Square continues to add to its lineup of small business tools, especially for owners and managers who want an overall better grip on their businesses. It’s introducing a new Dashboard app that does just that: it lets owners track sales in real-time right from an iPhone. Still, the only requirement is a free Square account.
Twitter working to repair relationships with devs
Twitter managed to create a swarm of disgruntled developers over the past few years. It worked tirelessly to break down many of the third-party apps that made the social network successful. Now, as Twitter discovers what it really is as a service, it’s working to repair relationships with developers and elevate the platform. This ought to be a win-win for everyone.
Slack’s ‘emoji reactions’ make your co-workers awesome
Slack is ingraining emojis even deeper into your work environment whether you like it or not. Users were already able to send emojis casually while chatting, but now anyone can specifically react to messages in Slack with emojis. It’s pretty easy to get creative with this, and it’s sure to spice up the chat with your co-workers.
Spotify extends free trial facing pressure from Apple Music
Apple Music’s launch is just days away, and Spotify is already running to catch up to the free trial Apple thinks will convince you to become a paying customer.
In an attempt to match Apple’s controversial three-month free trial period, Spotify announced that it will extend its Premium free trials from 30 days to 60 its days, but only if you’re outside the U.S.
Samsung pleads for damages cut in patent war with Apple
Samsung is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to cut more money off the $930 million Apple won in a patent lawsuit. The company is arguing that the appeals court’s earlier ruling is still unfair, even after successfully convincing the panel to chop off $382 million already.
How to turn great iOS app ideas into something real
My friends, family and even complete strangers are constantly asking me how to get their million-dollar app idea in the App Store.
This is always a shocker for me because, after countless hours of hard work over the past two years, my app is barely breaking even.
But I can offer one solid piece of advice for anybody hoping to turn a clever idea into a world-beating app: Find yourself an amazing developer and hold on tight.
Beats Music trails Pandora and Spotify in revenue and downloads
Beats Music may have Apple’s support behind it, but it’s still got a long way to go before it tops the crowded online marketplace.
According to new figures from app analytics firm App Annie, Beats is currently trailing industry leaders Pandora and Spotify. In September, both of those services racked up more downloads and earned more revenue than Beats, across both the App Store and Google Play.
Beats was the ninth most downloaded music app in September, with once again Pandora and Spotify taking the lead — but also the likes of Shazam, SoundCloud and even Apple’s own GarageBand receiving more downloads.
MLB stadiums become first sports venues to accept Apple Pay
iPhone 6 owners who happen to also be fans of Major League Baseball have a treat on their hands, courtesy of a new deal that will see Apple Pay added at several stadiums in time for the 2014 World Series.
San Francisco’s AT&T Park and Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium support the contactless NFC payment system, which will allow World Series ticket holders to pay for food and beverages using their iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices.
10 key takeaways from Apple’s expectation-crushing earnings call
Apple surpassed analysts’ expectations with $42.1 billion in revenue in the back-to-school season, buoyed by unprecedented iPhone sales and surprisingly strong demand for Macs.
While breaking down the Q4 2014 numbers during today’s earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri offered insights into the company’s Q4 performance in China, the struggling iPad and hints of new product categories coming down the pipeline.
Here are the biggest takeaways.
Top Apple execs sell $143 million worth of stock
Five top Apple execs — including Tim Cook and Phil Schiller — unloaded $143 million AAPL shares as part of a 10b5-1 planned sale, according to a new report from Barron’s.
Cook sold 348,425 Apple shares for $35,250,297, while Schiller dropped 348,846 shares for $35,256,000.
Other Apple higher-ups who did the same include CFO Luca Maestri, who sold his entire direct holdings for $1,631,286; Jeffrey E. Williams, senior vice president of operations, who raked in $35,233,446; and Bruce D. Sewell, general counsel and senior vice president of legal and government affairs, who made $35,393,915 on the deal.
Watch Apple’s massive cash hoard pile up in real time
Apple’s massive pile of cash is about to get even bigger this weekend as the the iPhone 6 triggers an avalanche of new upgrades after shattering Apple’s record for pre-orders in a 24 hour period.
Now you can watch Apple’s wealth grow dollar by dollar in real-time, thanks to U.K.-based payments company WorlPayZinc, which built an interactive graph to show how much money the world’s top tech companies are making in real-time. Apple is by far the most profitable company, as it rakes in nearly $51,000 every 8 seconds.
Check out the interactive graph below:
7 tips for making your live demo not suck
SAN FRANCISCO — Myles Weissleder has witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to startup demos.
The former VP of public affairs at Meetup.com presides over SF New Tech, a showcase for disruptive hopefuls that he’s run for more than eight years. Over 750 companies including SkyBox, Twilio, Prezi, Flipboard and Twitter have come to his networking mixer to demo before a live audience in a trendy SOMA club.
In San Francisco’s competitive startup environment, you can demo your game-changing idea (or Pet Rock app) every night of the week, but SF New Tech is one of the longest-running and largest showcases. Wannapreneurs face a few hundred audience members — many of them from influential companies like Apple or venture capital firms like CMEA capital — where the mingling is fueled by drinks and tacos.
During a recent demo night, Cult of Mac sat down with the indefatigable Weissleder, who is as at home on the stage with a mic as he is hobnobbing at the bar, to get his top tips on how not to bomb when you take the stage with your great idea, hoping to find cash and connect with influencers.
Killer instincts hide behind Apple’s friendly new face
Apple sure is looking friendlier these days.
This year’s Worldwide Developers Conference was geekier, more welcoming and less locked-down than any in recent history. Apple also bid farewell to Katie Cotton — the much-feared queen of PR, whose frosty relations with journalists made her only slightly less terrifying than an angry Steve Jobs — with a call for a “friendlier, more approachable” public relations face to warm up the company’s relationship with the press.
“For the past few years it’s felt like Apple’s only goal was to put us in our place,” Panic’s Cabel Sasser recently tweeted. “Now it feels like they might want to be friends.”
These recent moves represent a major change in the way Apple does business, even as the company sits atop a $150 billion war chest amassed thanks to innovative products, ruthless leadership and heavy-handed policies that fostered a culture of secrecy and utter domination. But in a world where it’s drummed into our heads that nice guys finish last, does Apple’s approach risk killing the company with kindness?
CEO Tim Cook certainly doesn’t seem to think so.
Build your dream online store with Shopify [Freebie]
There’s a reason Shopify is the largest and fastest-growing hosted e-commerce platform in the world.
Chosen by over 100,000 independent retailers in 120+ countries, Shopify is the most popular platform for creating your own online store. Now get a 60-day trial towards any of their plans for free, courtesy of Cult of Mac Deals.
Add simplicity and comfort to your back pocket with the EZGO Wallet [Deals]
Isn’t it time to replace your bulky old wallet with something that really does make a difference? Sure it is – and Cult of Mac Deals can help you out with that!
EZGO is a new kind of wallet that brings ingenuity and many new useful features. A modern, buoyant, slim and lightweight wallet designed with no moving parts, for easy access to cards, cash, digital media and more. And Cult of Mac Deals has the EZGO Wallet for 42% off the regular price – just $19.99 – during this limited time offer!
The AWS Course: Be The Best Host Out There With Amazon Web Services [Deals]
Cloud computing is quickly becoming the standard method of creating scalable, manageable Web Application Services. Today Cult of Mac Deals is offering a course that will give you an in-depth walkthrough on how to utilize the wide range of cloud computing services that Amazon provides.
You’ll learn what is available in AWS, and how to use it effectively for your own needs. After you start by learning exactly what cloud computing is, and why you should be using it, you will be shown all the wonderful features that AWS brings to your digital life. And Cult of Mac Deals has this course for only $19 – a savings of 61%!
Control Your Cable Clutter With The CableHub 2 Pack [Deals]
Your desk needs to be clean and organized so you function as efficiently as possible, right? Don’t you get tired of wasting time untangling, tripping and spilling due to that pesky abundance of cords.
CableHub isn’t just any other cable management system. Those only store one or two cables at once, but you need something that exceeds that. Some people need to charge a tablet, phone, headset, laptop, and any other everyday necessity to keep your day running smooth, and CableHub will help make that happen. And Cult of Mac Deals has The CableHub 2 Pack for only $24.99 during this limited time offer.
Lyft Is Your Friend With A Car [Deals]
Forged in the fires of Silicon Valley and backed by venture capital power players comes Lyft® – a service revolutionizing public transport. You request a ride through the free iOS or Android app, then watch on a real-time map as your driver approaches.
Lyft drivers are friendly, always available, and cheaper than a cab – why would you ever take a taxi again? And right now Cult of Mac Deals has $30 of Lyft credit available for just $10, meaning you’ll save even more money.
Stay Charged With The TOCCs Ultra Slim iPhone 10 Hour Battery Case [Deals]
There is nothing worse then being stranded with no charger and no battery power. Life gets dangerous without your lifeline to the digital world.
The TOCCs Ultra Slim 10 Hour Battery Case is a lightweight and seamless solution to the inevitable battery problems of the iPhone 5/5s. Snap it in and you’ll get to continuous use on your device, completely uninterrupted for up to 5 extra hours. And Cult of Mac Deals has it for 68% off the regular price…only $24.99!
iPin Lazer Presenter: The Laser Pointer For Your iPhone [Deals]
The perfect presentation is something that has eluded professionals all over the world. Fumbling around with different technology trying to give your presentation that special edge is annoying and can fail miserably. This Cult of Mac Deals offer puts professional presentations at your fingertips.
The iPin Lazer is powered by your smartphone and engineered to fit right inside the earphone jack. iPin allows users to be presentation-ready anytime and anywhere. And Cult of Mac Deals has this little device available for just $46.99…but only for a limited time.
Add New Artistic Views To Your Photos With The TOCCs 3-in-1 Smartphone Hi-Def Magnetic Lens Kit [Deals]
It’s time to start viewing the world around you through a whole new lens…and Cult of Mac Deals has an offer that will help you do just that.
The TOCCs Smartphone Hi-Def Magnetic Lens Kit is perfect for adding an new artistic view to your photos. Your stock iPhone camera barely gets the job done, but you can exceed your expectations and take beautiful pictures that are full of life and really capture the moment with these lenses – and all for the low price of just $19.99!
Get Over $3000 Worth Of Assets With The Valentine’s Day Designer Bundle [Deals]
Cult of Mac Deals has put together another astounding offer – a package deal that features over $3000 worth of vector illustrations, Photoshop brushes, t-shirt designs, text styles and more. And you can get this bundle – dubbed The Valentine’s Day Designer Bundle in honor of the upcoming holiday – for just $39 for a limited time.
Get Awesome Audio Editing Right At Your Fingertips With DSP-Quattro 4 [Deals]
Pay attention, audiophiles! This Cult of Mac Deals promotion offers an all-in-one audio mastering solution at a price that’ can’t’s tough to beat.
DSP-Quattro is the do-it-all audio editing program for Mac. Simple yet powerful, this program is great for novices and professional musicians alike. This most recent version, DSP-Quattro Version 4, is the best yet. It can handle everything from standard audio editing and recording to more advanced audio mastering. And now you can get it for 54% off the regular price – just $44.99 – thanks to Cult of Mac Deals.
FaceFilter Pro 3 For Mac: The Ultimate Beauty Kit For Your Photos [Deals]
The holidays are over, and that means you now have tons of unedited photos from ugly sweater parties, family gatherings, and New Year’s Eve festivities. So before you post that album to Facebook or start mocking up next year’s Christmas card, then you’ll want to get your hands on FaceFilter3 Pro.
And Cult of Mac Deals has it for 37% off the regular price for a limited time…only $49!
Track Valuables At All Times Straight From Your Phone With The Find’Em Tracking Card [Deals]
Odds are your wallet or purse cost $50–100 alone (not counting the cash and invaluable items inside) so why wouldn’t you insure it with a $25 investment?
The Find’Em Tracking Card contains a Bluetooth-connected tracking device that syncs to your phone (via free iOS or Android app) and shows you its exact location as long as you’re within 150 feet of it. And now you can get it for only $24.99 – a savings of 37% – courtesty of Cult of Mac Deals.