Click for larger Given that we reported that Apple had acquired C3 Technologies – a 3D mapping company – last year, we don’t think there has been any doubt that Apple is using C3’s data for iOS 6’s 3D Maps feature. However, we thought it would be interesting to show a comparison of how similar Apple’s implementation is to C3’s web implementation by way of Nokia. Notice the same iPad billboard and the alignment of the cars in the parking lot....

Apple might be scaling back its cloud music plans while it waits to see what new enemy Google comes up with, with iTunes execs currently touring labels to say the much-anticipated iTunes in the cloud services may be “limited in scope”.We had all expected Apple to quickly introduce cloud music services subsequent to its acquisition of Lala.com, now it seems introduction of such services may take longer. This is because Apple hasn’t yet agreed licenses with music labels, has already lost one of the four LaLa....

On Wednesday, Spotify filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding Apple’s App Store policies and started an aggressive PR campaign to back it up. Apple has today published a public statement in response to Spotify’s argument. Apple says that Spotify is spreading a ‘misleading rhetoric’. They cite how Spotify makes most of its revenue from advertising and mobile carrier partner deals, of which Apple takes no cut at all. The In-App Purchase subscriptions are a small percentage of Spotify’s business — and Spotify wants to pay Apple zero for those subscription sales meaning they are essentially taking the benefits of a free app and Apple receives no compensation at all from Spotify’s operations....

Exactly one week after the last build, Apple has released Build 12F23 of OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 to developers. The new build is only three builds newer than the last, and this could mean that Apple is winding down on the development cycle for 10.8.5. This could mean a public release in the next couple of weeks (based on past development history). Apple continues to say that 10.8.5 includes no known issues, and asks developers to focus on WiFi, Graphics, Wake from Sleep, PDF viewing and Accessibility, and Mobile Device Management during testing....

New banks and credit unions across the US, UK, Australia, Russia, and China have joined Apple’s list of participating partners as part of the second expansion of Apple Pay this month. Check out the latest Apple Pay banks below: In the United States: Anstaff Bank Bank of Milton Bryn Mawr Trust Credit Union ONE EagleBank Farmers & Merchants Union Bank Farmers National Bank First Class American Credit Union First National Bank (PA) First National Bank of Crossett First National Bank of Groton Nascoga Federal Credit Union Notre Dame Federal Credit Union Peach State Federal Credit Union Security Federal Bank State Bank Sutton Bank VacationLand Federal Credit Union Wauna Credit Union Western Federal Credit Union Westmoreland Community Federal Credit Union Russia:...

Update: Apple Pay is also now rolling out in the Czech Republic. Apple Pay is now rolling out to users in Saudi Arabia. The launch was first rumored over the weekend and now users in Saudi Arabia can add compatible cards to Apple Pay on their devices. Thus far, we know that Apple Pay in Saudi Arabia is supported by Al-Rajhi Bank and Riyad Bank. MADA, or The Saudi Payments Networks, has also confirmed that it will support Apple Pay in the country....

Transit support for Apple Pay continues to expand around the country. Starting today, Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrorail service has officially launched contactless payments, including support for Apple Pay. Various Metrorail stations in Miami have been testing Apple Pay support over the last month, but the Department of Transportation and Public Works confirmed today that the feature is now live at all 23 Metrorail stations. The news was first reported by the Miami Herald....

As the big four banks complete their rollouts of Apple Pay in Australia, the Apple service is driving an increase in contactless payments. New data from the Roy Morgan Digital Payments Report indicates a “sharp increase” in use of non-bank contactless services in Australia. The report details that 10.8% of Australians now use non-bank contactless services, and Appel Pay accounts for 6.5% of that: This increase comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when users are looking for alternatives to cash:...

Now that Apple has completed the rollout of its redesigned Apple Maps in the United States, it might be planning new recommendations features for the app as well. A job listing posted and quickly deleted this week suggests that Apple is looking to “build a brand-new content category” for Apple Maps. First spotted by The Verge, the job listing — which was deleted shortly after the article went live — is for a position titled “Product Manager – Maps, Writer/Editor....

Nearly one month following the start of Apple Watch and Apple Watch band pre orders, Apple has begun preparing to ship the first orders of standalone Link Bracelets, according to multiple 9to5 readers. These $449 Link Bracelets are separate from orders of the Apple Watch with Link Bracelet, in both the standard silver and Space Black combinations, which do not appear to have begun preparing to ship as of yet. Apple explains the Link Bracelet’s design on its website:...

Apple today has released iOS 13.2.3 to the public. This release follows iOS 13.2.2, which made improvements to background app performance and more. iOS 13.2.3 and iPadOS 13.2.3 are both rolling out to users everywhere now. iOS 13.2.3 continues to improve performance and fix bugs in iOS 13. Apple has been releasing new versions of iOS 13 at a quick pace recently, as you can see in the list of updates below....

Apple has released the first seed of iOS 7.1 beta (build number 11D5099e) to registered developers today. Check below for a comprehensive overview of changes and iOS 7.1 Release Notes below: iOS 7.1 beta 1 includes a number of bug fixes and (seriously needed) performance enhancements. iPad includes a tweaked closing animation in the pinch-to-close gesture. A few other changes include a new toggle for ‘dark keyboard’ in the accessibility settings and an option to upload ‘burst mode photos’ to Photo Stream for iPhone 5s users (Thanks Skylor and Dan!...

According to a report from Digitimes, Apple, among other companies like Samsung, is currently evaluating the use of solar panels for future products. Even more exciting is that Apple is reportedly considering the “inclusion of Taiwan-based solar firms in [its] supply chain.” This means that Apple is not only “evaluating” if they will make products with solar panels, but is already thinking about who will make the panels. The catch is, though, according to Digitimes, that miniature solar panels need more development before they can actually be deployed in products....

Coldplay at the 2014 iTunes Festival Apple is reportedly ending its long-running Apple Music Festival initiative. According to a report from Music Business Worldwide, the company is ending the Apple Music Festival (formerly known as the iTunes Festival) as it looks to rebrand its live concert efforts… Apple’s iTunes Festival was first held in 2007 and regularly attracted major musical acts. The event started as a 1-month long concert series with different acts every night....

Apple is set to further build upon its data center in Reno, Nevada according to a report out of the Reno Gazette-Journal. Apple has been building upon its Reno data center for a while now, but the company has recently filed a permit with the county requesting permission to construct a new data center adjacent to the existing one. The report claims that Apple will build the second data center under the codename “Project Huckleberry....

Apple originally acquired FoundationDB in 2015, and last April it announced that it was making the cloud database open source. Now, things are being taken a step further as FoundationDB has announced it is open sourcing Foundation DB Record Layer, which powers CloudKit. This is the first public confirmation from Apple that CloudKit is powered by FoundationDB. The company touts that Record Layer is used by Apple to “support applications and services for hundreds of millions of users....

This news shows Apple’s getting even more serious about WiMax and networking. In fact, the company is now looking extremely hard at all available wireless technologies, but (as we’ve been saying for some time now), the company wants to make WiMax for Macs. Why do we know this? Because Apple’s advertising for a senior RF Systems Engineer, a full time role based in Santa Clara valley. “The Senior Wireless system Engineer will be responsible for designing/integrating Apple wireless products, and exploring new wireless technologies....

Reports surfaced last fall that Apple was opening a new research and development office in Lund, Sweden, continuing a wave of new satellite locations outside of headquarters in Cupertino, California. Rapidus (via tech.eu) has followed up with a new details now claiming that Apple’s been building out operations in Lund over the last several months to develop ‘advanced mapping technology’ for Apple Maps. The ramp up of hiring at the Swedish offices focused on mapping comes four years after Apple bought C3 Technologies, which translated to Apple’s Flyover and 3D features in Maps....

Just a few moments after the September iPhone event keynote ended, Apple has started seeding out the golden master release for tvOS 10 today to all current testers and developers. To update to the final build, developers can check through the Software Update section on the Apple TV, or grab the Configuration Profile from Apple’s Developer center if you’d like to install it for the first time. Apple’s newest tvOS software introduces Dark Mode, Single Sign-on, HomeKit, and YouTube search to the latest Apple TV....

Apple last month announced a new Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, committing $100 million to help support social justice initiatives in the United States and eventually around the world. As part of this project, Apple has announced today that it is rolling out a series of challenge-based curriculum projects for educators. The new project was announced by Apple’s VP of environment, policy, and social initiatives, Lisa Jackson, on Twitter. The new resources for educators come as part of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, allowing parents and teachers to find unique and creative ways for students to learn about race, injustice, and inequality....