Earlier this year, Bill Stasior departed Apple after serving as Siri’s vice president for nearly seven years. Now, The Information reports that the former Siri boss has taken a new role in AI at Microsoft. At Microsoft, Stasior will serve as a corporate vice president of technology, reporting to Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott. His main responsibility, according to the report, will be to serve as the head of an artificial intelligence group....

Apple unveiled Podcast Analytics over the summer at WWDC, and today the new feature for podcasters is finally available in beta. From June on Podcast Analytics: Podcasters can access the new analytics feature starting today from iTunes Connect at podcastsconnect.apple.com/analytics. Apple notes that the data “includes devices with iOS 11 or iTunes 12.7, or later” and may be delayed by up to three days. Podcasts can be browsed by show to view devices (total number of unique devices that a show has been played), total time listened (total number of hours a show has been listened to across all devices), and time per device (average time a show has been listened to per device)....

iOS 10.3 is introducing another language, Shanghainese, extending its international advantage even more. In an interview with Reuters, Apple’s head of speech explains how Siri is taught to learn a whole new language … Alex Acero currently leads the speech team at Apple, who joined the company in 2013. Siri voice recognition was once powered by Nuance, Apple replaced it a couple of a years ago with a custom-built in-house voice platform that relies heavily on machine learning to improve its understanding of words....

For the first time since their release in September, Apple is now selling refurbished versions of the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE with a discount of up to 16%. The refurbished Apple Watch Series 6, with GPS, 40mm, and in a Silver Aluminum case, is $60 off for $329. The refurbished Apple Watch SE, with GPS, 40 mm, and also in Silver Aluminum case, is $40 off for $239....

Yesterday Apple kicked off two campaigns to promote Earth Day next week, and today Apple Stores around the world are going green to signal support. The leaf portion of the Apple logo that hovers above the entrance of each Apple Store shifts from white to green around Earth Day each year, and this year we’re seeing those leaflets illuminate green a full week in advance. Apple Stores are observing Earth Day in other ways this year too…...

Apple first launched its Shot on iPhone 6 ad campaign earlier this year to showcase photographs taken by users with their iPhone. The shots were shown in Apple’s World Gallery and were taken from various areas around the world. Now, Apple’s World Gallery campaign has taken the top prize in the Outdoor Lions category at the Cannes Grand Prix festival. The World Gallery images were shown off on billboards around the world....

Target has released its newest perks for its Circle loyalty program and this time around, it’s partnered with Apple to offer 4-6 months free for some of its most popular services. That includes Music, Arcade, TV+, and even upgraded iCloud storage for new and existing Target Circle members. Target Circle is the company’s loyalty program that offers discounts and perks. It’s free to sign up if you’re not already and the newest partner is Apple....

After extensively teasing its premium video streaming service during its March event this year, Apple has officially announced launch and pricing details for Apple TV+. The new service will feature the exclusive, original content that Apple has been developing over the last couple of years. In the lead-up to the fall release of Apple TV+, we’ve seen more trailers unveiled as Apple is working to build interest in its new video streaming service....

Almost six years after the introduction of tvOS, Apple’s design team has released their first-ever design tool kit for the platform. Apple’s tvOS design kit includes all of the components you’d expect from design templates to colors, materials, and more. These new tools should make it much easier for designers and developers to create mock ups and concepts for their apps. The tvOS design kit is only available for Sketch users so if you are an Adobe XD user, you’re out of luck....

In addition to iOS 11.2 beta 1, Apple has released the first watchOS 4.2 and tvOS 11.2 betas for Apple Watch and Apple TV. We’ll update to the latest software versions to check out what’s new. Both new beta versions are available to registered developers for testing ahead of release. We’re still awaiting watchOS 4.1 and tvOS 11.1 to come out of beta for customers as well. Here are the release notes for both betas:...

Apple is rolling out the fourth macOS 10.12.5 developer beta through the Mac App Store. macOS Sierra 10.12.5 beta is currently only available to developers. Public beta versions usually come a few days after developer versions if not the same day. The upcoming update follows macOS 10.12.4 which brought Apple’s color shifting Night Shift feature to the Mac for the first time. Apple is also running developer betas for iOS 10....

In a bit of a surprise after the iPhone 12 event, Apple’s iPhone 12 leather cases didn’t go up for sale along with the silicone and clear options. But we learned from fine-print that Apple was slating all of them for release alongside the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max on November 6. However, there’s still no word on availability for Apple’s new leather sleeve and the MagSafe Duo Charger....

Apple has gained several new partners around the world for its universal Search feature on Apple TV. In the United States, Apple TV users can now use the Search app or Siri to find content in BBC America, Classix, and Oxygen. Search on Apple TV lets you look for movies and TV shows in supported channels without hunting for specific content in individual apps. Here’s the full list of new Search partners in the US and around the world:...

Apple is working to bring its online and brick-and-mortar retail experience to India, but creating a plan that lives up to Apple’s standards for location and design is an intensive process that can’t happen overnight. In a statement released Thursday, Apple said that plans for India’s first official Apple Store “will take us some time.” In a report on August 28, Bloomberg noted that Apple was preparing to begin online sales of iPhones in India within months, thanks to the easing of a rule that previously required companies to source 30% of production locally....

We previously detailed Apple’s plans to introduce a new app for its HomeKit platform, and today the company officially took the wraps off one aspect of that project. Develoeprs will soon be able to use iCloud instead of their own server to offer remote access control of iOS-connected home automation accessories using Apple’s previously introduced HomeKit framework. We learned previously that the remote access feature would require an Apple TV as a gateway device....

Apple has released the fourth iOS 10.3.3 beta for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The first beta version only included new wallpapers for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and no other visible changes. We’ll update with any changes discovered below. iOS 10.3.3 beta 3 is currently available to registered developers; a public beta version for iOS 10.3.3 is also available although today’s update may not be immediately available. iOS 10.3.3 beta 4 Release Notes: For a look back at what changes Apple included with iOS 10....

Apple has followed this week’s release of OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 beta 2 to developers with a public version of the pre-release software. The second seed doesn’t include any notable changes, though it does come with the new emoji icons that were added in the first build. Users on the public beta can download the latest build from the Updates tab of the Mac App Store. Users who want to participate in the public beta can apply on Apple’s beta website....

Apple today is releasing the HomePod 13.2 software update with several new features, including multiple users support, Handoff and Ambient Sounds. The update was announced in June at WWDC 2019, but was postponed until October. The multi-user mode allow the HomePod to recognize up to six different voices in the home, and personalize its responses accordingly. You will be able to access each user’s individual music library and do user-specific tasks through Personal Requests like sending messages or setting todos....

As we noted earlier this week, Apple is now offering a one-day-only deal on its products for Black Friday. Customers who purchase qualifying Apple products will receive a (PRODUCT)RED iTunes gift card valued from $25 to $100 depending on the product. Below you’ll find a full list of the qualifying products for each denomination: iPod touch – $25 iPod nano – $25 Apple TV – $25 Select Beats by Dre headphones – $25 Any iPad – $50 Any Mac – $100 Apple is also donating the proceeds from many specially-marked iOS apps to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS until December 7th....

Apple has officially been served with a search warrant for access to the iPhone SE used by the man responsible for the Sutherland Springs, Texas shooting. The move comes after an earlier fumble that saw the Texas Rangers and FBI fail to act within 48 hours to unlock the device in question with Touch ID… As detailed in a report from Fast Company, the Texas Rangers served Apple with a warrant for access to David Kelley’s iPhone SE and his iCloud account, though it’s unclear if one exists at this point....