a notable exception, even though rumors about a high-quality music format on the service have swirled for years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-will-reportedly-reward-artists-for-offering-music-in-spatial-audio-183713277.html?src=rss

Apple will reportedly reward artists for offering music in spatial audio

Apple will reward record labels and artists who offer their music in spatial audio, a relatively new audio format that is more immersive than regular stereo. According to a Bloomberg report, artists who release their music in spatial audio will receive “added weighting” starting next year. That, Bloomberg speculates, could mean higher royalties.

Nearly all of Apple’s audio hardware such as AirPods, HomePod, the iPhone and the upcoming Vision Pro headset, support playback in spatial audio, so the company’s move to incentivize artists is almost certainly to ensure that most music available on Apple Music is available in a format that Apple has positioned as a selling point. Notably, Bloomberg notes that Apple Music listeners wouldn’t necessarily have to stream a song in spatial audio for artists to be rewarded. Simply having their music available in the format would be enough.

Apple added spatial audio, which is powered by technology from Dolby Atmos, to Apple Music in 2021. Most of the company’s original shows and movies on Apple TV+ are also offered in the format. Artists also have the option of mixing their older music in the new format, something that bands from all decades are already doing. Mixing music in the format isn’t wildly expensive, according to Bloomberg; if true, this push could help get independent musicians and smaller acts on board.

Some Apple Music competitors like Amazon Music and Tidal also offer spatial audio on their services. But Spotify, Apple’s biggest music stream rival, is a notable exception, even though rumors about a high-quality music format on the service have swirled for years.

Update, January 22, 2024, 5:07 PM ET: Apple started offering 10 precent higher royalties to artists who offer music in spatial audio on Apple Music from January, according to a new report from 9to5Mac

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-will-reportedly-reward-artists-for-offering-music-in-spatial-audio-183713277.html?src=rss

Beeper Mini is back, promising iMessage access on Android if you sign in with an Apple ID

A battle to bring iMessage access to Android is not yet over, even though Apple recently closed a loophole that seemingly allowed Beeper and other third-party apps to tap into the service. The latest version of the Beeper Mini app for Android once again allows users to send and receive messages.

Beeper says its team has been working around the clock to restore iMessage functionality after Apple shut down the app's access to the service. Now, Beeper cofounders Eric Migicovsky and Brad Murray say the team has found a solution. There's one key caveat, however: phone number registration isn't working and you'll need to sign in with an Apple ID. You'll send and receive iMessages via your email address instead of your phone number. The Beeper team says it's working on a phone number fix.

In the meantime, the team says it's not comfortable with charging users while its service remains in flux. As such, Beeper is free to use for the time being. "As soon as things stabilize (we hope they will), we’ll look at turning on subscriptions again," Beeper wrote in a blog post.

Migicovsky and Murray added that, despite Apple's assertions to the contrary, messages sent via Beeper Mini are end-to-end encrypted and secure. In fact, they suggest that Beeper is a more secure way for iOS and Android to communicate with each other than regular SMS. Apple does not yet support the more secure RCS standard Google has embraced, but it plans to start doing so in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beeper-mini-is-back-promising-imessage-access-on-android-if-you-sign-in-with-an-apple-id-182924774.html?src=rss

Beeper Mini is back, promising iMessage access on Android if you sign in with an Apple ID

A battle to bring iMessage access to Android is not yet over, even though Apple recently closed a loophole that seemingly allowed Beeper and other third-party apps to tap into the service. The latest version of the Beeper Mini app for Android once again allows users to send and receive messages.

Beeper says its team has been working around the clock to restore iMessage functionality after Apple shut down the app's access to the service. Now, Beeper cofounders Eric Migicovsky and Brad Murray say the team has found a solution. There's one key caveat, however: phone number registration isn't working and you'll need to sign in with an Apple ID. You'll send and receive iMessages via your email address instead of your phone number. The Beeper team says it's working on a phone number fix.

In the meantime, the team says it's not comfortable with charging users while its service remains in flux. As such, Beeper is free to use for the time being. "As soon as things stabilize (we hope they will), we’ll look at turning on subscriptions again," Beeper wrote in a blog post.

Migicovsky and Murray added that, despite Apple's assertions to the contrary, messages sent via Beeper Mini are end-to-end encrypted and secure. In fact, they suggest that Beeper is a more secure way for iOS and Android to communicate with each other than regular SMS. Apple does not yet support the more secure RCS standard Google has embraced, but it plans to start doing so in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beeper-mini-is-back-promising-imessage-access-on-android-if-you-sign-in-with-an-apple-id-182924774.html?src=rss

Anker headphones and charging accessories are up to 43 percent off right now

If you're looking to grab a wallet-friendly pair of wireless headphones or restock your charging gear for the holidays, a few recent Amazon sales on Anker accessories may be of interest. Several of Anker's Soundcore headphones, including a couple of top picks from our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, are currently down to the lowest prices we've tracked, as are a handful of charging stations, cables, power banks and similar accessories. There's a decent amount of discounts between the sales, but we'll run through the highlights below. 

This deal has been available for the past few days, but it brings the the top recommendation in our budget wireless earbuds guide back down to the all-time low we saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The Soundcore Space A40 delivers a number of features we'd expect from more expensive pairs, including wireless charging, multi-device pairing, eight- to 10-hour battery life and, most notably, genuinely useful active noise cancellation (ANC). Its warm sound profile isn't the most accurate we've tested, but it should be pleasing to most, and you can customize the EQ curve through the Soundcore app. Call quality is just OK, however, and playback won't automatically pause when you remove an earbud.

The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the runner up in our budget earbuds guide, as it offers a highly similar feature set to the Soundcore Space A40 but comes in an AirPods-style "stem" design. It's bulkier as a result, but some may find this shape easier to remove. It supports auto-pausing and has slightly more extensive touch controls as well, though the former can be finicky, and its more bass-heavy sound may not be to everyone's liking. Right now the Liberty 4 NC is $30 off and down to $70, which is another all-time low we previously saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

While the Soundcore Space Q45 isn't a formal pick in any of our guides, it's worth considering at this price if you want a set of over-ear noise-cancelers for less than $100. This $50 discount matches the best deal we've seen. The Space Q45's adaptive ANC system can't top the best wireless headphones on the market, but it's good for the money, and its lively V-shaped sound should be fun for pop music. A comfy design and multi-device pairing also help. Mic quality is mediocre, however.

If you want a more affordable set of over-ears, the Soundcore Life Q30 is also worth a look at $56, though that pair isn't as sturdily built and its default sound might be too bass-heavy for most tastes.

Moving onto to charging gear, the Anker 335 Wireless Charger is down to $17, which matches the lowest price we've seen. This is a three-in-one wireless charging station that can partially fold up and lets you refill a smartphone, Apple Watch and set of wireless earbuds at the same time. It's not as fast as the best wireless chargers we've tested — maxing at 10W for Samsung phones, 7.5W for iPhones, and 5W for other devices — and you need to supply your own USB-A charging puck to use an Apple Watch. Larger iPhone 15 models may not fit, either. But if you can live with all of that and just want a way to passively top up your devices throughout the day, this is an affordable and travel-friendly way to make it happen.

A pick from our power bank buying guide, the Anker Nano is an ultracompact portable battery that can connect directly to a device through its built-in, foldable USB-C port. It has a capacity of 5,000mAh and supplies up to 22.5W of power — though some devices will get a bit less — so it's best suited for emergency situations where you might need a quick refill but don't want to carry around a heftier power bank. You'll want to be gentle when attaching the connector, though. Right now the "shell white" version of the Nano is on sale for $21, which ties its best price to date. 

If you have an older iPhone, the Lightning-based version of this charger is also discounted to a low of $20.

Among the rest, a two-pack of 10-foot USB-C to Lightning cables is down to a low of $20 for those willing to pay extra for a braided model. The compact 20W Anker 511 Charger is available for $12.59 with a 10 percent coupon, which is about a dollar more than the lowest price we've seen. And the 65W Anker 735 Charger can be had for $34 with a 15 percent coupon; that's about $6 more than its best-ever price, but it's a more powerful multiport model we recommend in our fast charger buying guide.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-headphones-and-charging-accessories-are-up-to-43-percent-off-right-now-165634084.html?src=rss

Anker headphones and charging accessories are up to 43 percent off right now

If you're looking to grab a wallet-friendly pair of wireless headphones or restock your charging gear for the holidays, a few recent Amazon sales on Anker accessories may be of interest. Several of Anker's Soundcore headphones, including a couple of top picks from our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, are currently down to the lowest prices we've tracked, as are a handful of charging stations, cables, power banks and similar accessories. There's a decent amount of discounts between the sales, but we'll run through the highlights below. 

This deal has been available for the past few days, but it brings the the top recommendation in our budget wireless earbuds guide back down to the all-time low we saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The Soundcore Space A40 delivers a number of features we'd expect from more expensive pairs, including wireless charging, multi-device pairing, eight- to 10-hour battery life and, most notably, genuinely useful active noise cancellation (ANC). Its warm sound profile isn't the most accurate we've tested, but it should be pleasing to most, and you can customize the EQ curve through the Soundcore app. Call quality is just OK, however, and playback won't automatically pause when you remove an earbud.

The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC is the runner up in our budget earbuds guide, as it offers a highly similar feature set to the Soundcore Space A40 but comes in an AirPods-style "stem" design. It's bulkier as a result, but some may find this shape easier to remove. It supports auto-pausing and has slightly more extensive touch controls as well, though the former can be finicky, and its more bass-heavy sound may not be to everyone's liking. Right now the Liberty 4 NC is $30 off and down to $70, which is another all-time low we previously saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

While the Soundcore Space Q45 isn't a formal pick in any of our guides, it's worth considering at this price if you want a set of over-ear noise-cancelers for less than $100. This $50 discount matches the best deal we've seen. The Space Q45's adaptive ANC system can't top the best wireless headphones on the market, but it's good for the money, and its lively V-shaped sound should be fun for pop music. A comfy design and multi-device pairing also help. Mic quality is mediocre, however.

If you want a more affordable set of over-ears, the Soundcore Life Q30 is also worth a look at $56, though that pair isn't as sturdily built and its default sound might be too bass-heavy for most tastes.

Moving onto to charging gear, the Anker 335 Wireless Charger is down to $17, which matches the lowest price we've seen. This is a three-in-one wireless charging station that can partially fold up and lets you refill a smartphone, Apple Watch and set of wireless earbuds at the same time. It's not as fast as the best wireless chargers we've tested — maxing at 10W for Samsung phones, 7.5W for iPhones, and 5W for other devices — and you need to supply your own USB-A charging puck to use an Apple Watch. Larger iPhone 15 models may not fit, either. But if you can live with all of that and just want a way to passively top up your devices throughout the day, this is an affordable and travel-friendly way to make it happen.

A pick from our power bank buying guide, the Anker Nano is an ultracompact portable battery that can connect directly to a device through its built-in, foldable USB-C port. It has a capacity of 5,000mAh and supplies up to 22.5W of power — though some devices will get a bit less — so it's best suited for emergency situations where you might need a quick refill but don't want to carry around a heftier power bank. You'll want to be gentle when attaching the connector, though. Right now the "shell white" version of the Nano is on sale for $21, which ties its best price to date. 

If you have an older iPhone, the Lightning-based version of this charger is also discounted to a low of $20.

Among the rest, a two-pack of 10-foot USB-C to Lightning cables is down to a low of $20 for those willing to pay extra for a braided model. The compact 20W Anker 511 Charger is available for $12.59 with a 10 percent coupon, which is about a dollar more than the lowest price we've seen. And the 65W Anker 735 Charger can be had for $34 with a 15 percent coupon; that's about $6 more than its best-ever price, but it's a more powerful multiport model we recommend in our fast charger buying guide.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-headphones-and-charging-accessories-are-up-to-43-percent-off-right-now-165634084.html?src=rss

Google Messages APK suggests you may soon able to edit messages after they’re sent

Android users may soon be able to edit texts after they're sent via the Google Messages app. TheSpAndroid dug around in an APK for a recent beta version of Messages and found multiple references to a message-editing feature.

The publication unearthed flags concerning aspects such as a message-editing UI, loading the edit history and processing incoming and outgoing edits. For the time being, enabling these flags doesn't seem to do anything, as The Verge notes. TheSpAndroid also found code suggesting that message editing would work with the RCS protocol.

Were Google to enable this feature (which users would surely appreciate), it would follow the footsteps of WhatsApp and iMessage. Over the last year or so, those services each added the ability to edit messages within a certain timeframe after they're sent.

Google recently introduced some other handy features to Messages, such as the ability to turn photos into reactions and for users to create a profile with their name and photo that's attached to their phone number. Users can also change the color of text message bubbles, including making them blue.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-messages-apk-suggests-you-may-soon-able-to-edit-messages-after-theyre-sent-155244187.html?src=rss

Google Messages APK suggests you may soon able to edit messages after they’re sent

Android users may soon be able to edit texts after they're sent via the Google Messages app. TheSpAndroid dug around in an APK for a recent beta version of Messages and found multiple references to a message-editing feature.

The publication unearthed flags concerning aspects such as a message-editing UI, loading the edit history and processing incoming and outgoing edits. For the time being, enabling these flags doesn't seem to do anything, as The Verge notes. TheSpAndroid also found code suggesting that message editing would work with the RCS protocol.

Were Google to enable this feature (which users would surely appreciate), it would follow the footsteps of WhatsApp and iMessage. Over the last year or so, those services each added the ability to edit messages within a certain timeframe after they're sent.

Google recently introduced some other handy features to Messages, such as the ability to turn photos into reactions and for users to create a profile with their name and photo that's attached to their phone number. Users can also change the color of text message bubbles, including making them blue.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-messages-apk-suggests-you-may-soon-able-to-edit-messages-after-theyre-sent-155244187.html?src=rss

The Morning After: Apple may launch an M3 MacBook Air in March

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning big hardware announcements for early 2024. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman predicts the company will release the next iPad Pro and iPad Air generation in March. Gurman says the M3 MacBook Air will also likely come in March, in the usual 13- and 15-inch configurations. And Apple may kill off the 2020 M1 MacBook Air at that point too.

The company is also reportedly planning to make more apparent distinctions between its iPad families. The iPad Pro is expected to get Apple’s new M3 chip, an OLED display and come in two sizes: 11 and 13 inches. Meanwhile, the iPad Air will come in a 10.9-inch and a new 12.9-inch version and use the M2 chip.

If you’re waiting for a new Mac Studio and Mac Pro, those will land later.

— Mat Smith

​​You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!​​

The biggest stories you might have missed

Offworld ‘company towns’ are the wrong way to settle the solar system

The EU has reached a historic regulatory agreement over AI development

The FTC is reportedly looking into Microsoft’s $13 billion OpenAI investment

Threads countdown hints at EU launch on December 14

Researchers made VR goggles for mice

For science, not a bet.

TMA
Dom Pinke/ Northwestern University

Scientists have been using virtual reality setups to study brain activity in lab mice for years. In the past, they surrounded the mice with flat displays, with obvious limitations for simulating a realistic environment. Now, a team at Northwestern University developed tiny VR goggles to fit over a mouse’s face. Like you see above.

In their tests, the researchers say the mice appeared to take to the new VR environment more quickly than they did with the past setups. To recreate overhead threats, like birds swooping in for a meal, the team projected expanding dark spots at the tops of the displays. The way they react to threats “is not a learned behavior; it’s an imprinted behavior,” said co-first author Dom Pinke.

Continue reading.

Alex Jones and his conspiracy theories are back on X

Jones’ account was reinstated after users voted in a poll this weekend.

Alex Jones is back on X, five years after then-Twitter decided to permanently ban him and his show, Infowars, for violating the site’s policy on “abusive behavior.” Elon Musk created a poll on X over the weekend asking users to vote on whether to reinstate Jones. Jones won the vote.

Musk wrote, “I vehemently disagree with what he said about Sandy Hook, but are we a platform that believes in freedom of speech or are we not? That is what it comes down to in the end. If the people vote him back on, this will be bad for X financially, but principles matter more than money.” Principles? On X?

Continue reading.

Fortnite Festival tries to bring back the heyday of music gaming

It helps that it’s free.

TMA
Epic Games

Epic has launched an entirely new mode called Fortnite Festival, a social space where players can team up to perform their favorite songs or jam together on new mixes, all within Fortnite. The main stage, or championship stage, is basically the Rock Band experience recreated in Fortnite. You form a band with friends and choose a song to perform. Then you play the song using the standard music game format where notes slide down vertical bars, hitting the correct button when the note reaches the bottom. Meanwhile, the jam stage draws from Harmonix’s more recent (and less popular) mixing titles, Dropmix and Fuser.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apple-may-launch-an-m3-macbook-air-in-march-121532447.html?src=rss

The Morning After: Apple may launch an M3 MacBook Air in March

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning big hardware announcements for early 2024. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman predicts the company will release the next iPad Pro and iPad Air generation in March. Gurman says the M3 MacBook Air will also likely come in March, in the usual 13- and 15-inch configurations. And Apple may kill off the 2020 M1 MacBook Air at that point too.

The company is also reportedly planning to make more apparent distinctions between its iPad families. The iPad Pro is expected to get Apple’s new M3 chip, an OLED display and come in two sizes: 11 and 13 inches. Meanwhile, the iPad Air will come in a 10.9-inch and a new 12.9-inch version and use the M2 chip.

If you’re waiting for a new Mac Studio and Mac Pro, those will land later.

— Mat Smith

​​You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!​​

The biggest stories you might have missed

Offworld ‘company towns’ are the wrong way to settle the solar system

The EU has reached a historic regulatory agreement over AI development

The FTC is reportedly looking into Microsoft’s $13 billion OpenAI investment

Threads countdown hints at EU launch on December 14

Researchers made VR goggles for mice

For science, not a bet.

TMA
Dom Pinke/ Northwestern University

Scientists have been using virtual reality setups to study brain activity in lab mice for years. In the past, they surrounded the mice with flat displays, with obvious limitations for simulating a realistic environment. Now, a team at Northwestern University developed tiny VR goggles to fit over a mouse’s face. Like you see above.

In their tests, the researchers say the mice appeared to take to the new VR environment more quickly than they did with the past setups. To recreate overhead threats, like birds swooping in for a meal, the team projected expanding dark spots at the tops of the displays. The way they react to threats “is not a learned behavior; it’s an imprinted behavior,” said co-first author Dom Pinke.

Continue reading.

Alex Jones and his conspiracy theories are back on X

Jones’ account was reinstated after users voted in a poll this weekend.

Alex Jones is back on X, five years after then-Twitter decided to permanently ban him and his show, Infowars, for violating the site’s policy on “abusive behavior.” Elon Musk created a poll on X over the weekend asking users to vote on whether to reinstate Jones. Jones won the vote.

Musk wrote, “I vehemently disagree with what he said about Sandy Hook, but are we a platform that believes in freedom of speech or are we not? That is what it comes down to in the end. If the people vote him back on, this will be bad for X financially, but principles matter more than money.” Principles? On X?

Continue reading.

Fortnite Festival tries to bring back the heyday of music gaming

It helps that it’s free.

TMA
Epic Games

Epic has launched an entirely new mode called Fortnite Festival, a social space where players can team up to perform their favorite songs or jam together on new mixes, all within Fortnite. The main stage, or championship stage, is basically the Rock Band experience recreated in Fortnite. You form a band with friends and choose a song to perform. Then you play the song using the standard music game format where notes slide down vertical bars, hitting the correct button when the note reaches the bottom. Meanwhile, the jam stage draws from Harmonix’s more recent (and less popular) mixing titles, Dropmix and Fuser.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apple-may-launch-an-m3-macbook-air-in-march-121532447.html?src=rss