Shoppers frequent Amazon every day, trusting the site’s algorithms to show the best deals. But a recent Pro Publica report suggests that Amazon is becoming more biased, with its own products and “Fulfilled by Amazon” offerings being prioritized over those from other vendors — even if the other vendors have the cheapest prices.
AirPods point to Apple’s domination of ‘ambient paradigm’
The Apple Watch and new AirPods may seam like silly side projects to fans, but some analysts on Wall Street believe the company is using the two new products to lay the groundwork for the next era of personal technology.
While Silicon Valley is obssessed with virtual reality headsets, Apple is obsessed with making gadgetry less visible. UBS analysts Steven Milunovich and Benjamin Wilson told clients that while many firms see a lot of downside for Apple, the company’s “ambient paradigm” could be a huge money maker.
Eddy Cue joins Tim Cook on Vanity Fair‘s ‘New Establishment’ list
Two of the biggest names at Apple made it onto Vanity Fair‘s 2016 ‘New Establishment’ list that ranks the top names in Silicon Valley, Hollywood and Wall Street. But instead of including designer Jony Ive, the fashion mag bumped him for ugly-shirt-lovin Eddy Cue.
With new hardware trio, Google makes major play for your home
Not only does Google want to replace your iPhone with a Pixel, the search giant revealed today that it plans to invade homes with three new products that directly compete with offerings from Apple and Amazon.
During an event in San Francisco today, Google unveiled a new Wi-Fi router, an improved Chromecast and a new Google Home device that’s a lot like Amazon’s Echo smart speaker, only it’s powered by Google Assistant.
Week’s best Apple deals: Refurb MacBook Pros from $579
Refurbished MacBook Pros shine brightly in this week’s top bargains, along with two of the best Apple accessory offers we’ve ever seen. Read on to see the week’s best Apple deals.
Apple Music tops first JD Power music streaming rankings
The first ever J.D. Power music streaming satisfaction survey found that Apple Music is the most liked streaming service in the U.S.
Spotify didn’t even manage to crack the top 3 in the survey that polled over 4,000 subscribers to music streaming services to gauge how well each company performs when it comes to performance and reliability, ease of use, cost, content, communication and customer service.
Is Siri still steps behind Google’s virtual assistants? [Friday Night Fights]
Apple has taken big strides to make Siri even greater in recent years, like bringing it to Apple TV and macOS, and opening it up to third-party developers. In that time, Apple’s virtual assistant has also gotten more accurate and more reliable.
But some might say third-party alternatives — particularly those from Google — are still a step ahead, with greater features and more flexibility. So, is Apple doing enough to make Siri just as stellar as Google Now and the new Google Assistant?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we go head-to-head over virtual assistants.
Amazon’s Echo Dot speaker is back and it’s super-cheap
Powering your home with Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant is now a lot cheaper, as the company has officially unveiled an updated version of the Echo Dot speaker.
Eddy Cue, Walter Isaacson to speak at Vanity Fair summit
Eddy Cue is among a list of high-profile speakers that will feature at this year’s New Establishment Summit held by Vanity Fair. Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs’ biography, is also in the lineup, alongside Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Apple board member Bob Iger.
Amazon just spoiled Apple’s iPhone 7 surprise
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are set to be unveiled in just a few minutes in San Francisco, but Amazon has already spoiled a lot of the details by posting its specialized page for iPhone 7 cases.
Check it out:
Sonos speakers will soon take commands from Amazon Alexa
Sonos has teamed up with Amazon to bring Alexa voice control to its range of wireless speakers. The long-term deal will soon allow users to interact with their Sonos speakers via Alexa using voice commands.
Microphone technology is Siri’s next big hurdle
Apple, Amazon and Google are all in a battle to create the next great breakthrough with microphones in order to make their digital assistants more powerful.
While machine learning and artificial intelligence are getting all the hype lately, few industry analysts say microphone technology will play just as key a role in taking Siri and Alexa to a new level.
Apple spurns Lyft’s overtures for acquisition
The second largest ride-hailing service in the U.S., Lyft, has reportedly been trying to find relief from its fierce competition by approaching Apple and other top tech companies regarding a possible acquisition.
Amazon Alexa can now find your phone with TrackR
Are you one of those people who is forever forgetting where you left your iPhone? Now Amazon Alexa can help you find it, thanks to TrackR integration.
Apple exec reveals how your iPhone data is used to improve Maps
In a new wide ranging interview, Apple’s senior VP of internet software and services, Eddy Cue, revealed how the company fixed a lot of mistakes it made with the launch of Apple Maps in 2012 by utilizing data from the hundreds of millions of iPhones around the globe.
Cue and Apple software chief Craig Federighi sat down to talk about the troubles with Apple Maps, the difference between working for Tim Cook and Steve Jobs, Apple’s competition with Facebook and Amazon and learning from failure.
Today in Apple history: Apple loses exclusive rights to ‘app store’ name
July 6, 2011: Amazon wins a landmark verdict against Apple over its proprietary use of the term “App Store” — opening up the possibility of other rival services calling their own app stores by the phrase Apple had helped popularize.
The case highlights just how central the concept of downloadable apps had become to the mobile experience, only three years after Apple launched its iOS App Store.
Amazon Prime Day is returning with discounts on over 100,000 items
Amazon will host its second annual Prime Day on Tuesday, July 12, the retail giant confirmed today. It promises to be the “biggest Amazon event ever,” with big discounts to be had worldwide on over 100,000 products.
Spotify and Elizabeth Warren tag-team for some Apple bashing
Sen. Elizabeth Warren took shots at Apple, Google and Amazon during a speech in Washington today, claiming Silicon Valley’s big fish are making it impossible for the small fry to compete.
“The opportunity to compete must remain open for new entrants and smaller competitors,” said Warren. During her rant against Apple, the senator specifically mentioned the unfair advantages Apple Music enjoys against its competitors.
After the speech, Spotify rallied behind Warren with some Apple bashing of its own.
Chrome browser bug makes movie piracy even easier
A worrying flaw uncovered in Google Chrome makes it even easier for pirates to download movies and TV shows from the web. Google was made aware of the issue a month ago, but the company is yet to release an update that fixes it.
Spotify is first music streamer to reach 100 million users
Spotify now has more active users than any other music streaming service on the planet, but when it comes to paid subscribers, it looks like growth has stalled.
The Swedish music streaming service revealed today that it now has 100 million active users — up from the 75 million it had last year — however its paid subscribers total hasn’t budged since March.
Apple loses to Facebook and Google as top talent attractor
Apple is one of the top 5 companies in the U.S. when it comes to attracting and keeping talent, but its rivals Facebook and Google are even better.
LinkedIn has come out with its first ever Top Attractors list based on insights from tracking billions of data points of its 433 million members and discovered that in the employee perks arm race, few can top Google.
tvOS 10 turns Apple TV into a more serious gaming console
You won’t be forced to use Apple’s teeny tiny Siri Remote to play games on Apple TV much longer.
Apple is turning its little black box into a more serious gaming console with tvOS 10 by giving developers the ability to require a third-party controller for games.
Apple to finally step up its AI game by opening Siri up to devs
We’re all stoked for our first previews of iOS 10 and macOS from WWDC, but according to sources familiar with Apple’s plans, it’s going to be Siri that steals the show.
The virtual assistant is expected to make the leap to the Mac for the first time, and could also open up to third-party apps and services — allowing users to check in for flights, book Uber rides, and do more using only their voice.
Amazon Alexa is now at your service in your web browser
Amazon Alexa, the powerful virtual assistant found inside the retail giant’s Echo speaker, is now available in your browser. It can answer your questions and even control your smart devices, and all you need is an Amazon account and a microphone.
Apple’s Echo rival will always be watching you
Details of Apple’s upcoming Amazon Echo competitor are starting to surface, and it sounds like it could be both Apple’s most futuristic and creepiest product yet.
The iPhone-maker is considering adding a camera to its Echo rival, according to a new report that claims the device will be able to tell who is using it just by looking at you.