In its on-going quest to re-create the way that people think about viewing television, Apple has proposed a TV ad skipping system for an upcoming service, according to reporter Jessica Lessin. As reported several times over the past couple of years, Apple has been seeking to bring a live (or on-demand) TV service to an upcoming product. However, it is unclear if this will be an entirely new display set or just an enhanced box....

Apple has issued a more direct response to customers experiencing issues with HomePod leaving white rings on certain wood surfaces in normal use. The response comes in an updated support article detailing how to clean and care for HomePod. Apple describes the occurrence as expected and not a defect. That response suggests Apple was aware of this issue (like with jet black iPhone 7 experiencing ‘micro abrasions’ which it warned customers about) and a fix should not be expected if it’s not a defect....

During The Grammys this evening, Apple debuted the first advertisement for its Carpool Karaoke spin-off. The ad gives the first look at the premise of Apple’s version of the hit concept, which originally appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Apple first announced its plans for a Carpool Karaoke spin-off last year and additional details have been slowly emerging since then. Today’s ad gives a first look at the rotating host concept that the show will adopt....

The new Apple TV went on pre-order via Apple’s online store earlier this week, and priority deliveries will begin this Friday while standard shipments will begin arriving after this upcoming weekend. Now, we’ve learned that Apple is planning to begin selling the new set-top-box at its retail stores this Friday. Apple retail employees say that stores are beginning to receive shipments to sell at the end of this week, while stores will be re-organized overnight on Thursday to promote the new Apple TV in stores on Friday....

Apple filed a motion in the Northern District of California on May 1 that claimed Samsung ruined documents it needed to submit for the discovery process in a “spoilation of evidence,” according to the legal jargon that described the act. NetworkWorld elaborated: A hearing on Apple’s motion is scheduled for June 7, with Samsung’s reply brief due by May 15. However, Samsung said the claims are without merit, and it wants the due date extended to May 29....

MBLM notes that the stock of these top-ranking companies for brand intimacy naturally performs better than those with less brand appeal. As for consumers, MBLM says that COVID is increasing the connections people have with brands. Illustrating how well Apple does with young users, a Piper Sandler US survey released yesterday found “86% of teens own an iPhone and 89% expect an iPhone to be their next phone, both new all-time survey highs....

WIRED released a lengthy report today covering Apple’s ambitions for its Apple TV+ streaming service, which launches on November 1st. The profile includes imagery of sets from one of Apple’s premier shows, ‘For All Mankind’, and an interview with Apple TV+ exec Zack van Amburg, who leads Apple’s video programming division alongside Jamie Erlicht. Amburg and Erlicht were hired away from Sony in June 2017. In the interview, Amburg says that Apple is “defining our programming by quality”, rather than looking for content to fill demographics like ‘males aged 18 to 34’....

Apple has signed a new multi-year deal with the Maurice Sendak Foundation to produce new children’s content for Apple TV+. Sendak is the creator of the popular book Where the Wild Things Are, which will be used to develop new shows for Apple’s streaming platform. Maurice Sendak passed away in 2012 after writing several books, including Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There, and more. According to a Deadline report, Apple will work with longtime Sendak writer and collaborator Arthur Yorinks to adapt these stories for TV....

With Father’s Day coming up on June 21, Apple TV+ has announced a new (and well-timed) documentary film ‘Dads’, which will be available on the company’s streaming service starting June 19. The 80-minute documentary comes from the mind of Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of filmmaker and actor Ron Howard who naturally appears in the film. ‘Dads’ explores the modern meaning of being a father and combines interviews with celebrities and the general public....

After the success of last year’s Shot on iPhone 6 ad campaign, taking one of the top prizes at the Cannes Grand Prix festival, Apple is relaunching the campaign to highlight photos taken with the iPhone 6s/Plus, reports Time. Apple first launched the Shot on iPhone 6 campaign on its homepage last March, alongside a new App Store page highlighting photography apps. The company then used the photos in worldwide billboard ads – which Apple will be doing again this time around …...

Apple today released the second iOS 9.2 beta for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to registered developers. iOS 9.2 beta 2 follows the initial iOS 9.2 beta release just one week ago. The update is available over-the-air through the Settings app for developers already testing the release. The prior release contained few changes including extension support on Safari View Controller. The release notes only highlight bug fixes and improvements. iOS 9....

Following an extensive period of betas for developers, Apple has publicly released OS X 10.8.5. The update is available from the Mac App Store Software’s Update section and is recommended for all users on OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.4. The build number for the public release is 12F37, which is a single build over the most recent beta. Apple has also issued RAW Camera Compatibility updates and a new version of Safari....

A Bloomberg profile of Apple’s ‘chief chipmaker’ – SVP of hardware technologies Johny Srouji – talks about how the iPad Pro was launched behind schedule, and almost ended up being less powerful than the iPhone 6s. While the piece predictably doesn’t reveal much we didn’t already know, it does contain one surprising fun fact about the original iPhone … The original plan was to introduce the iPad Pro with Apple’s tablet chip, the A8X, the same processor that powered the iPad Air 2, introduced in 2014....

Apple’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook was invited to take part in a roundtable discussion at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s annual conference on clinical practice guidelines and quality cancer care. This year’s agenda centers around the topic of “Cancer and Corporate America: Business as Usual?” The five-day discussion begins March 15 in Hollywood, Fla., and ABC News anchor Sam Donaldson will moderate it. The NCNN website listed Cook as an invitee, but there is no guarantee that Apple’s CEO will participate....

Several apps began rolling out on the App Store this morning with HealthKit support for Apple’s new Health app, but it seems issues on Apple’s side have forced HealthKit-compatible apps to be completely removed from the App Store the morning of iOS 8’s (and Apple’s Health app’s) release. Apps affected include workout app Carrot Fit, calorie counting app MyFitnessPal, and major health app WebMD among others. Each app that has been pulled from availability on the App Store previously introduced full support for iOS 8’s HealthKit feature, which Apple encouraged developers of such apps to have ready for iOS 8 launch day earlier this year at WWDC....

Apple is set to open its largest Florida-based Apple Store yet in Greater Downtown Miami, according to a new report. Sources close to The Real Deal and South Florida Business Journal have confirmed that Apple has signed a lease with Miami’s new Brickell City Centre to open the new retail location. The new destination, which is planned to open by fall, currently lists 75 confirmed stores and restaurants that will be nestled inside of the new open-air shopping center....

In January, we broke the news that Apple plans to open a retail store inside of London’s world-famous Harrods department store. Harrods is a premier landmark with hundreds of individual shops and sections within the greater structure. The flurry of high-end brands within Harrods makes the store a logical spot for Apple to continue its string of “store-in-store” locations. Now, sources inside Harrods reported that Harrods and Apple plan to open the new store in mid-March....

Apple TV doubled its share of premium viewing in just three months, from 5% in Q4 2014 to 10% in Q1 2015, according to data from the Adobe Digital Index. Roku’s share increased by only 1% in the same time period, from 7% to 8%. Principal analyst Tamara Gaffney told TNW that Apple’s growth was unprecedented. Why the spike? Apple dropped the price of the Apple TV to $69 and it grows a few new channels every month but the survey didn’t offer any guesses....

Apple Pay in Australia today has expanded to support Eftpos cards from ANZ Bank. The move was announced in a press release from Eftpos, while Apple has also updated the Australian version of its Apple Pay website to indicate the new support for Eftpos cards. Eftpos touts that this partnership with Apple will bring in-store Apple Pay support to 1.6 million addition ANZ Access cardholders. Eftpos is the most used debit card network in Australia and lack of support for the technology has been cited as one of the biggest hindrances for Apple Pay in the country....

Update: The WSJ echoes the report, adding that $1B will just be the starting point, with possible increases based on demand, and stating that it will be mirrored by a similar bond issue in Australia. It says that in all Apple is aiming to raise $3-4B in the Asia Pacific region. If an unconfirmed Reuters report is correct, Apple could be tapping Taiwan for more than just components and assembly – it is also looking to raise capital from the island....